Northeast Airlines Flight 946
Encyclopedia
Northeast Airlines Flight 946 was a domestic U.S.
flight from Boston, Massachusetts to Montpelier, Vermont
, with a refueling stop in Lebanon, New Hampshire
, operated by Northeast Airlines
. On October 25, 1968 some time during the evening, Northeast Airlines Flight 946 crashed on Moose Mountain
while descending on approach. The crash killed 32 of 42 passengers and crew. Of the fatalities, four were employees from the National Life Insurance Company
who were returning from a business trip. The fatalities also included a reporter for the Barre Daily Times, six social workers of the Vermont Head Start Supplementary Training Program on a conference trip including Abraham H. Blum, Doctorate of Child Development. Ten passengers survived the crash with minor or moderate injuries. After the crash, Northeast Airlines
continued flight service until its merger with Delta Air Lines
in the early 1970s.
since 1957 and had over 15,000 hours of flight experience. The copilot, John C. O'Neil, 29, was hired in 1967 and was less experienced. The only flight attendant on Flight 946 was Betty Frail who was hired in June 1968.
towards its first stop in Lebanon, New Hampshire
. The weather at the time of take off was fair with scattered low clouds while airport officials at Logan claimed there was fog during takeoff. The National Transportation Safety Board
stated in its report that the flight was "routine" until the plane approached Lebanon Municipal Airport which is located in a valley, surrounded by nearby hills. At 6:11 p.m. EST, the pilots radioed the control tower that they were executing a standard approach maneuver before preparing to land. Air Traffic Control
replied and gave the crew weather, visibility and other information regarding conditions at the airport.
Moments after that transmission, the plane crashed into the side of Moose Mountain and disintegrated. The impact killed 32 of the 39 passengers and the three crew members (31 instantly, one later). Ten survivors were taken to the Mary Hitchcock Hospital, at least one in critical condition, and the hospital authorities said that no more injured were expected. The injured were lifted from the crash scene by helicopters, and taken to the green
in
the center of the Dartmouth College
campus, where fire engines and other vehicles lighted the grassy area for an emergency landing pad. The plane carried 39 passengers and three crew members, Northeast said. One of the survivors was Frail, 21 years old, of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
, and Winthrop, Massachusetts
. The military authorities participating in the rescue operation said that bad weather had complicated matters. It was raining at the crash scene, with snow at higher altitudes and freezing temperatures were expected.
Persons at the scene said that the plane had crashed on the north side of the mountain about 60 foot from the top. Heavy woods and ledges forced rescue workers to hike to the wreckage. The copters not only brought out the injured, but also ferried in doctors while a bulldozer struggled to clear a path to the plane. Newsmen attempting to reach the scene of the crash on Moose Mountain were blocked at the base by the New Hampshire State Police. Only the police, firemen and other rescue workers were allowed up the mountain.
The passengers who survived the crash were at the rear of the plane and were able to escape the wreckage through the rear emergency exit or through the fractures in the fuselage
.
Two passengers in particular had fortunate escapes from certain death. George Collins, one of the five National Life employees who boarded Flight 946, was assigned a window seat but instead switched seats with another passenger. That passenger died in the crash and Collins survived with severe injuries. Anne Foti was supposed to be on flight 946, but instead made a last minute flight cancellation
at 12:00 noon on Friday (several hours before the plane took off from Boston
). However, Terry Hudson's girlfriend, Janet Johnson's residence was only eight miles away from the crash site when the accident occurred.
The crash was witnessed by a deer hunter and nearby residents who called police
and fire department
. Moments later, rescuers began to search for bodies and survivors despite the deteriorating conditions.
reported that the plane was flying 600 feet (182.9 m) below its required altitude. It is unclear why the pilots made the decision to fly the low altitude because both the black box
and the flight data recorder
were badly damaged in the crash. However, the NTSB suggested in its finding in 1970 that the pilots misjudged their altitude position during approach and there were no navigational aids in the aircraft or near the airport.
Officials at the New Hampshire Aeronautics Commission charged that the FAA had ignored repeated warnings about installing an ILS
navigational approach at Lebanon Municipal Airport and that installing such system might have prevented the crash.
The crash had an impact on the struggling Northeast Airlines
as it was the fifth airline crash in its 25-year history. At the time of the crash, the airline had lost four planes and 38 passengers and crew. The airline would continue to operate independently until its merger with Delta Air Lines
in the 1970s.
The president of National Life
held a memorial for its employees who died in the crash. Thirty-five years after the crash, the brother, daughter, nephew and niece of Terry Hudson who died in the crash continue to work at National Life. In addition, Edmond Rousse, Jr., also began working at National Life.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
flight from Boston, Massachusetts to Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier, Vermont
Montpelier is a city in the U.S. state of Vermont that serves as the state capital and the shire town of Washington County. As the capital of Vermont, Montpelier is the site of the Vermont State House, seat of the legislative branch of Vermont government. The population was 7,855 at the 2010...
, with a refueling stop in Lebanon, New Hampshire
Lebanon, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,568 people, 5,500 households, and 3,178 families residing in the city. The population density was 311.4 people per square mile . There were 5,707 housing units at an average density of 141.4 per square mile...
, operated by Northeast Airlines
Northeast Airlines
Northeast Airlines was an American airline based in Boston, Massachusetts. They began as Boston-Maine Airways, which was founded as a Pan Am contract carrier on July 20, 1931, by the Boston and Maine Railroad and Maine Central Railroad offering service from Boston to Bangor via Portland...
. On October 25, 1968 some time during the evening, Northeast Airlines Flight 946 crashed on Moose Mountain
Moose Mountain (New Hampshire)
Moose Mountain is an -long ridge located in the eastern part of the town of Hanover in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The mountain is flanked to the north by Holts Ledge, at , and to the south by Shaker Mountain, at . It is traversed by the Appalachian Trail, a National Scenic Trail from Georgia...
while descending on approach. The crash killed 32 of 42 passengers and crew. Of the fatalities, four were employees from the National Life Insurance Company
National Life Insurance Company
National Life Insurance Company was chartered on November 13, 1848 “upon the principle of mutual participation in the funds or profits” of the company. As such, the National Life of Vermont was a mutual company even though that fact was not apparent from its name...
who were returning from a business trip. The fatalities also included a reporter for the Barre Daily Times, six social workers of the Vermont Head Start Supplementary Training Program on a conference trip including Abraham H. Blum, Doctorate of Child Development. Ten passengers survived the crash with minor or moderate injuries. After the crash, Northeast Airlines
Northeast Airlines
Northeast Airlines was an American airline based in Boston, Massachusetts. They began as Boston-Maine Airways, which was founded as a Pan Am contract carrier on July 20, 1931, by the Boston and Maine Railroad and Maine Central Railroad offering service from Boston to Bangor via Portland...
continued flight service until its merger with Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
in the early 1970s.
Crew
The crew of Flight 946 consisted of Captain John A. Rapsis, 52, who had been a pilot for Northeast AirlinesNortheast Airlines
Northeast Airlines was an American airline based in Boston, Massachusetts. They began as Boston-Maine Airways, which was founded as a Pan Am contract carrier on July 20, 1931, by the Boston and Maine Railroad and Maine Central Railroad offering service from Boston to Bangor via Portland...
since 1957 and had over 15,000 hours of flight experience. The copilot, John C. O'Neil, 29, was hired in 1967 and was less experienced. The only flight attendant on Flight 946 was Betty Frail who was hired in June 1968.
Flight and crash
At 5:42 p.m. EST, Northeast Airlines Flight 946 left Logan International AirportLogan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
towards its first stop in Lebanon, New Hampshire
Lebanon, New Hampshire
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,568 people, 5,500 households, and 3,178 families residing in the city. The population density was 311.4 people per square mile . There were 5,707 housing units at an average density of 141.4 per square mile...
. The weather at the time of take off was fair with scattered low clouds while airport officials at Logan claimed there was fog during takeoff. The National Transportation Safety Board
National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine...
stated in its report that the flight was "routine" until the plane approached Lebanon Municipal Airport which is located in a valley, surrounded by nearby hills. At 6:11 p.m. EST, the pilots radioed the control tower that they were executing a standard approach maneuver before preparing to land. Air Traffic Control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
replied and gave the crew weather, visibility and other information regarding conditions at the airport.
Moments after that transmission, the plane crashed into the side of Moose Mountain and disintegrated. The impact killed 32 of the 39 passengers and the three crew members (31 instantly, one later). Ten survivors were taken to the Mary Hitchcock Hospital, at least one in critical condition, and the hospital authorities said that no more injured were expected. The injured were lifted from the crash scene by helicopters, and taken to the green
The Green (Dartmouth College)
The Green is a grass-covered field and common space at the center of Dartmouth College, an Ivy League university located in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. It was among the first parcels of land obtained by the College upon its founding in 1769, and is the only creation of the 18th century...
in
the center of the Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
campus, where fire engines and other vehicles lighted the grassy area for an emergency landing pad. The plane carried 39 passengers and three crew members, Northeast said. One of the survivors was Frail, 21 years old, of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Berkeley Heights is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 13,183....
, and Winthrop, Massachusetts
Winthrop, Massachusetts
The Town of Winthrop is a municipality in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population of Winthrop was 17,497 at the 2010 U.S. Census. It is an oceanside suburban community in Greater Boston situated at the north entrance to Boston Harbor and is very close to Logan International...
. The military authorities participating in the rescue operation said that bad weather had complicated matters. It was raining at the crash scene, with snow at higher altitudes and freezing temperatures were expected.
Persons at the scene said that the plane had crashed on the north side of the mountain about 60 foot from the top. Heavy woods and ledges forced rescue workers to hike to the wreckage. The copters not only brought out the injured, but also ferried in doctors while a bulldozer struggled to clear a path to the plane. Newsmen attempting to reach the scene of the crash on Moose Mountain were blocked at the base by the New Hampshire State Police. Only the police, firemen and other rescue workers were allowed up the mountain.
The passengers who survived the crash were at the rear of the plane and were able to escape the wreckage through the rear emergency exit or through the fractures in the fuselage
Fuselage
The fuselage is an aircraft's main body section that holds crew and passengers or cargo. In single-engine aircraft it will usually contain an engine, although in some amphibious aircraft the single engine is mounted on a pylon attached to the fuselage which in turn is used as a floating hull...
.
Two passengers in particular had fortunate escapes from certain death. George Collins, one of the five National Life employees who boarded Flight 946, was assigned a window seat but instead switched seats with another passenger. That passenger died in the crash and Collins survived with severe injuries. Anne Foti was supposed to be on flight 946, but instead made a last minute flight cancellation
Flight cancellation
Flight cancellation occurs when an airline cancels a scheduled flight for a certain reason. When flights are canceled, passengers may be entitled to compensation due to rules obeyed by every flight company, usually Rule 240, or Rule 218 in certain locations...
at 12:00 noon on Friday (several hours before the plane took off from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
). However, Terry Hudson's girlfriend, Janet Johnson's residence was only eight miles away from the crash site when the accident occurred.
The crash was witnessed by a deer hunter and nearby residents who called police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
and fire department
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
. Moments later, rescuers began to search for bodies and survivors despite the deteriorating conditions.
Aftermath
During its investigation, the National Transportation Safety BoardNational Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation accident investigation. In this role, the NTSB investigates and reports on aviation accidents and incidents, certain types of highway crashes, ship and marine...
reported that the plane was flying 600 feet (182.9 m) below its required altitude. It is unclear why the pilots made the decision to fly the low altitude because both the black box
Black box
A black box is a device, object, or system whose inner workings are unknown; only the input, transfer, and output are known characteristics.The term black box can also refer to:-In science and technology:*Black box theory, a philosophical theory...
and the flight data recorder
Flight data recorder
A flight data recorder is an electronic device employed to record any instructions sent to any electronic systems on an aircraft. It is a device used to record specific aircraft performance parameters...
were badly damaged in the crash. However, the NTSB suggested in its finding in 1970 that the pilots misjudged their altitude position during approach and there were no navigational aids in the aircraft or near the airport.
Officials at the New Hampshire Aeronautics Commission charged that the FAA had ignored repeated warnings about installing an ILS
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...
navigational approach at Lebanon Municipal Airport and that installing such system might have prevented the crash.
The crash had an impact on the struggling Northeast Airlines
Northeast Airlines
Northeast Airlines was an American airline based in Boston, Massachusetts. They began as Boston-Maine Airways, which was founded as a Pan Am contract carrier on July 20, 1931, by the Boston and Maine Railroad and Maine Central Railroad offering service from Boston to Bangor via Portland...
as it was the fifth airline crash in its 25-year history. At the time of the crash, the airline had lost four planes and 38 passengers and crew. The airline would continue to operate independently until its merger with Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
in the 1970s.
The president of National Life
National Life Insurance Company
National Life Insurance Company was chartered on November 13, 1848 “upon the principle of mutual participation in the funds or profits” of the company. As such, the National Life of Vermont was a mutual company even though that fact was not apparent from its name...
held a memorial for its employees who died in the crash. Thirty-five years after the crash, the brother, daughter, nephew and niece of Terry Hudson who died in the crash continue to work at National Life. In addition, Edmond Rousse, Jr., also began working at National Life.