1956 Grand Canyon mid-air collision

1956 Grand Canyon mid-air collision
United Airlines Flight 718 · TWA Flight 2

Illustration of the collision
Accident
Date	June 30, 1956
Summary	Mid-air collision due to inadequate ATC system
Site	Grand Canyon, Arizona, U.S.
Total fatalities	128
Total survivors	0
First aircraft
A United Airlines DC-7, similar to the aircraft involved
Type	Douglas DC-7 Mainliner
Name	Mainliner Vancouver
Operator	United Airlines
Registration	N6324C[1]
Flight origin	Los Angeles Int'l Airport
Destination	Chicago Midway Airport
Occupants	58
Passengers	53
Crew	5
Fatalities	58
Survivors	0
Second aircraft
The Lockheed L-1049A Super Constellation involved
Type	Lockheed L-1049A Super Constellation
Name	Star of the Seine
Operator	Trans World Airlines
Registration	N6902C[2]
Flight origin	Los Angeles Int'l Airport
Destination	Kansas City Downtown Airport
Occupants	70
Passengers	64
Crew	6
Fatalities	70
Survivors	0

800km
500miles

  

Location of the collision

The Grand Canyon mid-air collision occurred in the western United States on June 30, 1956, when a United Airlines Douglas DC-7 struck a Trans World Airlines Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation over Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. The first plane fell into the canyon while the other slammed into a rock face. All 128 on board both airplanes perished, making it the first commercial airline incident to exceed one hundred fatalities. The airplanes 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.