TWA Flight 128
Encyclopedia
TWA Flight 128 was a domestic U.S. Flight en route from Los Angeles, CA to Boston, MA with scheduled stops at Cincinnati, OH and Pittsburgh, PA. The flight had been cleared for an ILS
approach to Runway 18, and had cleared the outer marker. The aircraft struck trees on final approach and crashed 9,357 feet short and 429 feet right of the extended centerline of the runway at Greater Cincinnati Airport
(CVG).
, tail number N821TW. It was the sixth loss of a Convair 880 and at the time the worst accident involving a Convair 880, and 12th worst airline disaster in the U.S. This accident is currently the second worst involving a Convair 880 and 38th worst accident in the United States of America.
Charlie Tuna was a disc jockey at WMEX in Boston. He had flown to Los Angeles to interview for a job at KHJ. Program director Ron Jacobs thought Charlie looked tired and urged him to stay overnight in Los Angeles. Otherwise, Charlie would have been on TWA Flight 128.
of the accident to be crew error, in attempting a night, visual no-glide-slope approach during deteriorating weather conditions without adequate altimeter cross reference. The NTSB Identification number is DCA68A0002.
The governor of Ohio, Jim Rhodes
, requested runway 18 be closed, but this was never seriously considered, as the airport is in Kentucky.
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
approach to Runway 18, and had cleared the outer marker. The aircraft struck trees on final approach and crashed 9,357 feet short and 429 feet right of the extended centerline of the runway at Greater Cincinnati Airport
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport , sometimes called the Greater Cincinnati Airport is located in Hebron, unincorporated Boone County, Kentucky, United States and serves the Greater Cincinnati metropolitan area. Despite being located in Boone County, the airport operations are...
(CVG).
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a Convair 880Convair 880
The Convair 880 was a narrow-body jet airliner produced by the Convair division of General Dynamics. It was designed to compete with the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 by being smaller and faster, a niche that failed to create demand...
, tail number N821TW. It was the sixth loss of a Convair 880 and at the time the worst accident involving a Convair 880, and 12th worst airline disaster in the U.S. This accident is currently the second worst involving a Convair 880 and 38th worst accident in the United States of America.
Crash
Upon making the approach to a scheduled landing at Greater Cincinnati Airport, the aircraft struck trees at an elevation of 875 feet. The airport, about 2 miles distant was at an elevation of 890 feet. The plane had descended through a cloud layer at night and the published minimum for these conditions was 1,290 feet. The accident site was remotely located in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire.Injured passengers and survivors
As a result of the crash, 65 passengers and 5 crew members were fatally injured. Four of the passengers died from injuries in the days following the crash. Two crew members and ten passengers survived, including Robert Deters Sr. http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/04/12/loc_ledeobit12.html. Other surviving passengers included a 15-month old baby, 2-year old Eileen Haile and 5-year old Chris Haile.Charlie Tuna was a disc jockey at WMEX in Boston. He had flown to Los Angeles to interview for a job at KHJ. Program director Ron Jacobs thought Charlie looked tired and urged him to stay overnight in Los Angeles. Otherwise, Charlie would have been on TWA Flight 128.
Aftermath
The NTSB determined the probable causeProbable cause
In United States criminal law, probable cause is the standard by which an officer or agent of the law has the grounds to make an arrest, to conduct a personal or property search, or to obtain a warrant for arrest, etc. when criminal charges are being considered. It is also used to refer to the...
of the accident to be crew error, in attempting a night, visual no-glide-slope approach during deteriorating weather conditions without adequate altimeter cross reference. The NTSB Identification number is DCA68A0002.
The governor of Ohio, Jim Rhodes
Jim Rhodes
James Allen Rhodes was an American Republican politician from Ohio, and one of only five US state governors to serve four four-year terms in office. As governor in 1970, he decided to send National Guard troops onto the Kent State University campus, resulting in the shooting of students on May 4...
, requested runway 18 be closed, but this was never seriously considered, as the airport is in Kentucky.