1956 Grand Canyon mid-air collision
The location of the two crash sites in the Grand Canyon | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | June 30, 1956 |
| Summary | Mid-air collision due to inadequate ATC system |
| Site |
|
| Total fatalities | 128 |
| Total survivors | 0 |
| First aircraft | |
| N6902C, the Lockheed L-1049A Super Constellation involved in the collision | |
| Type | Lockheed L-1049A Super Constellation |
| Name | Star of the Seine |
| Operator | Trans World Airlines |
| IATA flight No. | TW2 |
| ICAO flight No. | TWA2 |
| Call sign | TWA 2 |
| Registration | N6902C |
| Flight origin | Los Angeles International Airport, California, United States |
| Destination | Kansas City Downtown Airport, Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
| Occupants | 70 |
| Passengers | 64 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Fatalities | 70 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Second aircraft | |
| A United Air Lines Douglas DC-7 Mainliner, similar to the one involved in the collision | |
| Type | Douglas DC-7 Mainliner |
| Name | Mainliner Vancouver |
| Operator | United Air Lines |
| IATA flight No. | UA718 |
| ICAO flight No. | UAL718 |
| Call sign | UNITED 718 |
| Registration | N6324C |
| Flight origin | Los Angeles International Airport, California, United States |
| Destination | Chicago Midway Airport, Illinois, United States |
| Occupants | 58 |
| Passengers | 53 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 58 |
| Survivors | 0 |
On June 30, 1956, a Lockheed L-1049A Super Constellation operating as TWA Flight 2, was struck by a Douglas DC-7 Mainliner operating as United Air Lines Flight 718 over Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. The Constellation fell into the canyon, while the DC-7 slammed into a cliff. All 128 people on board both aircraft died, making it the first commercial airline incident to exceed one hundred fatalities. Both aircraft had departed Los Angeles International Airport minutes apart from each other and headed for Chicago and Kansas City, respectively. The collision took place in uncontrolled airspace, where it was the pilots' responsibility to maintain separation ("see and be seen"). This highlighted the antiquated state of air traffic control, which became the focus of major aviation reforms.