The First Commercial Jet Crash in US History |
| By Newsday | |
| August 15, 1959 | |
| Boeing Airliner Crashes in Calverton, NY American Airlines Flight 514 (Flagship Connecticut), a Boeing 707 was on a training flight ending at the Peconic River Airport, NY, now known as Calverton Executive Airport, when during descent the plane began a barrel roll to the right, yawed and crashed in flames after the pilots shut off the engines to simulate a flameout. All 5 crew onboard were killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be the failure of the crew to recognize the yaw. An American Airlines Boeing 707 Jetliner crashed in a farmer's field at Calverton, seven miles from Riverhead on August 15th, 1959. The big jet was on a training flight from the Grumman Aircraft Corporation field here. The New York State Police said five persons were aboard the plane, and all perished in the crash. This was the first crash of a 707 since they went into service late last year. However, mishaps and malfunctions have caused emergencies aboard 707's on eight earlier occasions. |
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