National Airlines Flight 2511
Encyclopedia
National Airlines Flight 2511, registration N8225H, was a Douglas DC-6
B aircraft which exploded over Bolivia, North Carolina
en route from New York International (Idlewild) Airport
, New York City, New York, to Miami, Florida
on January 6, 1960. All 34 on board were killed in the accident.
The aircraft had been called into service on short notice when the normal aircraft used for the evening flight to Miami, a Boeing 707
jet identified as Flight 601, was grounded due to a cracked window. Most of the passengers who were to have flown on Flight 601 boarded a Lockheed Electra
, registration N5003K; those who could not be accommodated on the Electra were boarded on Flight 2511.
Flight 2511 departed Idlewild over two hours late, at 11:34 PM. The flight was routine until shortly after passing Wilmington, North Carolina
. At 2:31 AM Eastern Standard Time, one of the pilots on the flight contacted National Airlines company radio station at Wilmington to pass on a routine progress report. At 2:38 AM, the aircraft suddenly entered a wide descending right turn and crashed 1-1/2 miles north-west of Bolivia.
The airline was informed of the location of Flight 2511 at around 7:00 AM, when Richard Randolph telephoned its dispatch office in Wilmington to advise that there was airplane wreckage in the field near his house. This wreckage was later identified as that of Flight 2511.
During the recovery, it was discovered that the remains of one passenger, Julian A. Frank, a lawyer from New York City, were missing from the accident site. His body was eventually found sixteen miles away at a place called Snow's Marsh west of the Cape Fear River
. While autopsies
of the crew and remaining passengers showed that all had died due to crash forces, Frank's autopsy showed that he had been fatally injured by a dynamite explosion originating either in his lap or (more likely) immediately under his seat. A number of wires and metal fragments identified as parts of a bomb were found to have embedded themselves in his body, mainly in the arms and legs. Extensive searches of the aircraft fuselage revealed bone and bomb fragments surrounding the seat which had been assigned to Frank on boarding.
Investigators suspected that Frank had taken the bomb aboard the aircraft willingly, and that the bombing was therefore a murder-suicide
.The points that led them to believe that Frank was culpable include:
There was, however, other evidence that made it less than certain that Frank was culpable. These include:
No charges were laid in the bombing. The investigation officially remains open.
Had the bomb detonated on Flight 601, the Boeing 707 originally scheduled to fly the route, 105 passengers and an unknown number of crew would have been killed. It would also have been the first crash of a Boeing jet in passenger service. (Two accidents had occurred on training flights in 1959.)
Possibly the most notable victim was Medal of Honor
recipient and former Navy Admiral Edward Orrick McDonnell
.
Douglas DC-6
The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
B aircraft which exploded over Bolivia, North Carolina
Bolivia, North Carolina
Bolivia is a town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 148 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Brunswick County, and is named after the South American nation of the same name....
en route from New York International (Idlewild) Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
, New York City, New York, to Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
on January 6, 1960. All 34 on board were killed in the accident.
The aircraft had been called into service on short notice when the normal aircraft used for the evening flight to Miami, 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...
jet identified as Flight 601, was grounded due to a cracked window. Most of the passengers who were to have flown on Flight 601 boarded a Lockheed Electra
Lockheed L-188 Electra
The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
, registration N5003K; those who could not be accommodated on the Electra were boarded on Flight 2511.
Flight 2511 departed Idlewild over two hours late, at 11:34 PM. The flight was routine until shortly after passing Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
. At 2:31 AM Eastern Standard Time, one of the pilots on the flight contacted National Airlines company radio station at Wilmington to pass on a routine progress report. At 2:38 AM, the aircraft suddenly entered a wide descending right turn and crashed 1-1/2 miles north-west of Bolivia.
The airline was informed of the location of Flight 2511 at around 7:00 AM, when Richard Randolph telephoned its dispatch office in Wilmington to advise that there was airplane wreckage in the field near his house. This wreckage was later identified as that of Flight 2511.
During the recovery, it was discovered that the remains of one passenger, Julian A. Frank, a lawyer from New York City, were missing from the accident site. His body was eventually found sixteen miles away at a place called Snow's Marsh west of the Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
. While autopsies
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
of the crew and remaining passengers showed that all had died due to crash forces, Frank's autopsy showed that he had been fatally injured by a dynamite explosion originating either in his lap or (more likely) immediately under his seat. A number of wires and metal fragments identified as parts of a bomb were found to have embedded themselves in his body, mainly in the arms and legs. Extensive searches of the aircraft fuselage revealed bone and bomb fragments surrounding the seat which had been assigned to Frank on boarding.
Investigators suspected that Frank had taken the bomb aboard the aircraft willingly, and that the bombing was therefore a murder-suicide
Murder-suicide
A murder–suicide is an act in which an individual kills one or more other persons before or at the same time as killing himself or herself. The combination of murder and suicide can take various forms, including:...
.The points that led them to believe that Frank was culpable include:
- The bomb exploded at 2:38 AM, hours after the original Flight 601 was scheduled to land at Miami. Had the bomb been placed on Flight 2511 by a party not on the aircraft at the time, it should have been set to detonate at a time when Flight 601 would have been in the air.
- The aircraft had not been in use for some time before it was called into service to replace the Boeing 707 that had been grounded, and it was therefore unlikely that the bomb was on the aircraft before boarding.
- Frank had been under investigation for fraud and embezzlement at the time of his death, and had also taken out large amounts of life insurance shortly before boarding the aircraft.
- The explosion was in immediate proximity to Frank, either in his lap or immediately under his seat.
There was, however, other evidence that made it less than certain that Frank was culpable. These include:
- On November 16, 1959, less than two months before the crash of Flight 2511, National Airlines Flight 967National Airlines Flight 967National Airlines Flight 967, registration N4891C, was a Douglas DC-7B aircraft which disappeared over the Gulf of Mexico en route from Tampa, Florida to New Orleans, Louisiana on November 16, 1959...
disappeared over the Gulf of Mexico. Although the aircraft was lost at sea and the Civil Aeronautics Board could not determine a probable cause for the accident, it was believed that the aircraft had been destroyed by a dynamite bomb. Investigators discovered that a small-time crook named William Taylor had boarded the aircraft on a ticket belonging to Richard SpearsRichard SpearsRobert Vernon Spears was a naturopath who is alleged to have placed a bomb aboard National Airlines Flight 967, an aircraft which disappeared over the Gulf of Mexico on November 16, 1959, killing 42 people....
, a convicted felon who had befriended Taylor in prison and who had taken out over $100,000.00 worth of life insurance on himself. They hypothesized that Taylor had boarded the aircraft with luggage packed by Spears and, unbeknownst to Taylor, containing a bomb. - Frank's purchase of life insurance before boarding a flight was not at all unusual in 1960. Airports even had vending machines that issued insurance policies good for the duration of the flight.
- Frank was a commercial lawyer and was not thought to have the knowledge necessary to build an explosive device.
No charges were laid in the bombing. The investigation officially remains open.
Had the bomb detonated on Flight 601, the Boeing 707 originally scheduled to fly the route, 105 passengers and an unknown number of crew would have been killed. It would also have been the first crash of a Boeing jet in passenger service. (Two accidents had occurred on training flights in 1959.)
Possibly the most notable victim was Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient and former Navy Admiral Edward Orrick McDonnell
Edward Orrick McDonnell
Edward Orrick McDonnell was an American war hero. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1912...
.
External links
- Civil Aeronautics Board Aircraft Accident Report on Flight 2511 from the Department of Transport's Special Collections
- Commercial Airline Bombings from aerospaceweb.org - scroll down for information on Flight 2511