Ramada Inn Crash
Encyclopedia
The Ramada Inn Air Crash and Fire was an aircraft accident that occurred at the Airport Ramada Inn in Indianapolis, Indiana
when a United States Air Force
pilot failed to reach the runway and the plane crashed into a nearby Ramada Inn.
On the morning of October 20, 1987, a United States Air Force
A-7D-4-CV Corsair II
, serial 69-6207, piloted by Major Bruce L. Teagarden, 35, was en route to Nevada
via Tinker Air Force Base
, Oklahoma, after departing Pittsburgh International Airport
earlier in the day. At 9:11 a.m., Teagarden notified controllers at Indianapolis International Airport
that his aircraft had sustained some sort of engine failure approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) southwest of the city at ~31,000 feet and he was returning to Indianapolis to attempt an emergency landing
. Controllers at Indianapolis routed Teagarden to Runway 5L, but due to the low cloud ceiling and poor visibility conditions over Indianapolis, Teagarden was at 3100 feet (944.9 m) MSL when he came to the threshold and was forced to make an alternate plan to land on Runway 32 instead.
Teagarden made a right turn to head east away from the airport, but continued to drop from 3100 feet (944.9 m) to 2000 feet (609.6 m) just to the east of Interstate 465
at the eastern edge of the airport where controllers lost him from the radar. As his altitude dropped, Teagarden was forced to eject from the aircraft 500 feet (152.4 m) above ground, and the plane made a slight left turn towards the Park Fletcher business development. It struck the Bank One branch in the 5600 block of Bradbury Avenue, bounced off the roof, flew across the street and hit an embankment, went 25 feet (7.6 m) airborne, and then crashed into the front of the Ramada Inn. Teagarden landed in the parking lot of the Ace Supply Company, four blocks from the hotel, suffering bruises and muscle strain..
As the plane crashed into the Ramada Inn, the cockpit and engine went into the lobby, killing nine people. The wings went into the upper floors of the top of the carport and upper floors of the hotel. The jet fuel on board ignited on impact, causing a fireball that covered the entire front of the hotel up to the fourth floor . Indianapolis Airport crash trucks arrived on the scene a minute after impact and started to use foam to extinguish the fire, which was under control within the first four minutes. Other elements of the Airport fire department were assigned to search and rescue of the building, while assistance was requested from the Indianapolis Fire Department and the Decatur Township Fire Department.
Meanwhile, the hotel was evacuated completely by Ramada Inn staff and guests.
Major Teagarden was assigned to the 4450th Tactical Training Group which was involved with the development of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
.
The Air Force pays out $50,427 in property claims damages, according to the New York Times on 26 October.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
when a United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
pilot failed to reach the runway and the plane crashed into a nearby Ramada Inn.
On the morning of October 20, 1987, a United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
A-7D-4-CV Corsair II
A-7 Corsair II
The Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II is a carrier-based subsonic light attack aircraft introduced to replace the United States Navy's Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, initially entering service during the Vietnam War...
, serial 69-6207, piloted by Major Bruce L. Teagarden, 35, was en route to Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
via Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in the southeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, directly south of the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma.-Overview:...
, Oklahoma, after departing Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
earlier in the day. At 9:11 a.m., Teagarden notified controllers at Indianapolis International Airport
Indianapolis International Airport
Indianapolis International Airport is a public airport located seven miles southwest of the central business district of Indianapolis, a city in Marion County, Indiana, United States. It is owned and operated by the Indianapolis Airport Authority...
that his aircraft had sustained some sort of engine failure approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) southwest of the city at ~31,000 feet and he was returning to Indianapolis to attempt an emergency landing
Emergency landing
An emergency landing is a landing made by an aircraft in response to a crisis which either interferes with the operation of the aircraft or involves sudden medical emergencies necessitating diversion to the nearest airport.-Types of emergency landings:...
. Controllers at Indianapolis routed Teagarden to Runway 5L, but due to the low cloud ceiling and poor visibility conditions over Indianapolis, Teagarden was at 3100 feet (944.9 m) MSL when he came to the threshold and was forced to make an alternate plan to land on Runway 32 instead.
Teagarden made a right turn to head east away from the airport, but continued to drop from 3100 feet (944.9 m) to 2000 feet (609.6 m) just to the east of Interstate 465
Interstate 465
Interstate 465 , also known as the USS Indianapolis Memorial Highway, is the beltway circling Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is roughly rectangular in shape and has a perimeter of approximately 53 miles . It lies almost completely within the boundaries of Marion County, except for two...
at the eastern edge of the airport where controllers lost him from the radar. As his altitude dropped, Teagarden was forced to eject from the aircraft 500 feet (152.4 m) above ground, and the plane made a slight left turn towards the Park Fletcher business development. It struck the Bank One branch in the 5600 block of Bradbury Avenue, bounced off the roof, flew across the street and hit an embankment, went 25 feet (7.6 m) airborne, and then crashed into the front of the Ramada Inn. Teagarden landed in the parking lot of the Ace Supply Company, four blocks from the hotel, suffering bruises and muscle strain..
As the plane crashed into the Ramada Inn, the cockpit and engine went into the lobby, killing nine people. The wings went into the upper floors of the top of the carport and upper floors of the hotel. The jet fuel on board ignited on impact, causing a fireball that covered the entire front of the hotel up to the fourth floor . Indianapolis Airport crash trucks arrived on the scene a minute after impact and started to use foam to extinguish the fire, which was under control within the first four minutes. Other elements of the Airport fire department were assigned to search and rescue of the building, while assistance was requested from the Indianapolis Fire Department and the Decatur Township Fire Department.
Meanwhile, the hotel was evacuated completely by Ramada Inn staff and guests.
Major Teagarden was assigned to the 4450th Tactical Training Group which was involved with the development of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk
F-117 Nighthawk
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was a single-seat, twin-engine stealth ground-attack aircraft formerly operated by the United States Air Force . The F-117A's first flight was in 1981, and it achieved initial operating capability status in October 1983...
.
The Air Force pays out $50,427 in property claims damages, according to the New York Times on 26 October.