National Airlines Flight 83

1951 aviation accident

39°52′20.17″N 75°14′14.89″W / 39.8722694°N 75.2374694°W / 39.8722694; -75.2374694AircraftAircraft typeDouglas DC-4OperatorNational AirlinesRegistrationN74685Flight originNewark International Airport (EWR/KEWR)DestinationPhiladelphia International Airport (PHL/KPHL)Passengers25Crew3Fatalities7Injuries11Survivors21

National Airlines Flight 83 was a United States domestic flight from Newark International Airport, serving New York City, to Philadelphia. On January 14, 1951, the Douglas DC-4 of National Airlines crashed on landing at Philadelphia International Airport. The aircraft over-shot the runway, ran into a ditch and caught fire. Of the 28 people on board, 7 were killed and 11 injured. One of the dead was the lone flight attendant, Frankie Housley, who had gone back into the burning aircraft to try to save more passengers.

Crash

On arrival at Philadelphia International Airport, the pilots tried to land the aircraft too far down the runway, instead of aborting the approach.^[1] The runway was icy; the aircraft over-shot, running through a fence and into a ditch. The left wing broke off, rupturing the gasoline tanks, and the airplane caught fire. Of 28 people on board, including 3 crew, 7 were killed, including two infants and the one flight attendant on board.^[2]

Frankie Housley

Mary Frances "Frankie" Housley was the lone flight attendant on the flight.^[2]^[3] She opened the emergency door and saw the ground eight feet below. Returning to the cabin, she helped passengers release their seat belts, guided them to the door and gave a gentle shove to those who were hesitant to jump. After seeing 10 people to safety, she returned to the cabin to try to rescue a baby. After the fire was extinguished, the bodies of five women and two infants were found, including Housley with a four-month-old infant in her arms.^[2]^[4]

References

^ "Accident report of National Airlines Flight 83". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c Stu Bykofsky (August 12, 2013). "Philadelphia's forgotten airline heroine needs a better memorial". Philadelphia Inquirer.
^ J.C. (Jim) Tumblin. "Fountain Citians Who Made A Difference". Archived from the original on August 30, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
^ "Take Your Time". Time. January 22, 1951. Archived from the original on January 27, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2016.

External links

Report - Civil Aeronautics Board - PDF

Aviation accidents and incidents in 1951 (1951)

Jan 14

National Airlines Flight 83

Jan 31

Glitfaxi air crash

Mar 23

Atlantic C-124 disappearance

Mar 27

Ringway Dakota crash

Apr 25

Cubana de Aviación Flight 493

Jun 22

Pan Am Flight 151

Jun 30

United Airlines Flight 610

Jul 21

Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 3505

Aug 24

United Airlines Flight 615

Nov 15

LOT Li-2 crash

Dec 16

Miami Airlines C-46 crash

Dec 22

Misrair Languedoc

Dec 29

Continental Charters Flight 44-2

1950 ◄ ► 1952

v t e Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States and U.S. territories in the 1950s
1950	Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 307 Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2501 Fairfield-Suisun Boeing B-29 crash
1951	National Airlines Flight 83 Cubana de Aviación Flight 493 United Air Lines Flight 610 United Air Lines Flight 615 Miami Airlines C-46 Continental Charters Flight 44-2
1952	American Airlines Flight 6780 National Airlines Flight 101 Pan Am Flight 526A American Airlines Flight 910 Mount Gannett C-124 crash Moses Lake C-124 crash
1953	National Airlines Flight 470 Delta Air Lines Flight 318 USMC R4Q NROTC crash American Airlines Flight 723 BCPA Flight 304
1955	Cincinnati mid-air collision TWA Flight 260 American Airlines Flight 711 Hawaii R6D-1 crash Pan Am Flight 845/26 MacArthur Airport United Airlines crash American Airlines Flight 476 United Air Lines Flight 409 United Air Lines Flight 629
1956	TWA Flight 400 Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2 Grand Canyon mid-air collision Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 304
1957	Pacoima mid-air collision Northeast Airlines Flight 823 Northeast Airlines Flight 285
1958	Capital Airlines Flight 67 Capital Airlines Flight 300 Westover Air Force Base KC-135 crash Northeast Airlines Flight 258
1959	Southeast Airlines Flight 308 American Airlines Flight 320 The Day the Music Died Pan Am Flight 115 Capital Airlines Flight 75 American Airlines Flight 514 Braniff International Airways Flight 542 Piedmont Airlines Flight 349 National Airlines Flight 967 Allegheny Airlines Flight 371 San Diego F3H crash
This list is incomplete.

National Airlines (1934–1980)

History

Accidents & incidents	Flight 16 (1945) Flight 83 (1951) Flight 101 (1952) Flight 470 (1953) Flight 967 (1959) Flight 2511 (1960) Flight 27 (1973) Flight 193 (1978)