United Air Lines Flight 859 facts for kids
Wreckage of the aircraft after the accident
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| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | July 11, 1961 |
| Summary | Mechanical failure combined with pilot error |
| Site | Denver, Colorado |
| Total fatalities | 18 |
| Total injuries | 84 |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Douglas DC-8-12 |
| Operator | United Airlines |
| Registration | N8040U |
| Flight origin | Omaha-Eppley Airfield, Nebraska |
| Destination | Denver-Stapleton International Airport, Colorado |
| Passengers | 115 |
| Crew | 7 |
| Fatalities | 17 |
| Injuries | 84 |
| Survivors | 105 |
| Ground casualties | |
| Ground fatalities | 1 |
United Airlines Flight 859 was a Douglas DC-8 airplane, with the tail number N8040U. On July 11, 1961, this plane was on a regular flight carrying people from Omaha, Nebraska to Denver, Colorado. Sadly, it had an accident while landing at Stapleton International Airport in Denver.
The accident happened because the two engines on the left side of the plane did not slow down properly. This made the plane go off the runway. A fuel tank then broke open and caught fire. In total, 18 people died, and 84 were hurt.
What Happened During the Flight
While the plane was flying from Omaha, it had a problem with its hydraulic system. This system uses fluid pressure to help control parts of the plane. The pilots didn't think the problem was too serious. They followed their safety steps for hydraulic issues and got ready for a normal landing.
The plane touched down on the runway as expected. But when the pilots tried to use the reverse thrust to slow down, the parts that help slow the plane on the left side did not work right. This meant the left engines kept pushing the plane forward, while the right engines were trying to slow it down.
This difference in power made the plane suddenly swerve to the right. All the tires on the right main landing gear burst. The plane then left the runway and crashed into a taxiway that was still being built. The front landing gear collapsed, and the plane hit several airport vehicles, including construction equipment. This caused a fuel tank on the right wing to break open and catch fire.
Why the Accident Happened
Investigators looked into what caused the accident. They found that 16 of the passengers who could not get out of the plane died from carbon monoxide poisoning. This is a dangerous gas that can be in smoke. One older woman broke both her ankles while trying to escape and later died from shock.
The official report from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said that one reason for the accident was that the co-pilot did not check the lights that show if the reverse thrust was working correctly.
The airport fire department was found to have some issues with its emergency equipment. However, the firefighters were praised for how hard they worked to put out the fire and help people.
Images for kids
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Wreckage of the aircraft after the accident
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The aircraft on fire during the emergency response
