Frank Eugene Corder
Encyclopedia
Frank Eugene Corder crashed a stolen Cessna 150
onto the South Lawn of the White House
early on September 12, 1994, apparently trying to hit the building; he was killed, and was the sole casualty.
, the son of William Eugene Corder, who was an aircraft mechanic, and Dorothy Corder. He dropped out of Aberdeen High School
in the eleventh grade and enlisted in the Army in October 1974. Corder was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Carson, Colorado
, where he was trained as a mechanic. He was honorably discharged from military service in July 1975 at the rank of private first class
. After his service ended, he worked as a truck driver from 1976 until he was terminated in early 1993.
On April 15, 1993, Corder was arrested for theft and was arrested again later that year on October 9 for drug dealing. He was sentenced to spend 90 days at a drug rehabilitation center and was released in February 1994. After he was released, he was living with his third wife Lydia at Keyser's Motel in Aberdeen, Maryland
. Lydia Corder left Frank three weeks prior to the incident, which is thought to have driven him towards deep depression
and suicide
. Friends claim he bore no ill will towards President
Bill Clinton
and likely only wanted the publicity of the stunt, based largely on his sentiments towards Mathias Rust
's flight of a Cessna 172
from Finland to Moscow, USSR. The President was not even in the mansion at the time due to renovations, but was instead staying at Blair House
.
severely intoxicated, which is presumed to have led to his later miscalculation. The plane was noticed by radar
technicians at National Airport several minutes before he tried to steer it into the wall of the White House. At 1:49 a.m., he hit the South Lawn and died on impact.
The crash caused a re-evaluation in security procedures around the White House, as the pilot had entered restricted airspace
. Though the White House is rumored to be equipped with surface-to-air missile
s, none were fired. The Secret Service has neither confirmed nor dispelled the rumor.
Cessna 150
The Cessna 150 is a two-seat tricycle gear general aviation airplane, that was designed for flight training, touring and personal use.The Cessna 150 is the seventh most produced civilian plane ever, with 23,839 aircraft produced...
onto the South Lawn of the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
early on September 12, 1994, apparently trying to hit the building; he was killed, and was the sole casualty.
Background
Corder was born in Perry Point, MarylandPerry Point, Maryland
Perry Point is an unincorporated community in Cecil County, Maryland, United States....
, the son of William Eugene Corder, who was an aircraft mechanic, and Dorothy Corder. He dropped out of Aberdeen High School
Aberdeen High School (Aberdeen, Maryland)
Aberdeen High School is a public high school in Aberdeen, Maryland.The school is a part of the Harford County Public Schools.-Science and Mathematics Academy:...
in the eleventh grade and enlisted in the Army in October 1974. Corder was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Carson, Colorado
Fort Carson, Colorado
Fort Carson is a United States Army installation located near Colorado Springs, primarily in El Paso County, Colorado. It is north of Pueblo, Colorado in Pueblo County. The 137,000 acre installation extends south into Pueblo and Fremont counties...
, where he was trained as a mechanic. He was honorably discharged from military service in July 1975 at the rank of private first class
Private First Class
Private First Class is a military rank held by junior enlisted persons.- Singapore :The rank of Private First Class in the Singapore Armed Forces lies between the ranks of Private and Lance-Corporal . It is usually held by conscript soldiers midway through their national service term...
. After his service ended, he worked as a truck driver from 1976 until he was terminated in early 1993.
On April 15, 1993, Corder was arrested for theft and was arrested again later that year on October 9 for drug dealing. He was sentenced to spend 90 days at a drug rehabilitation center and was released in February 1994. After he was released, he was living with his third wife Lydia at Keyser's Motel in Aberdeen, Maryland
Aberdeen, Maryland
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,842 people, 5,475 households, and 3,712 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,166.2 people per square mile . There were 5,894 housing units at an average density of 922.4 per square mile...
. Lydia Corder left Frank three weeks prior to the incident, which is thought to have driven him towards deep depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
and suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Friends claim he bore no ill will towards President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and likely only wanted the publicity of the stunt, based largely on his sentiments towards Mathias Rust
Mathias Rust
Mathias Rust is a German aviator known for his illegal landing on May 28, 1987 near Red Square in Moscow. As an amateur pilot, he flew from Finland to Moscow, being tracked several times by Soviet air defence and interceptors...
's flight of a Cessna 172
Cessna 172
The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
from Finland to Moscow, USSR. The President was not even in the mansion at the time due to renovations, but was instead staying at Blair House
Blair House
Blair House is the official state guest house for the President of the United States. It is located at 1651-1653 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., opposite the Old Executive Office Building of the White House, off the corner of Lafayette Park....
.
Incident
He stole the Cessna on the night of September 11 and departed from Aldino Airport in MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
severely intoxicated, which is presumed to have led to his later miscalculation. The plane was noticed by radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
technicians at National Airport several minutes before he tried to steer it into the wall of the White House. At 1:49 a.m., he hit the South Lawn and died on impact.
The crash caused a re-evaluation in security procedures around the White House, as the pilot had entered restricted airspace
Restricted airspace
Restricted airspace is an area of airspace in which the local controlling authorities have determined that air traffic must be restricted for safety or security concerns...
. Though the White House is rumored to be equipped with surface-to-air missile
Surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
s, none were fired. The Secret Service has neither confirmed nor dispelled the rumor.
See also
- Samuel ByckSamuel ByckSamuel Joseph Byck was an unemployed former tire salesman who attempted to hijack a plane flying out of Baltimore-Washington International Airport on February 22, 1974. He intended to crash into the White House in the hope of killing U.S...
- Francisco Martin DuranFrancisco Martin DuranFrancisco Martin Duran is most known for his actions of October 29, 1994, when he fired 29 rounds from an SKS rifle at the White House...
- White House intrudersWhite House intrudersThe White House is the official residence and office space of the President of the United States. Extensive security measures are used to protect the White House, primarily through the United States Secret Service....