The 1956 Grand Canyon Mid Air Collision
The 1956 Grand Canyon Midair Collision
By Bryan Smith
Air accidents have been a common occurrence since the beginning of aviation. In the early years they were viewed as an inevitability and even accepted as a consequence of man’s quest to conquer the skies. Though there have always been attempts to prevent these accidents, not every possibility can be predicted, let alone planned for or prevented. Thus, in many ways, the advancement of aviation has mostly been reactionary, sometimes necessitating major events to foster changes in design, procedure, and law. For instance, when famed football coach Knute
Rockne was killed in a plane crash in 1931, Congress reacted to public demand by forcing the aeronautics branch to begin making accident reports public domain. Another highprofile accident that eventually led to significant changes in regulation was a crash that killed New
Mexico Senator Bronson Cutting in 1935. A committee was put together after this event to investigate air traffic safety and their findings would eventually lead to the creation of the Civil
Aeronautics Act of 1938. It goes without saying that every air disaster that results in the loss of life is tragic and, without a doubt, regrettable. However, as significant as these two incidents were, their magnitude pales in comparison to a catastrophe that occurred on over the Grand
Canyon in 1956; an event that shocked the nation and changed aviation in the United States, forever. Aside from being the Saturday before Independence Day, June 30th 1956 began as a typical day for the many travelers departing Los Angeles. Tickets were punched, bags were checked, and spirits were high. While some passengers were traveling for business, many were leaving on vacation or on their way home from a summer trip. Little did anyone know, 128 men, women, and children from two of the flights leaving Los Angeles on this day would never reach
their destinations. TWA Flight 2 and
By Bryan Smith
Air accidents have been a common occurrence since the beginning of aviation. In the early years they were viewed as an inevitability and even accepted as a consequence of man’s quest to conquer the skies. Though there have always been attempts to prevent these accidents, not every possibility can be predicted, let alone planned for or prevented. Thus, in many ways, the advancement of aviation has mostly been reactionary, sometimes necessitating major events to foster changes in design, procedure, and law. For instance, when famed football coach Knute
Rockne was killed in a plane crash in 1931, Congress reacted to public demand by forcing the aeronautics branch to begin making accident reports public domain. Another highprofile accident that eventually led to significant changes in regulation was a crash that killed New
Mexico Senator Bronson Cutting in 1935. A committee was put together after this event to investigate air traffic safety and their findings would eventually lead to the creation of the Civil
Aeronautics Act of 1938. It goes without saying that every air disaster that results in the loss of life is tragic and, without a doubt, regrettable. However, as significant as these two incidents were, their magnitude pales in comparison to a catastrophe that occurred on over the Grand
Canyon in 1956; an event that shocked the nation and changed aviation in the United States, forever. Aside from being the Saturday before Independence Day, June 30th 1956 began as a typical day for the many travelers departing Los Angeles. Tickets were punched, bags were checked, and spirits were high. While some passengers were traveling for business, many were leaving on vacation or on their way home from a summer trip. Little did anyone know, 128 men, women, and children from two of the flights leaving Los Angeles on this day would never reach
their destinations. TWA Flight 2 and
References: Cadwalader, M. (1957, April 29). Air Mystery is Solved. Life Magazine Driskill, D. & Waldock, W. (Speakers) (2006, June 30). "No Greater Evil..." The History and Grand Canyon Collision. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2014, from Harris, D. (2004). Federal Aviation Act (1958). Retrieved December 15, 2014, from http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G23407400112.html Lawrence, H. (2014). The Federal Aviation Act. In MidAir Collision. (n.d.). Retrieved December 15, 2015, from December 15, 2015, from December 15, 2014, from http://www.aircraftarchaeology.com/twaunited.html