Continental Airlines Flight 12
Encyclopedia
Continental Airlines
Flight 12, is a scheduled domestic passenger flight that on July 1, 1965 was operated by a Boeing 707
, registration N70773, aircraft from Los Angeles International Airport
to Chicago O'Hare International Airport with an intermediate at Kansas City Downtown Airport
. After a routine flight the plane was making an approach on the instrument landing system
for runway 18. There was heavy rain and low visibility at the airport. The wind was reported from the East-northeast at 7 knots. At most airports this would normally mean an approach should be initiated from the other direction, runway 36. Quality Hill
in downtown Kansas City
overlooks the airport from this direction. It is so close to the end of the runway that aircraft have to go around it to land safely in good weather. This obstacle prevented the installation of an instrument landing system on this runway. It is normally considered safe to land opposite direction in these conditions but they would be landing with a slight tailwind. The flight landed at 5:29 am CST 1,100 feet down the runway. Reverse thrusting and braking were initiated but did not slow the plane as anticipated. It began to veer 30º left before it ran off the end of the runway. The right wing impacted a blast mound as the aircraft rolled over it coming to rest in three pieces on the perimeter road between the mound and river levee. After an investigation the cause of the accident was determined to be "Hydroplaning of the landing gear wheels, which precluded braking effectiveness."
Although there were no fatalities in the accident it highlighted a number of shortcomings with jet aircraft operations at Kansas City Downtown Airport. At 7,000 feet, Runway 18-36 was barely long enough for 707 aircraft. The airport could not be expanded as it was surrounded on three sides by the Missouri river
and a rail yard on the east side. In 1972 airline operations were moved to Kansas City International Airport
.
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
Flight 12, is a scheduled domestic passenger flight that on July 1, 1965 was operated by a Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
, registration N70773, aircraft from Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
to Chicago O'Hare International Airport with an intermediate at Kansas City Downtown Airport
Kansas City Downtown Airport
Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport , also known as Kansas City Downtown Airport, is a public airport located in Kansas City, Clay County, Missouri, United States. This airport is publicly owned by City of Kansas City.-History:...
. After a routine flight the plane was making an approach on the instrument landing system
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...
for runway 18. There was heavy rain and low visibility at the airport. The wind was reported from the East-northeast at 7 knots. At most airports this would normally mean an approach should be initiated from the other direction, runway 36. Quality Hill
Quality Hill
Quality Hill is a historic neighborhood near downtown Kansas City, Missouri, USA, situated on a 200-foot-high bluff which overlooks the confluence of the Kansas River and Missouri River in the West Bottoms below....
in downtown Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
overlooks the airport from this direction. It is so close to the end of the runway that aircraft have to go around it to land safely in good weather. This obstacle prevented the installation of an instrument landing system on this runway. It is normally considered safe to land opposite direction in these conditions but they would be landing with a slight tailwind. The flight landed at 5:29 am CST 1,100 feet down the runway. Reverse thrusting and braking were initiated but did not slow the plane as anticipated. It began to veer 30º left before it ran off the end of the runway. The right wing impacted a blast mound as the aircraft rolled over it coming to rest in three pieces on the perimeter road between the mound and river levee. After an investigation the cause of the accident was determined to be "Hydroplaning of the landing gear wheels, which precluded braking effectiveness."
Although there were no fatalities in the accident it highlighted a number of shortcomings with jet aircraft operations at Kansas City Downtown Airport. At 7,000 feet, Runway 18-36 was barely long enough for 707 aircraft. The airport could not be expanded as it was surrounded on three sides by the Missouri river
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
and a rail yard on the east side. In 1972 airline operations were moved to Kansas City International Airport
Kansas City International Airport
Kansas City International Airport , originally named Mid-Continent International Airport, is a public airport located 15 miles northwest of the central business district of Kansas City, in Platte County, Missouri, United States. In 2008, 10,469,892 passengers used the airport...
.
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