TW 2 + UA 718
30 Jun 1956 · Mid-Air & Ground Collisions1956 GRAND CANYON MID-AIR COLLISION
Lockheed Super Constellation + Douglas DC-7 · TWA + United Airlines · Image: Wikimedia Commons
Why it happened
'See and avoid' failed over the canyon
Visual separation limits
Uncontrolled airspace
Airway design
Aircraft
Lockheed Super Constellation + Douglas DC-7
TWA + United Airlines
Route
Los Angeles (LAX), USA
→ Kansas City (MKC) / Chicago (ORD), USA
People
128 on board
128 fatalities
Date
30 Jun 1956
Category
Mid-Air & Ground Collisions
Two aircraft, one piece of sky.
THE STORY
Two airliners sightseeing off-airway collided over the Grand Canyon. The disaster forced the creation of the FAA and modern air traffic control.