Boeing 747-121 (Test Aircraft) - 'Crash Landing Renton' - 1969

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Roger_Freedman_Phys@reddit

The NTSB final report on this accident makes interesting reading: https://www.fss.aero/accident-reports/dvdfiles/US/1969-12-13-US.pdf

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Signal-Session-6637@reddit

This will blow your mind https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_845

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Boeing367-80@reddit

Pan Am had a problem with its San Francisco crew base in the 1970s.

There were a series of accidents, mostly with 707s in the Pacific in the early 1970s. As I recall, the FAA finally read them the riot act, a new head of base was hired who cleaned house. There were some old hands who had really never adapted well to jets who were retired.

A family friend of ours died in a crash in Pago Pago, which was one of the series of accidents. Ripped his family apart.

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Signal-Session-6637@reddit

Was that the 707 crash, I was just reading about that one last week. It’s covered in a MacArthur Job series of books.

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Boeing367-80@reddit

It was a 707 crash, yes.

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Signal-Session-6637@reddit

My deepest condolences to you and your family friends.

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surgeon_michael@reddit

Imagine having your leg amputated during takeoff roll

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AlexLuna9322@reddit

Ouch! My leg!

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Texas_Kimchi@reddit

Let me get some of them regg rolls.

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dontevercallmeabully@reddit

I’d like to stress that this is not typical

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greenlakejohnny@reddit

also will blow tires

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alphamikexyz@reddit

Joe Sutter has a very detailed description of this incident in his (highly recommended) memoirs.
Iirc it was a combination of short runway, inexperienced pilot, and the runway being very wide, leading to the sensation of being higher than they actually were.

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CompetitionHot1666@reddit

“No serious injuries occurred, except for the captain’s pride.” 😂

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dontevercallmeabully@reddit

Well except for the near amputations, of course…

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PlanetrainguyYT@reddit

that was a different accident..?

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lhsonic@reddit

It's been almost 60 years since this four-engined marvel first took to the skies. The 747 still flies today with this original design from the 1960's.

Look at the 60 years preceding the 747. Look at the kinds of planes flying in the 1900's. The very first flight taken by the Wright Brothers was in the 1900's. The amount of innovation is insane.

It feels like they kind of reached a peak 60 years ago with jet-powered flight (perhaps with supersonic flight) and have just been focusing on optimizing ever since. Just saying the 747 is less different than a A350 compared to what the Wright Brothers flew in 1903.

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FloridaHeat2023@reddit

Maybe putting concrete walls at the ends of runways isn't the best idea? ...

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Mal-De-Terre@reddit

At that speed, a dirt berm wouldn't be much better.

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flightist@reddit

The runway ends at the water, the plane clipped the embankment because it crossed the threshold too low.

At some point runways need to end.

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dingo1018@reddit

Well no let's not be too hasty, I think we should gather more data.

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masteroffdesaster@reddit

it's a bit weird seeing 747s flying in Renton. that runway is pretty short. or was it different back then?

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KeyZucchini1934@reddit

Its a 5,300 ft runway. I remember a testimony where the pilot said he was extremely nervous and didnt want to have to do it, but the numbers checked out

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yourlocalFSDO@reddit

LDA more like 4700

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KompulsiveLiar88@reddit

Heads Up. Never land like this. Period.

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greenlakejohnny@reddit

Jeez, can’t imagine landing something that size a Reeeenton

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thinair999@reddit

Everett

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greenlakejohnny@reddit

The hill in the background is much more consistent with Renton. The land around Paine field is relatively flat.

Source: I used to work in Everett and lived in Bellevue

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Measure76@reddit

This was Renton. My understanding was they had removed everything unnecessary to keep the weight down, and the pilot was still so nervous he didn't follow the glide slope properly.

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04BluSTi@reddit

Thats Mercer Island in the background.

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TechnoTenshi@reddit

can confirm, I constantly visit the surrounding areas

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04BluSTi@reddit

I grew up on MI

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Measure76@reddit

This was Renton. My understanding was they had removed everything unnecessary to keep the weight down, and the pilot was still so nervous he didn't follow the glide slope properly.

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Distinct-Nectarine-9@reddit

My father worked on this aircraft, he hired in mid 68. The east facing wall of the building was not even completed when it was in final assembly. I had the chance to work wing majors for the last of the -400 and the entire -8 program, so the queen of the sky has a special place in my heart.

Even the Dreamlifters are gorgeous in flight. Well to me!

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PizzaWall@reddit

You are describing Paine Field (PAE), not Renton (RNT). Boeing manufactured 747s, 777s at Paine, 727s, 737s at Renton.

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greenlakejohnny@reddit

Yes indeed, which is why it's wild to think someone would try and land a 747 in Renton. Especially with Boeing Field just a couple away

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PizzaWall@reddit

I don’t think this is Renton. It’s not the view from either end of the runway. For instance, the lack of Lake Washington and Mercer Island.

I grew up with a trivia fact that every 727, 737 taking off from Renton cannot land because the runway is too short, but not sure that is true anymore.

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flightist@reddit

That is indeed Mercer Island in the background. The lake isn’t visible because of the camera placement.

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flightist@reddit

It’s Renton.

Was a Boeing crew, captain was preoccupied with getting it down ASAP because he wasn’t fully convinced there was room for a 747 to land there.

Joe Sutter was onboard and wrote about it in his book.

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PizzaWall@reddit

I am not denying this was filmed in Western Washington State, those are douglas fir trees. What I think is this is not RNT. It simply doesn't match the view.

Add to that RNT has a single runway. I cannot believe they would force an intentional crash at a functioning municipal airport that obviously blocked the runway. I would feel the same way if the video indicated it was BFI, which has nearby hills resembling the background, but no I-5 freeway.

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flightist@reddit

Okay?

This is Renton, December 13 1969. That’s N732PA. There’s no intentional crash here, the PF brought it in too low and ripped the right gear off on the embankment short of runway 16. It was runway 15 then.

There’s no opinion or debate here. That’s what the video shows.

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runway31@reddit

Nah the camera is just zoomed in a bit, that's Mercer island in the background and they are landing to the south.

Here's the accident report: https://libraryonline.erau.edu/online-full-text/ntsb/aircraft-accident-reports/AAR70-19.pdf

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