Eastern's L-1011 N318EA

Speedy · 10-31-2002, 05:09 PM

Long time ago I read a book called "the ghost of flight 401" and later saw the film on tv.

Is this story based on a true incident or is this just another story?

I tried searching for a pic of this plane but without any luck.

Tracon Doug · 10-31-2002, 05:31 PM

It's a true story. Made a nice slow, gradual descent into the Everglades while researching a problem with the aircraft, in a holding pattern. Two things of note came out of that. Ground Proximity Warning equipment in aircraft, and Low Altitude Alert (In conjunction with a controlled flight into terrain crash near Dulles) for us controller types.

PH-LKK · 10-31-2002, 05:37 PM

True story. But it wasn't N318EA, it was N310EA.

December 29, 1972, 11:42pm. A dark night over the everglades. And a horrible tragedy.

See the NTSB report DCA73AZ005 for more information.

whisperjet · 10-31-2002, 08:59 PM

The Ghost of flight 401 was very strong at EAL.The story of the ghost appearing was because EA used parts of this Airplane on other Ea L1011's.It was only after EA removed the parts of the other planes did the ghost not re-appear.I remember being down stairs on the 1011 at night when I worked for EA and thinking about the ghost myself.Everyone thought of Capt.Repo but not everyone talked about it.Long live the ghost of flight 401 and long live EA

HannibalHays · 10-31-2002, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PH-LKK
True story. But it wasn't N318EA, it was N310EA...

And it was also TriStar airframe #1011...

Westjetter · 10-31-2002, 11:51 PM

Very very sad accident. The cockpit crew missed many clues which could of averted the tragidy

V1UHOH · 11-01-2002, 12:04 AM

Wasn't there a story where the Captain's ghost appeared in the galley of another EA 1011 and warned of a fire on the aircraft, and to actually have a fire break out later in the flight?

airunner · 11-01-2002, 12:33 AM

All because of a busted light bulb(s).

Here's a good link The Crash of Flight 401

Speedy · 11-01-2002, 01:06 AM

Thanks for all the information and Airunner, thanks for the link.

I feel like digging out that book and reading it once again.

whisperjet · 11-01-2002, 07:47 PM

Because of that crash that is why altitude alert was installed on aircraft.The crew flew the airplane into the ground with no visual or aural warning.We learn from others mistakes.

Draco1268 · 11-02-2002, 04:50 PM

hey!!!!...this was my first airplane-related novel that I read...I remember reading this when I was 8 years old...scary!!!!

jjorgemiami · 11-02-2002, 06:52 PM

Eastern flight 401 was the late evening departure from JFK to MIA. I was a travel agent then and remember flying many times on Eastern flight 403 from EWR to MIA. One night we had a mechanical and Eastern flew us in the bad plane accross New York Harbour from EWR to JFK, where we switched planes to a good one that had been there for a while, sitting empty in the cold. Man was that plane COLD inside, it took a good half hour for it to warm up to a confortable temperature. We then took off for Miami, leaving the cold and snow behind. Arriving a couple of hours late with no insidents.

Scott · 11-02-2002, 11:27 PM

T'was a classic case of 3 pilots fixated on a problem with complete lapse of situational awareness. The crew was in a holding pattern following a landing gear anomaly. Apparently a pilot bumped the control yoke and disengaged the autopilot, triggering an undetected descent. Today, an autopilot-disconnect horn would sound, enhanced ground proximity warnings would annunciate, and the controller would rapidly query the crew. Better yet, I'd like to think modern cockpit resource management would preclude such events. We're getting better, but still far from perfect.

11-03-2002, 02:13 AM

What a sad story.

10-31-2002, 05:31 PM	#2
Tracon Doug Vector For Spacing Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Portland, Oregon Age: 51 Posts: 857	It's a true story. Made a nice slow, gradual descent into the Everglades while researching a problem with the aircraft, in a holding pattern. Two things of note came out of that. Ground Proximity Warning equipment in aircraft, and Low Altitude Alert (In conjunction with a controlled flight into terrain crash near Dulles) for us controller types. __________________ Piss On Noise Abatement! Doug Kenaga Portland TRACON Dallas/Fort Worth TRACON SoCal TRACON Los Angeles TRACON

10-31-2002, 08:59 PM	#4
whisperjet Collector Join Date: Aug 2001 Age: 40 Posts: 64	401 The Ghost of flight 401 was very strong at EAL.The story of the ghost appearing was because EA used parts of this Airplane on other Ea L1011's.It was only after EA removed the parts of the other planes did the ghost not re-appear.I remember being down stairs on the 1011 at night when I worked for EA and thinking about the ghost myself.Everyone thought of Capt.Repo but not everyone talked about it.Long live the ghost of flight 401 and long live EA

11-01-2002, 12:04 AM	#7
V1UHOH NARF! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: barnstorming the 3rd world in ***** slapped retro heavy metal three holers! Age: 40 Posts: 624	Wasn't there a story where the Captain's ghost appeared in the galley of another EA 1011 and warned of a fire on the aircraft, and to actually have a fire break out later in the flight? __________________ This is the earth. And this is Pinky. You can tell the difference quite easily. One is a lump of inert matter hurtling blindly through the void. The other... is the earth.

11-02-2002, 06:52 PM	#12
jjorgemiami Complete Wacko! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: MIAMI Age: 47 Posts: 5,854	We earn our wing everyday! Eastern flight 401 was the late evening departure from JFK to MIA. I was a travel agent then and remember flying many times on Eastern flight 403 from EWR to MIA. One night we had a mechanical and Eastern flew us in the bad plane accross New York Harbour from EWR to JFK, where we switched planes to a good one that had been there for a while, sitting empty in the cold. Man was that plane COLD inside, it took a good half hour for it to warm up to a confortable temperature. We then took off for Miami, leaving the cold and snow behind. Arriving a couple of hours late with no insidents. __________________ Fly United Airlines we are R I S I N G !

11-02-2002, 11:27 PM	#13
Scott Insane Collector Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Escondido, Ca. USA Age: 50 Posts: 2,763	T'was a classic case of 3 pilots fixated on a problem with complete lapse of situational awareness. The crew was in a holding pattern following a landing gear anomaly. Apparently a pilot bumped the control yoke and disengaged the autopilot, triggering an undetected descent. Today, an autopilot-disconnect horn would sound, enhanced ground proximity warnings would annunciate, and the controller would rapidly query the crew. Better yet, I'd like to think modern cockpit resource management would preclude such events. We're getting better, but still far from perfect. __________________ Fly the Friendly Skies of United uniTED takes wing Feb 12, 2004

10-31-2002, 05:09 PM	#1
Speedy Master Collector Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Switzerland Posts: 572	Eastern's L-1011 N318EA Long time ago I read a book called "the ghost of flight 401" and later saw the film on tv. Is this story based on a true incident or is this just another story? I tried searching for a pic of this plane but without any luck.

10-31-2002, 05:37 PM	#3
PH-LKK Centaurus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Fairfax, VA Age: 41 Posts: 576	True story. But it wasn't N318EA, it was N310EA. December 29, 1972, 11:42pm. A dark night over the everglades. And a horrible tragedy. See the NTSB report DCA73AZ005 for more information.

10-31-2002, 11:51 PM	#6
Westjetter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Age: 27 Posts: 2,650	Very very sad accident. The cockpit crew missed many clues which could of averted the tragidy

11-01-2002, 12:33 AM	#8
airunner Collector Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Posts: 95	All because of a busted light bulb(s). Here's a good link The Crash of Flight 401

11-01-2002, 01:06 AM	#9
Speedy Master Collector Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Switzerland Posts: 572	Thanks for all the information and Airunner, thanks for the link. I feel like digging out that book and reading it once again.

11-01-2002, 07:47 PM	#10
whisperjet Collector Join Date: Aug 2001 Age: 40 Posts: 64	Because of that crash that is why altitude alert was installed on aircraft.The crew flew the airplane into the ground with no visual or aural warning.We learn from others mistakes.

11-02-2002, 04:50 PM	#11
Draco1268 Master Collector Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 616	hey!!!!...this was my first airplane-related novel that I read...I remember reading this when I was 8 years old...scary!!!!

11-03-2002, 02:13 AM	#14
Romania is #1 Guest Posts: n/a	What a sad story.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread: