This documentary can now serve as a memorial to those who perished because once it's on the internet the information is immortal. Thank you, Charlotte Observer. Rest in peace to all of those who passed.
@doclewis8927 That's very sweet of you to look at it that way and you're right. Without this video, I, personally, wouldn't have heard of this event nor these victims but, now that I have, I will remember them as the people they were instead of the numerical statistic we tend to view the victims of tragic events as. Was it Stalin who said something along the lines of: "a single death is a tragedy, while a million is but a statistic?" Unfortunately, he was totally right. Videos and documentaries like this one serve to humanize the "numbers" behind tragic historical events.
Agreed. Check out the story of the Wichita state football team crash (1 month before Marshall team crash). It's the most incredible, bizarre, heartbreaking story. Done much like this documentary. The wreckage is still at the crash site in the Rockies.
It makes sense considering how many things the 9/11 most people think of overshadowed. There are several other disasters that happened on 9/11 but nobody knows of them due to 9/11
I was a 10 year old and my next door neighbor was an FAA investigator on that crash, he told me about the flight crew pointing out the Carowinds tower (340 foot tower) and not putting 2 and 2 together they were too low. What a horrible avoidable tragedy. Through the years every time i saw that tower i would think of that flight.
My dad was there. The National Guard @25) He remembers THE CALL. 3 days going through the crash ❤️🙏🏻❤️ so few survived. He never talked about it much… til now 🙏🏻 thank you. Because of this. He too can heal ❤️🙏🏻❤️
I happened upon this documentary. I rarely leave comments, and I have to say this tribute is real quality - the writing, the narration, the measured story style, the compilation of 1974 interviews and the interviews 50 years later with survivors and specialists, the careful respectfulness. Thank you, Observer
Back when he was still doing The Colbert Report on Comedy Central I attended a taping of the show. At the end of the taping he would answer a few questions from the audience and someone asked him what is one thing that has come as a result of being a celebrity and he said that he has gotten to meet people who knew his dad.
Thank you for telling this story so simply, with eloquence and grace, and treating the people involved with dignity. I was managing a Holiday Inn on the outskirts of Charlotte that summer of 1974. We were transferred to Charleston before the crash, but remember it well. We should be ashamed that no memorial was erected!
I watch the show Air Disasters all of the time, It's my favorite show, but quite often,I will either read about an accident in the least likely of places(book or small paper) or on Air Disasters itself they will talk about a certain accident, that otherwise hasn't had anything in the way of news published about it until someone mentioned it, the next thing you know, it's on Air Disasters.People, especially in the area of the accident,need to get the WORD out,I notice that in the comments that everyone related to the accident is saying the same thing as far as not wanting to talk about it.Come on people,GET THE WORD OUT untill they build a memorial for those victims and their families and start the HEALING PROCESS!!!!❤❤❤ ❤ My condolences to all of the Victims and their Families. I CRY for those PEOPLE 😢
It happened about a week or so before we were to leave from Charlotte to Charleston and then to Germany. We kids, especially one of my brothers, were all terrified to fly.
I can remember flying all my life because my dad was career Air Force and every base change that he went before we did we, my sisters, mother and I flew to our new base. I never had any fear of flying until I was in college and I flew to meet my boyfriend’s family and then ride back to college with him. My plane blew a tire on landing on a short stopover and it scared me to death. You quickly realize how vulnerable you are. To me 1974 was just yesterday since I got married in 1975. RIP for the souls who lost their lives.
This happened a little over a week before we were flying from Charlotte to Charleston and then on to Germany where my dad was stationed. The four or us kids were terrified to fly after this and especially one of my brothers.
Our family lived in Charlotte at the time of the crash. My father worked for a major corporation and had scheduled a meeting for that morning. One of his employees didn't show up for the meeting. At first, he feared that the employee had been on the flight. However, he had missed his wake-up call at the hotel in Charleston, so he missed the flight -- thus saving his life. (Ironically, my father died on 9/11 many years later.) May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
Thank you for providing these coordinates. Now, the people who live nearby should be able to do something about it, but I seriously doubt it. Those people from that church are useless and selfish. All these years pretending not to know anything about it, and now that they know, still are not going to even try to do anything about it.
Because prayers help huh. A good that would cause such travesties and atrocities every day to millions of people for thousands of years really is going to listen to a prayer. Lol logic
I was a young RN at Charlotte Memorial Hospital in the mid 70s. There was a memorial plaque in marble built into the wall outside of the cafeteria in a foyer area in remembrance to the crash victims. I’ll never forget seeing it and doing some reading about the crash.
My mother was there in '74. Vicki Nunn: RN. She remembered some of the survivors coming in, and the bodies coming into the morgue. She was disgusted at the photos of recovery workers holding up body parts, as if they were trophies, but that's how they documented things.
I've never forgotten this crash. I was 25 yrs old, from Charleston, living in Charlotte. It was the flight I would take to visit my fiance. We married and moved from Charleston to Charlotte, so I didn't fly that route anymore. When I heard about the crash, it seared into my mind. This documentary has given me so much more information than I ever knew about the circumstances, the survivors, and those lost. God bless them all and their families. I, for one, have never forgotten.
i used to travel for my work in the late 80's and 90's. i read a snippet of this crash somewhere during that time period. i used to get really angry when i would miss my flight but i realized that happenstance can be a blessing sometimes..i am retired now and very grateful i no longer need to fly..
I’m SO SORRY for your loss!!.. I can understand the devastation!! I would feel that way too! I live in Virginia Beach now..but worked at Charlotte Memorial Hospital when I lived there. We lived toward the end of the runway in a neighborhood back there in those days! What a Horrible tragedy!! May All those who Lost their lives.. R.I.P. & God Comfort the Families of those who had to deal with All this Grief & pain!! God Bless You!!🙏🙏🙏💔😭🕊️🕊️🕊️
Born and raised in Greensboro. I was only two years old when this happened so obviously I don't remember it. Thank you for bringing this to my and many other's attention! A memorial DEFINITELY needs to be erected there. ❤️
Thank you for educating so many of us that had no idea of this horrific plane crash. I would like to let the victims families to know they are not forgotten. 🇺🇸
I was a teacher and I sometimes made grading mistakes. I always invited students to advocate for themselves if I made a mistake. No biggie. My mistakes were learning opportunities. A pilot’s mistake simply are not the same. Not even close.
I never heard of this crash before. Now that I do I will never forget the victims. My B'day is 9/11 and in 1974 I was pregnant with my 1st child. I was 23 yrs old.
Watergate kinda dominated the headlines that year. Ford had been president for a couple of weeks. Mockingbird media was busy spewing a CIA script and under covered real news
As someone who moved here from Chicago 20 years ago and LOVED all the history there…I would love if you did more of these. The real true history of Charlotte. Thank you ❤
@@_Elizabeth_theMaid some of the history is nascar roots are here. Just down the road is kings mountain where the battle of kings mountain was fought Charlotte was the home of JFG coffee just to mention a few
Such an avoidable tragedy. I started my 50 year career as a flight attendant in 1970. We had FAA mandated/monitored JR = Jet Recurrent, (later renamed CQ = Continuing Qualification), every year. Slide presentations then footage of commercial airline accidents were shown as a teaching tool. I do recall this tragedy. This video tells a powerful story. Very well presented indeed.
I was a Flight Attendant and Instructor at PI, US, AA . We studied crashes during CQ. So sad this crew had not adhered to sterile cockpit laws. They were not situationaly aware of their surroundings which killed so many!
I live on the other side of the world in Finland and even I have been aware of the flight 212 tragedy. One member of my family lost his life in a plane crash and it was frustrating to see that when an exhibition was held at that particular airport, the whole history of the airport was displayed, however one certain event was completely hushed, like pushed behind a corner. It's time to make that memorial happen in the woods near Charlotte. The victims and their families need their voices to be heard. And the rest of us? We need to learn from history to avoid making same mistakes all over again. Thank you for this excellent documentary. 💖🇫🇮
This reminds me of the crash of Eastern 401 which crashed in Florida at night. The indicator light had not gone on for each landing gear and they were going to have to go around until it was corrected. At the same time Flight Engineer said maybe the bulb had burned out, The Captain radios he needed space to work this out and the tower gave them permission hold at 2000 ft on a heading. The captain, the first officer and flight engineer were all trying to solve the problem with ideas of what to do. Then alert sounded that the auto-pilot was disconnected, but no-one seemed to hear it. Then the first officer looks and says "Hey, we're still at 2000, right because the altimeter showed they had descended. In the end when they realized what impact was certain there was no engine or steering changes. They literally flew the airplane into the ground.
I lived in Miami then. An Eastern Captain lived across the street from us, and I am still in contact with his daughter, going on 63 years. The Everglades crash was horrendous in every way imaginable. They were so close to MIA, but they were preoccupied with a light bulb. I became a flight attendant. and the crash of that Eastern L1011 is unforgettable.
Im really humbled to have this recommendation in my feed. I just want to say that I witness these wonderful peoples lives, deaths and injuries and I’m sorry it happened. Also astounded that there’s not even a memorial! What a farce. They deserve better, as do those left behind. Sending love from the south coast of the UK 💜
As a lifelong resident of NC, I think it's a disgrace that no memorial has been erected to the victims & survivors of this terrible crash. Being disabled, I am unable to do it, but I do hope that some organization or individual undertakes the responsibility of securing funds & permission from the property owners to erect a monument or at least a plaque honoring these brave, deserving people.
@@andrewnajarian5994He did not "sneak" onto to site, he had permission. And without these photos and his reporting, there would be little to no photographic evidence of the harrowing crash of Flight 212. Instead of chastising the reporter, you should commend his bravery of reporting onsite, despite the hazardous risks involved.
@sasskvetch8617.....a church is not supposed to be judgemental so it should not matter if a memorial is placed on their property. If they object then they are hypocrites and not a true Christian.
Such a well done and moving piece of journalism. I never knew of Flight 212 until now. This should stand as an example of how journalists and news media should not only inform but also educate. Well done, very well done.
Excellent video! Several years ago, I was thinking about doing a video on this crash also, because of it's Stephen Colbert connection, but you beat me to it! It's a story that needed to be remembered, and the other more well-known 9/11 tragically overshadowed it.
Thank you for an excellent documentary! I have family in the Charlotte area and have never heard of this crash. I was only 3 months old when it happened, but the lessons learned undoubtedly kept me safer during my years of flying for vacations and business. May the families and loved ones of the crash be comforted by us now remembering.
My grandparents had retired to Charlotte just six years before this crash. Five years before, my sister and I had flown down to see them for two weeks by ourselves. We flew into Charlotte Douglas Airport from Wisconsin. For Grandpa and Grandma, it was a drive all the way across the city because they lived by Eastland Mall. They took us to Carowinds on that trip. Flight 212 must have flown right over the amusement park before crashing. I remember the crash making the national news and hearing that it was in Charlotte. At 11 years old, I didn’t have the geographical knowledge to realize that it was on the opposite side of town from them. I just remember being relieved that it wasn’t near their neighborhood. I didn’t realize that this was the disaster that set the sterile cockpit protocol mandate in motion. It’s odd that the rule took 7 years to be implemented.
It is sad that there is not a memorial at the site of the crash . What does it matter that it is not land owned by the airport. May all the men women and children rest in peace
I'm from Portland, Oregon and didn't know that there was a commercial plane crash in walking distance from my home in 1978 until there was a story on the 20th anniversary on the front page of the paper.
I was in 10th grade when this happened. My mom was driving me to school, and we were stopped on a hill 1 road from the highway it crossed before crashing. That plane was so low it's belly almost hit us, and the sound was deafening! It's an event that is etched in my mind! My father saw it go down. He was already on the Hwy and tried to run and help but because of knee surgery he couldn't make it that far. Thank goodness because one of our neighbors was able to run to help and he literally lost his mind because of what he witnessed. He was never the same.
Thank you for this beautiful and poignant memorial. This is an example of how history is lost and forgotten without intentional efforts to preserve it …and along with it important lessons, sacred memories, and precious lives. I live in North Carolina and was almost 10 years old when this happened. I remember watching the news reports with my parents, and to this day, I am nervous when landing in an airplane. My condolences to all the families who lost loved ones. I hope this leads to a permanent memorial to the victims.
The story of Walt Norem made an impression on me. If I have a strong premonition of something as terrible as a plane crash happening, I am going to heed the warning. The guy literally wrote up his will, and then got on the plane. How about skip the will and stay home?
Thank You. I vaguely remember this as I was 12 years old.... There should be a memorial and all involved should always remember flying an aircraft is serious, serious business.
@@LittleBoats-lz8sm Yes!!! I was thinking that too!! Or maybe the Citizens of Charlotte & Charleston can get something started (both cities).. or a GoFundMe!!! 🙏🙏🙏💔😭🕊️🕊️
When the airport built the long runway there use to be one on the road where it came to rest,Dont know where it is now. went by it going to work for years it was awful.
I worked at the Air National Guard at that time and remembered hearing about the crash on the radio of our military vehicle. I believe the Army Guard building was used as a temporary morgue in the recovery. Sad day for sure.
Very well done. I don't subscribe to the Observer anymore, but you did a good job. I was in 11th grade when it happened. I remember driving on York (Now S. Tryon) and seeing the damage in the field. The Observer had articles that the pilots were looking for the Eastern skytower at Carowinds and thought they had passed it before they did. Shame that happened,
I was 13 years old and in junior high at the old location of Northeast Junior High when this crash happened. It was carried in both the Charlotte Observer and Charlotte News papers. I think the only reason they didnt want a memorial because Charlotte was beginning to really change and they felt that it might interfere with the land development and expansion.
The surviving pilot was negligent and should have NEVER been allowed to fly again! It’s disgusting that a memorial wasn’t erected and that disastrous crash was swept under the rug! Prayers lifted up for all the victims and their families, such a tragedy 😞
So if you’re in a car accident we should never let you drive again? It was an accident, it wasn’t intentional and the sterile cockpit rule wasn’t even a thing yet, so they weren’t even breaking any regulations. It’s not like he woke up that morning and decided to intentionally crash his plane, it was pure luck he survived himself, the captain sitting 18” away from him didn’t. Try having some forgiveness in your heart.
You aren't the one who gets to decide that, the case was handled per all rules and regulations in force at the time. If you have a problem with it you need to take it up with the FAA or a civilian court or whatever else you think may find in your favor. As for a memorial, sorta same thing there, you are free to start something up for that and find a way to fund it and get the paperwork in order and if it gets approved, to ahead and have the memorial put there. No one else so far did - which I can understand since it would be a bit of a question where, if you put it where the plane went down you'll need to secure that land first and then realize that it is unlikely to get many if any visitors. The airport might be a better place, but I doubt they want to set that up now after all this time - but you never know. Call em up and ask. What won't make a difference is complaining about it online.
not to play defense for the guy but back in the 1970s, the rules of what you could and could not do were much loser, and it was common for pilots to chit chat like this, especially back then planes were getting more advanced so they had more time for that kind of stuff
This video is a fitting memorial to the memory of those who both perished and survived. Kudos to those of the Charlotte Observer who made this. Could someone with influence push for a memorial similar to the one at the airport for the US Air crash in 1994? Who cares that it didn't happen on airport property. It needs to be remembered.
This is an amazing video! And as someone that watches Stephen Colbert every night, I wish that this was more well known. The fact that there is no memorial, just a housing development makes me sad.
This feature piece proves that professional journalists still know how to present news without their personal opinion or their corporate masters political opinion muddying the content. The loss of straightforward unbiased news reporting is THE culprit behind so many of America’s problems today.
Yes, and actually 2 brothers went with their dad. Pete and Paul both were killed. When I think of all Steve has done it really makes you wonder what they could’ve accomplished.
A mistake is when you pick up an umbrella, that looks like your own, or forget it in the airport. The pilots made a decision to have a conversation that had nothing to do with what those two pilots were doing, and who they were responsible for.
This documentary is excellent. And now, of course, there is a “sterile cockpit” rule, but that wasn’t so back then. As they say, every flight rule is written in the blood of those lost in a crash.
September 11th has even more meaning for these people. Thank God they survived! My daughter was born on September 11th also. My much belated condolences, to the friends and family, of those who perished in the crash. Peace
This was the same cause, at the time, the worst air disaster in the United States in San Diego in 1978. The pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer of a 727 (PSA Airlines) were engaged in personal conversation and not paying attention to what was happening around them. They collided with a Cessna, not paying attention to the relative position to each other, even though the ATC informed them of the small aircraft in their vicinity. There were no survivors.
That church which owns the property of the crash site now could make a memorial site on their property maybe? That would help the families and survivors have some closure and know that they’re definitely being remembered. ❤
@@sasskvetch8617 Seriously ...... Thar's one of the strangest things I've ever heard anyone ever say. I am thinking family members and loved ones would disagree with you
Why hasn’t this crash been covered by any of the air aviation investigation documentaries? I have looked up his flight many of times and I am glad that someone finally covered it.
For a couple of years ago I was on a bus on my way home, and the bus driver was driving like crazy , I noticed there was more passengers that was scared as I was, so I went in to the front and asked him to slow down! And that we where scared for our life , he was so Angry at me and started to walk against me swearing , I was so scared but then I turned to him and said: go back to your driving seat and do your job safely then I sat down. Nobody said anything, when I got home I was shaking 😢.....
You were not wrong. I've had to ask Uber and Lyft drivers to slow down. I know they're trying to get their next fare, but if we crash, you'll be sorry! I recently took my first flight in 17 years (through Charlotte Douglas oddly enough). I know there isn't much a pilot can do about turbulence, but it's nice when they communicate about it. On the first leg to San Francisco that pilot communicated well. On the way back, 5 hours of rumbling, not a word from the cockpit! I had to grab and hold on to seats just to get to the bathroom without falling. 😡 I would have liked to give the pilot and copilot a piece of my mind, unfortunately I have no idea how to fly 😅, so I guess that's off the table.
What about flight 911, flight 60, flight 402 and flight 980, flight 965 the list goes on. The general public forgets about these horrific plane crashes because of time and because the majority of people don’t have any personal connection to these incidents. The documentary left me with a sense of finger pointing. Almost like “how dare the public go on with their lives”! I hope that’s not the message they’re trying to convey but it sure feels like it. In the 70s, 80s and the 90s, there were all of these absolutely horrific plane crashes. Flying during that time period was not as safe as what it is today. The reason for that is with every crash aviation and civil aviation manufacturers learned something new. That has made flying more safe than at any point in history. Most modern rules, regulations and cockpit culture rules are written in blood. The family members may feel like nobody cares about the crash of Eastern 212 but the knowledge gained from that accident (a sterile cockpit) is used on every single flight every single day. Their loved ones didn’t die in vain.
I know all about sterile cockpit rules but didn't know they came about because of this crash. I'm grateful that flying is made ever more safe as a result of these tragedies, but this should not be forgotten.
This documentary can now serve as a memorial to those who perished because once it's on the internet the information is immortal. Thank you, Charlotte Observer. Rest in peace to all of those who passed.
Ask the Internet Archive about the "permanency" of the Internet.
@doclewis8927
That's very sweet of you to look at it that way and you're right.
Without this video, I, personally, wouldn't have heard of this event nor these victims but, now that I have, I will remember them as the people they were instead of the numerical statistic we tend to view the victims of tragic events as.
Was it Stalin who said something along the lines of: "a single death is a tragedy, while a million is but a statistic?"
Unfortunately, he was totally right.
Videos and documentaries like this one serve to humanize the "numbers" behind tragic historical events.
As a 22 year old EMT at Charlotte Ambulance Service, I was one of the first responders on the scene. Thank you for this moving and necessary memorial.
Hope u ok mate..what was the ash floating around that reporter Mark ethridge was onabout?..(humour me I'm thick as shit)😂
That is the way documentaries should be made, no hype, drama just facts well told.
Agreed. Check out the story of the Wichita state football team crash (1 month before Marshall team crash). It's the most incredible, bizarre, heartbreaking story. Done much like this documentary. The wreckage is still at the crash site in the Rockies.
No click bait, no hyperbole
Very strange that this crash has been forgotten. Thank you for assembling this documentary.
This is the first time I have heard about it.
@@Jestin612me too
It makes sense considering how many things the 9/11 most people think of overshadowed.
There are several other disasters that happened on 9/11 but nobody knows of them due to 9/11
@@homeopathicfossil-fuels4789a major revolutionary war event happened on 9/11 that’s mostly been forgotten because of the 2001 event
To be fair, aircraft crashes were a lot more commonplace in the 1970s
I was a 10 year old and my next door neighbor was an FAA investigator on that crash, he told me about the flight crew pointing out the Carowinds tower (340 foot tower) and not putting 2 and 2 together they were too low. What a horrible avoidable tragedy. Through the years every time i saw that tower i would think of that flight.
Wow!
Much respect for the lady who told the injured woman “I’m gettin her as fast as I can” when she said “I want my mama” 🥺
Woman? Surely it was a child
@@reaux3921 I have heard adults in distress say they wan their mother
Kip
My dad was there. The National Guard @25) He remembers THE CALL. 3 days going through the crash ❤️🙏🏻❤️ so few survived. He never talked about it much… til now 🙏🏻 thank you. Because of this. He too can heal ❤️🙏🏻❤️
I happened upon this documentary. I rarely leave comments, and I have to say this tribute is real quality - the writing, the narration, the measured story style, the compilation of 1974 interviews and the interviews 50 years later with survivors and specialists, the careful respectfulness. Thank you, Observer
I remember this so well! A close friend of mine' Dad died in this crash. He worked for Lipton Tea Company.
🥲💌🙏🏻
Back when he was still doing The Colbert Report on Comedy Central I attended a taping of the show. At the end of the taping he would answer a few questions from the audience and someone asked him what is one thing that has come as a result of being a celebrity and he said that he has gotten to meet people who knew his dad.
🥺
Thank you for telling this story so simply, with eloquence and grace, and treating the people involved with dignity. I was managing a Holiday Inn on the outskirts of Charlotte that summer of 1974. We were transferred to Charleston before the crash, but remember it well. We should be ashamed that no memorial was erected!
Yes. There should be a memorial. I am shocked to hear there isn't.
I watch the show Air Disasters all of the time, It's my favorite show, but quite often,I will either read about an accident in the least likely of places(book or small paper) or on Air Disasters itself they will talk about a certain accident, that otherwise hasn't had anything in the way of news published about it until someone mentioned it, the next thing you know, it's on Air Disasters.People, especially in the area of the accident,need to get the WORD out,I notice that in the comments that everyone related to the accident is saying the same thing as far as not wanting to talk about it.Come on people,GET THE WORD OUT untill they build a memorial for those victims and their families and start the HEALING PROCESS!!!!❤❤❤ ❤ My condolences to all of the Victims and their Families. I CRY for those PEOPLE 😢
September 11 is a huge date in our lives that we all remember. I had never heard of this crash before but now I will remember flight 212.
It happened about a week or so before we were to leave from
Charlotte to Charleston and then to Germany. We kids, especially one of my brothers, were all terrified to fly.
I can remember flying all my life because my dad was career Air Force and every base change that he went before we did we, my sisters, mother and I flew to our new base. I never had any fear of flying until I was in college and I flew to meet my boyfriend’s family and then ride back to college with him. My plane blew a tire on landing on a short stopover and it scared me to death. You quickly realize how vulnerable you are. To me 1974 was just yesterday since I got married in 1975. RIP for the souls who lost their lives.
This happened a little over a week before we were flying from Charlotte to Charleston and then on to Germany where my dad was stationed. The four or us kids were terrified to fly after this and especially one of my brothers.
Our family lived in Charlotte at the time of the crash. My father worked for a major corporation and had scheduled a meeting for that morning. One of his employees didn't show up for the meeting. At first, he feared that the employee had been on the flight. However, he had missed his wake-up call at the hotel in Charleston, so he missed the flight -- thus saving his life. (Ironically, my father died on 9/11 many years later.) May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
35°09'14.0"N 80°55'34.0"W are the coordinates of the crash site, which is now a forested area in the midst of a neighborhood of homes.
I believe that the man who went to the crash site often would have been so grateful to have had these coordinates at the time.
Thank you for providing these coordinates. Now, the people who live nearby should be able to do something about it, but I seriously doubt it.
Those people from that church are useless and selfish. All these years pretending not to know anything about it, and now that they know, still are not going to even try to do anything about it.
I had no idea of this crash. Thank you for sharing. Prayers for all those lost and the survivors.
Because prayers help huh. A good that would cause such travesties and atrocities every day to millions of people for thousands of years really is going to listen to a prayer. Lol logic
Thank you for this. It is very well made.
I was a young RN at Charlotte Memorial Hospital in the mid 70s. There was a memorial plaque in marble built into the wall outside of the cafeteria in a foyer area in remembrance to the crash victims. I’ll never forget seeing it and doing some reading about the crash.
My mother was there in '74. Vicki Nunn: RN. She remembered some of the survivors coming in, and the bodies coming into the morgue. She was disgusted at the photos of recovery workers holding up body parts, as if they were trophies, but that's how they documented things.
I've never forgotten this crash. I was 25 yrs old, from Charleston, living in Charlotte. It was the flight I would take to visit my fiance. We married and moved from Charleston to Charlotte, so I didn't fly that route anymore. When I heard about the crash, it seared into my mind. This documentary has given me so much more information than I ever knew about the circumstances, the survivors, and those lost. God bless them all and their families. I, for one, have never forgotten.
i used to travel for my work in the late 80's and 90's. i read a snippet of this crash somewhere during that time period. i used to get really angry when i would miss my flight but i realized that happenstance can be a blessing sometimes..i am retired now and very grateful i no longer need to fly..
Lost a relative on that flight. The loss devastated my entire extended family.
I'm sorry.
I’m SO SORRY for your loss!!.. I can understand the devastation!! I would feel that way too! I live in Virginia Beach now..but worked at Charlotte Memorial Hospital when I lived there. We lived toward the end of the runway in a neighborhood back there in those days!
What a Horrible tragedy!! May All those who Lost their lives.. R.I.P. & God Comfort the Families of those who had to deal with All this Grief & pain!!
God Bless You!!🙏🙏🙏💔😭🕊️🕊️🕊️
I’m so sorry
Sorry for your loss. Doesn't matter how long ago it was.
So sorry for your loss.
Born and raised in Greensboro. I was only two years old when this happened so obviously I don't remember it. Thank you for bringing this to my and many other's attention! A memorial DEFINITELY needs to be erected there. ❤️
Thank you for educating so many of us that had no idea of this horrific plane crash. I would like to let the victims families to know they are not forgotten. 🇺🇸
May this video be the beginning of remembering those who have been lost.
I was a teacher and I sometimes made grading mistakes. I always invited students to advocate for themselves if I made a mistake. No biggie. My mistakes were learning opportunities. A pilot’s mistake simply are not the same. Not even close.
I never heard of this crash before. Now that I do I will never forget the victims. My B'day is 9/11 and in 1974 I was pregnant with my 1st child. I was 23 yrs old.
So on your 50th birthday, 9/11/2001 happened ??!!
How time flies ⏳✈
Watergate kinda dominated the headlines that year. Ford had been president for a couple of weeks. Mockingbird media was busy spewing a CIA script and under covered real news
I never heard of this crash and now I will always remember it. ❤
Thank you for sharing and keeping the story and memories of all involved.
As someone who moved here from Chicago 20 years ago and LOVED all the history there…I would love if you did more of these. The real true history of Charlotte. Thank you ❤
Absolutely. There is a ton of history all around the Charlotte area that most people are unaware of
@@HappyCamper1992 I just subbed! Good to find you 👍
@@_Elizabeth_theMaid some of the history is nascar roots are here. Just down the road is kings mountain where the battle of kings mountain was fought Charlotte was the home of JFG coffee just to mention a few
Such an avoidable tragedy. I started my 50 year career as a flight attendant in 1970. We had FAA mandated/monitored JR = Jet Recurrent, (later renamed CQ = Continuing Qualification), every year. Slide presentations then footage of commercial airline accidents were shown as a teaching tool. I do recall this tragedy. This video tells a powerful story. Very well presented indeed.
Your handle leads one to guess that you're also a private pilot.
I was a Flight Attendant and Instructor at PI, US, AA . We studied crashes during CQ. So sad this crew had not adhered to sterile cockpit laws. They were not situationaly aware of their surroundings which killed so many!
You are a bit senior to me,but we had the same training. It was known as Recurrent Emergency training, and watching those videos was really tough
I live on the other side of the world in Finland and even I have been aware of the flight 212 tragedy. One member of my family lost his life in a plane crash and it was frustrating to see that when an exhibition was held at that particular airport, the whole history of the airport was displayed, however one certain event was completely hushed, like pushed behind a corner. It's time to make that memorial happen in the woods near Charlotte. The victims and their families need their voices to be heard. And the rest of us? We need to learn from history to avoid making same mistakes all over again. Thank you for this excellent documentary. 💖🇫🇮
Thank you for remembering those who died and who survived 🙏!
This reminds me of the crash of Eastern 401 which crashed in Florida at night. The indicator light had not gone on for each landing gear and they were going to have to go around until it was corrected. At the same time Flight Engineer said maybe the bulb had burned out, The Captain radios he needed space to work this out and the tower gave them permission hold at 2000 ft on a heading. The captain, the first officer and flight engineer were all trying to solve the problem with ideas of what to do. Then alert sounded that the auto-pilot was disconnected, but no-one seemed to hear it. Then the first officer looks and says "Hey, we're still at 2000, right because the altimeter showed they had descended. In the end when they realized what impact was certain there was no engine or steering changes. They literally flew the airplane into the ground.
I lived in Miami then. An Eastern Captain lived across the street from us, and I am still in contact with his daughter, going on 63 years.
The Everglades crash was horrendous in every way imaginable. They were so close to MIA, but they were preoccupied with a light bulb.
I became a flight attendant. and the crash of that Eastern L1011 is unforgettable.
I remember that crash. Very tragic.
Ive never forgotten this crash. Lived about 35 miles from there. My son was 2 weeks old. Still gives me chills. Rest in Peace to all whom perished. 🌹
Wow, amazing coverage & tribute to all those involved in this tragedy. Thank you.
Really well done. Thank you for shining a well-deserved light onto this tragedy.
Im really humbled to have this recommendation in my feed. I just want to say that I witness these wonderful peoples lives, deaths and injuries and I’m sorry it happened. Also astounded that there’s not even a memorial! What a farce. They deserve better, as do those left behind. Sending love from the south coast of the UK 💜
As a lifelong resident of NC, I think it's a disgrace that no memorial has been erected to the victims & survivors of this terrible crash. Being disabled, I am unable to do it, but I do hope that some organization or individual undertakes the responsibility of securing funds & permission from the property owners to erect a monument or at least a plaque honoring these brave, deserving people.
Perhaps The Charlotte Observer could place one since their reporter had the disrespect to sneak onto the site during the rescue operation.
@@andrewnajarian5994He did not "sneak" onto to site, he had permission. And without these photos and his reporting, there would be little to no photographic evidence of the harrowing crash of Flight 212. Instead of chastising the reporter, you should commend his bravery of reporting onsite, despite the hazardous risks involved.
You may be disabled but apparently you have the Internet, therefore the ability to utilise resources for fundraising and awareness.
@@asadayo I’m pretty sure he snuck onto it. He said he hid under the gurney in an ambulance to get onsite.
Great presentation, good work, terrible incident. Nice tribute to those who were taken.
Y'all did a fantastic job on this film.
Thoughts and prayers to the perished and surviving family members.
It’s terribly awful. Even worse no memorial. What a way to treat people. They all deserve some recognition surely.
You are right...I never heard of this crash. How tragic. There is no excuse for not having a memorial site.
I did study this accident and the NTSB report. It was a classic case that, along with some others, resulted in the sterile cockpit rules.
It is not to late, that Church ministry could allow a memorial at their property!
Not everyone who lost their lives was Christian, so that would be extremely inappropriate.
@@sasskvetch8617That is not necessarily what they meant.I believe that they are just talking about a memorial somewhere, ANYWHERE!!
@sasskvetch8617.....a church is not supposed to be judgemental so it should not matter if a memorial is placed on their property. If they object then they are hypocrites and not a true Christian.
Such a well done and moving piece of journalism. I never knew of Flight 212 until now.
This should stand as an example of how journalists and news media should not only inform but also educate.
Well done, very well done.
Well done. Thank you for bringing this story to light. R.I.P. to the victims of Flight 212 & God bless the courageous survivors.
Excellent video! Several years ago, I was thinking about doing a video on this crash also, because of it's Stephen Colbert connection, but you beat me to it! It's a story that needed to be remembered, and the other more well-known 9/11 tragically overshadowed it.
I had a friend who was a first responder. It was a truly emotional journey for him.
RIP to all who passed.
Thank you for an excellent documentary! I have family in the Charlotte area and have never heard of this crash. I was only 3 months old when it happened, but the lessons learned undoubtedly kept me safer during my years of flying for vacations and business. May the families and loved ones of the crash be comforted by us now remembering.
Certainly the first time I've ever heard about this. Such a tragic reason for so many to lose their life like that. Thanks for sharing this.
Excellent information and narration. Condolences to the families of the deceased and the loved ones...
Excellent work by this news organization. Real journalism is nice to see every once in a while. The Observer has some great talent.
HAD NOT HAS.
My grandparents had retired to Charlotte just six years before this crash. Five years before, my sister and I had flown down to see them for two weeks by ourselves. We flew into Charlotte Douglas Airport from Wisconsin. For Grandpa and Grandma, it was a drive all the way across the city because they lived by Eastland Mall. They took us to Carowinds on that trip. Flight 212 must have flown right over the amusement park before crashing.
I remember the crash making the national news and hearing that it was in Charlotte. At 11 years old, I didn’t have the geographical knowledge to realize that it was on the opposite side of town from them. I just remember being relieved that it wasn’t near their neighborhood. I didn’t realize that this was the disaster that set the sterile cockpit protocol mandate in motion. It’s odd that the rule took 7 years to be implemented.
I moved to Charlotte in 1979, my parents started looking at homes near the airport, glad we didn't move there, we moved near Cotswold
It is sad that there is not a memorial at the site of the crash . What does it matter that it is not land owned by the airport. May all the men women and children rest in peace
I'm from Portland, Oregon and didn't know that there was a commercial plane crash in walking distance from my home in 1978 until there was a story on the 20th anniversary on the front page of the paper.
Thank you for this well done explanation of Flight 212 crash.
I was in 10th grade when this happened. My mom was driving me to school, and we were stopped on a hill 1 road from the highway it crossed before crashing. That plane was so low it's belly almost hit us, and the sound was deafening! It's an event that is etched in my mind! My father saw it go down. He was already on the Hwy and tried to run and help but because of knee surgery he couldn't make it that far. Thank goodness because one of our neighbors was able to run to help and he literally lost his mind because of what he witnessed. He was never the same.
At 3:26 when the passenger watched a guy on the ground wave his arms “up! up!” …frightening
A great documentary telling the story of this crash. Not many know about
it anymore. It was a tragedy. So sad.
Excellent video, thanks .
So sad that they were never given a proper memorial site , R.I.P to all those who lost their lives xx❤
Thank you for this beautiful and poignant memorial. This is an example of how history is lost and forgotten without intentional efforts to preserve it …and along with it important lessons, sacred memories, and precious lives. I live in North Carolina and was almost 10 years old when this happened. I remember watching the news reports with my parents, and to this day, I am nervous when landing in an airplane. My condolences to all the families who lost loved ones. I hope this leads to a permanent memorial to the victims.
Thanks for sharing the story
I wish there was something we could do as a community to memorialize the victims of this tragedy.
You can try to get a petition to get the victims .survivors and family members a real memorial. Contact your congress people
May the ones who lost their life rest in peace ❤
Stephen Colbert 😢.
He talks about the loss of his father and brothers.
Heartbreaking for all the victims families. 🌸🌼💐💙💗🩵💛💙
MAKE A MEMORIAL!!!!
He talks about “Dad and the boys”. 😢
respect, remember . and for the people who died and survived in peace and harmony,
The story of Walt Norem made an impression on me. If I have a strong premonition of something as terrible as a plane crash happening, I am going to heed the warning. The guy literally wrote up his will, and then got on the plane. How about skip the will and stay home?
Great film, thanks for the effort.
Thank You. I vaguely remember this as I was 12 years old.... There should be a memorial and all involved should always remember flying an aircraft is serious, serious business.
Maybe your newspaper could get a campaign going to raise money for a memorial, I'd donate
@@LittleBoats-lz8sm
Yes!!! I was thinking that too!! Or maybe the Citizens of Charlotte & Charleston can get something started (both cities).. or a GoFundMe!!! 🙏🙏🙏💔😭🕊️🕊️
When the airport built the long runway there use to be one on the road where it came to rest,Dont know where it is now. went by it going to work for years it was awful.
Stephen Colbert has the money to do something, he should lead the effort, after all he has the platform and money and reason to.
I worked at the Air National Guard at that time and remembered hearing about the crash on the radio of our military vehicle. I believe the Army Guard building was used as a temporary morgue in the recovery. Sad day for sure.
Very well done. I don't subscribe to the Observer anymore, but you did a good job. I was in 11th grade when it happened. I remember driving on York (Now S. Tryon) and seeing the damage in the field. The Observer had articles that the pilots were looking for the Eastern skytower at Carowinds and thought they had passed it before they did. Shame that happened,
I was 13 years old and in junior high at the old location of Northeast Junior High when this crash happened. It was carried in both the Charlotte Observer and Charlotte News papers. I think the only reason they didnt want a memorial because Charlotte was beginning to really change and they felt that it might interfere with the land development and expansion.
Thanks TCO for reminding and enlightening me about this terrible disaster. I never knew anything about it.
It's amazing that a few who did survive, 😢 are still alive 50 years later. ❤
That was unbelievably great journalism ! 😢
The surviving pilot was negligent and should have NEVER been allowed to fly again! It’s disgusting that a memorial wasn’t erected and that disastrous crash was swept under the rug!
Prayers lifted up for all the victims and their families, such a tragedy 😞
So if you’re in a car accident we should never let you drive again? It was an accident, it wasn’t intentional and the sterile cockpit rule wasn’t even a thing yet, so they weren’t even breaking any regulations. It’s not like he woke up that morning and decided to intentionally crash his plane, it was pure luck he survived himself, the captain sitting 18” away from him didn’t. Try having some forgiveness in your heart.
You aren't the one who gets to decide that, the case was handled per all rules and regulations in force at the time. If you have a problem with it you need to take it up with the FAA or a civilian court or whatever else you think may find in your favor. As for a memorial, sorta same thing there, you are free to start something up for that and find a way to fund it and get the paperwork in order and if it gets approved, to ahead and have the memorial put there. No one else so far did - which I can understand since it would be a bit of a question where, if you put it where the plane went down you'll need to secure that land first and then realize that it is unlikely to get many if any visitors. The airport might be a better place, but I doubt they want to set that up now after all this time - but you never know. Call em up and ask. What won't make a difference is complaining about it online.
not to play defense for the guy but back in the 1970s, the rules of what you could and could not do were much loser, and it was common for pilots to chit chat like this, especially back then planes were getting more advanced so they had more time for that kind of stuff
I study plane crashes, i thought i knew them all, but im wrong, thanks for this presentation.
There absolutely should be a plaque honoring those who lost their lives, the survivors, and all the emergency personnel.
This video is a fitting memorial to the memory of those who both perished and survived. Kudos to those of the Charlotte Observer who made this. Could someone with influence push for a memorial similar to the one at the airport for the US Air crash in 1994? Who cares that it didn't happen on airport property. It needs to be remembered.
The NC government should absolutely fund a memorial. If they can find spare time and funds amongst all their scandals and mismanagement, of course
This is an amazing video! And as someone that watches Stephen Colbert every night, I wish that this was more well known. The fact that there is no memorial, just a housing development makes me sad.
This feature piece proves that professional journalists still know how to present news without their personal opinion or their corporate masters political opinion muddying the content. The loss of straightforward unbiased news reporting is THE culprit behind so many of America’s problems today.
"Entertainment" presented as news and opinion touted as fact is the biggest contributor to the Dunning Kruger effect in modern times.
Stephen Colbert's father and brother died on that flight.
I went to Wikipedia just now, and it appears that TWO of his brothers died in the crash.
@@edmallesazomg that’s horrible! I had no idea.
Yes, and actually 2 brothers went with their dad. Pete and Paul both were killed. When I think of all Steve has done it really makes you wonder what they could’ve accomplished.
Yes, maybe the brothers would have sold their soul just like Stephen (remember him shilling for the vax).
Hopfully they wouldn't of turned out like him.
A mistake is when you pick up an umbrella, that looks like your own, or forget it in the airport. The pilots made a decision to have a conversation that had nothing to do with what those two pilots were doing, and who they were responsible for.
I was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina...I was three years old when all of this happened.
Thank you for bringing this tragedy to the fore. God bless them all.
I grew up in Charlotte. I never knew about this crash.
This documentary is excellent. And now, of course, there is a “sterile cockpit” rule, but that wasn’t so back then. As they say, every flight rule is written in the blood of those lost in a crash.
I lived in Charleston for years, and took the US Air version of this flight many times. Never heard of this tragedy.
September 11th has even more meaning for these people. Thank God they survived! My daughter was born on September 11th also. My much belated condolences, to the friends and family, of those who perished in the crash. Peace
This was the same cause, at the time, the worst air disaster in the United States in San Diego in 1978. The pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer of a 727 (PSA Airlines) were engaged in personal conversation and not paying attention to what was happening around them. They collided with a Cessna, not paying attention to the relative position to each other, even though the ATC informed them of the small aircraft in their vicinity. There were no survivors.
Pieces of this aircraft are at the charlotte fire academy
How sad! May they all rest peacefully
That church which owns the property of the crash site now could make a memorial site on their property maybe? That would help the families and survivors have some closure and know that they’re definitely being remembered. ❤
That would be wholly inappropriate, as not everyone lost in the tragedy was a Christian.
@@sasskvetch8617inappropriate? The victims don’t have to be Christian. That has nothing to do with it. It would be an act of humanity.
@@sasskvetch8617 Seriously ......
Thar's one of the strangest things I've ever heard anyone ever say.
I am thinking family members and loved ones would disagree with you
Why hasn’t this crash been covered by any of the air aviation investigation documentaries? I have looked up his flight many of times and I am glad that someone finally covered it.
For a couple of years ago I was on a bus on my way home, and the bus driver was driving like crazy , I noticed there was more passengers that was scared as I was, so I went in to the front and asked him to slow down! And that we where scared for our life , he was so Angry at me and started to walk against me swearing , I was so scared but then I turned to him and said: go back to your driving seat and do your job safely then I sat down. Nobody said anything, when I got home I was shaking 😢.....
You were not wrong. I've had to ask Uber and Lyft drivers to slow down. I know they're trying to get their next fare, but if we crash, you'll be sorry!
I recently took my first flight in 17 years (through Charlotte Douglas oddly enough). I know there isn't much a pilot can do about turbulence, but it's nice when they communicate about it. On the first leg to San Francisco that pilot communicated well. On the way back, 5 hours of rumbling, not a word from the cockpit! I had to grab and hold on to seats just to get to the bathroom without falling. 😡 I would have liked to give the pilot and copilot a piece of my mind, unfortunately I have no idea how to fly 😅, so I guess that's off the table.
Eastern Airlines was having lots of trouble during the mid 1970’s😮
They're no longer in business. Just saying.
In fact, wasn't that an Eastern plane ( flight 401 ) that crashed in the Everglades as well?
What about flight 911, flight 60, flight 402 and flight 980, flight 965 the list goes on. The general public forgets about these horrific plane crashes because of time and because the majority of people don’t have any personal connection to these incidents. The documentary left me with a sense of finger pointing. Almost like “how dare the public go on with their lives”! I hope that’s not the message they’re trying to convey but it sure feels like it. In the 70s, 80s and the 90s, there were all of these absolutely horrific plane crashes. Flying during that time period was not as safe as what it is today. The reason for that is with every crash aviation and civil aviation manufacturers learned something new. That has made flying more safe than at any point in history. Most modern rules, regulations and cockpit culture rules are written in blood. The family members may feel like nobody cares about the crash of Eastern 212 but the knowledge gained from that accident (a sterile cockpit) is used on every single flight every single day. Their loved ones didn’t die in vain.
I know all about sterile cockpit rules but didn't know they came about because of this crash. I'm grateful that flying is made ever more safe as a result of these tragedies, but this should not be forgotten.
This is very well-done, thank you for sharing it.