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Flight of the Unknown Worst Air Disaster in History
Two airliners collided near New York on December 16, 1950, after United Air Lines flight 826 and Trans World Airlines flight 266 entered a holding pattern near Idlewild and LaGuardia. The unknown radar blip, misread beacons, and possible ATC radar failures led to 154 deaths including 128 aboard the two planes and six on the ground. Captain Sawyer of UAL 826 and Captain Wollam of TWA 266 faced scrutiny as the investigation explored navigation errors and radio beacon signals. The disaster remains the worst aviation crash in U.S. history with investigations continuing into radio guidance and controller responsibilities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
R. W.yson
iSawyer
Hemet
Calif
United Air Lines Jet Flight
UAL 826
Chicago
O'Hare Field
Preston
United
Trans World Airlines
Dayton
Ohio
David A
Wollam
Huntington
N.Y
Idlewild
la Guardia
Atlantic
Yule
TWA
Ieetan Af
Guardia
Nate Autumn
al New York Control Center
Phillinsburg
New Jersey
TWA 266
Allentown
St. George Hotel
Brooktern
Tory
Civil Aeronautics
Flatbush
Control Center
Staten Island
UAL
Constellation
DCS
Brooklyn
UAL Flight
Sawyer
UAL 26
F. McErlane
Warrie Hendershot
Federal Aviation Agency Offiicial
Hendershot