Pan Am B747 San Francisco Accident 1971

Pan Am Boeing 747-121 reg. N747PA. Accident at SFO 30th July 1971.
The aircraft was badly damaged due to performance miscalculations by the crew.
Digitised from old VHS from the 1970s. Watch the landing sequence footage later in the film.
To read the NTSB report click on the following link:
www.ntsb.gov/investigations/A...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_F...

[@d.thompson7026]

My grandfather was the pilot. #1) They said the runway was 1000 feet longer than it was. #2) The engines underperformed by 200-300 feet & Boeing could not tell NTSB why. #3) Plane was overloaded for the runway by 11,000 lbs. My Grandfather asked SFO about runway length, PanAm and Boeing about weight for runway 1R. They all gave him bad information. It shouldn't have been able to take off. It was a feat of amazing flying that he was able to land it as badly damaged as it was. No one died.

[@tantrispicks2440]

Interesting. I used to work with one of the passengers.

[@noelio67]

I hope he was exonerated 100%

[@okk944]

Your grandfather is an angel, he saves people's life

[@misseselise3864]

No. They were told the runway was 9500ft and the runway is actually 9500ft long. Planes like this one were not allowed to use the first 1000ft because someone believed the jet exhaust was causing wrecks on the highway behind the runway.

[@TheLukaszpg]

I call bullshit - people claim those things all the time 🤣🤣🤣

[@carolehall7250]

I am now 82 years old. Remember that day well and become emotional when watching the video. I was the junior purser on the flight sitting at door 4 left. During the 2 hours we spent dropping fuel I prayed many times and hard. The passengers clapped when we came to a stop on the ground. We were not aware of what was going on outside right away. We were just happy to be down!!

[@sharonlawler2009]

Carole, I also was a crew member on this flight. For landing, I sat in a pax seat across from 4L because not enough jump seats for all the FAs. I don’t remember any of the FAs names and was trying to find a list when I saw your comment. If the plane had had more pax or if there had been fire.this would have been so much worse. I think your prayers were answered. I went with UAL IN 1986 and finally retired in 2012. Sharon Lawler

[@McRocket]

There is just something about a narrator with a British accent that adds calmness and matter-of-factness.

[@nicholaskevinricchiuti7379]

Agreed!

[@patdunfee8483]

I was a passenger on this flight along with my 16 month old son. Amazing to see even after all these years. Pat D.

[@432b86ed]

+Pat Dunfee That must have been a traumatic experience, needless to say. Where were you seated in relation to the cabin floor damage? What was the announcement from the cockpit? How were they able to handle those who were injured? It must have felt like an eternity before you were back on the ground. I'd be interested in knowing more about this event in as much detail as you care to share. Best regards

[@bnr32rbpower]

+John Smith i did get airborne and returned to the airport after burning fuel for some time.

[@realmadridfan8210]

me i was the person front of you

[@mikerossscuba]

+Pat Dunfee Glad you and your little one made it out OK!

[@patdunfee8483]

+Kit Carson no

[@tjfSIM]

It is an absolute miracle that this thing got back on the ground without any fatalities. Testament to the sheer strength and multiple redundancies built into the 747 structure.

[@marcbiff2192]

Good old British detailed no nonsense presenting style.

[@Sytb01]

More than 10% dislikes typically means F. For his Britglish i guess

[@jongaulthero]

Absolutely lifeless, monotonous, and incomprehensible presentation and undecipherable acronyms made it utterly painful.

[@seancrowe3353]

@@jongaulthero COG... centre of gravity. You'll have to look up gravity

[@sirandrelefaedelinoge]

@@Sytb01 Britglish...? You mean proper English.

[@mrdemoncrusher3927]

If you can't understand this very simply 'to-the-point' vocab then clearly it's not the accent but the grasp of the English language by the recipient. My 7yr old nephew understood every word. And he isn't British either.

[@martinap1961]

Imagine.....Living thru a rough take-off then waiting for a “lifetime” to dump the fuel and than...a rough landing...then the plane falling on it’s tail ! Bless you all who lived thru it !!

[@pjc783]

The narrator is awesome. If you were sitting next to him on a plane having trouble he'd say calmly "Right...put on your parachute and off you go then"

[@noworries12]

pjc7 if was sitting next to him,I would have fallen asleep

[@stinkyfungus]

If I had to fly into an epic air battle... This is the dude I'd want to give the mission briefing. Ending with a "stout hearts lads, and good hunting"

[@rooftopvoter3015]

Proper British for sure

[@turnhousefilms5942]

Rooftop Voter English in fact probably London or surrounds

[@jamesmcgee5086]

Then “we shall all meet in Tipperary for all spot of tea when it’s over”.

[@anttipeltola8578]

Every flight on a 747 still feels like a special event to me. 747 gave us affordable intercontinental flights and a level of comfort few planes achieve even today.

[@kona702]

When this comment was made even 5 years ago there was still plenty of them flying. Then the pandemic hit. 😔

[@aaronbays4]

747 is built like a tank. I remember reading about this accident and the development of the 747, there was a serious debate within Boeing about the need for 4 hydraulic systems, saying it cost too much. Eventually the engineers got their way, and that overbuilt design of the hydraulic system saved A LOT of lives that day.

[@mountainmanws]

I agree with your statement on the 747. I've flown in many of them in my life: though someone dropped the ball with the 737MAX.

[@FSEVENMAN]

@@mountainmanws Your statement couldn't be further from the truth the 737 Max 8 is amazing you're talking about a software issue you fucking idiot

[@jajamuc]

FSEVENMAN Does it make any difference if it is hardware or software that makes a plane crash? The sad result is the same. My trust in Boeing is gone.

[@fairfaxcat1312]

Lamentable that one of our fine KZbin commentators, one “FSEVENMAN,” has gone ahead and called another commentator a name and has used an expletive.

[@tommynikon2283]

(4) systems....and yet Boeing now, in a rush for corporate profits above all else, puts ONE Angle of Attack sensor on the 737-Max. NO backup. And then a flawed software system to "cheat" on the displaced COG (Center of Gravity)....all because of a defective design. 350+ DEAD, two accidents. Grounded.

[@newalm]

"Now pay attention 007 while I explain."

[@fever_spike]

Read this comment just as the narrator's voice came on, and had a chuckle...thanks, pal!

[@bigplameuk]

Brilliant.

[@williambiggs2308]

Oh grow up!

[@axilleas]

Made my day!!! XD

[@morgangrey4020]

you made me laugh...good work....but he does sound a little like Q when he explains thing's.

[@Robert_N]

It's simply amazing that after sustaining all that damage, the "queen of the skies B747" was still able to fly and land safely. Best aircraft ever built.

[@CyclerJim]

I remember this. I worked for TWA, and was on a TWA flight from NYC to SFO when this happened. Fortunately my flight was able to land after circling for a bit. I had an excellent view of this plane as we went down the runway. The Pan Am was in the red clay between runways at a very strange angle. The news had very good coverage of this because they were aware that there was a problem. I'm surprised that there isn't better quality video from the networks out there.

[@dutchy1176]

Second 747 ever built. Very lucky that nobody was killed, and that the plane wasn't written off. Last Pan Am 747 to depart JFK airport in 1992, about 5 months after the airline folded. Plane went on to become a noodle restaurant in Korea where it sat in derelict until it was scrapped in 2010. Very sorry end to a piece of american aviation history although it was not the very first 747 to be put into commercial service. This aircraft should have been restored to it's former glory inside and out, and flown to airshows today as one would do with the historic old war planes.....RIP Pan American World Airways, 1927-1991.

[@AJ67901]

I agree completely with your remarks. If it wasn't for Juan Trippe, there wouldn't have been a 747. It should have been a museum piece for two reasons; a. first revenue 747 in service b. a classic symbol of Pan AM at their highest.

[@HailAnts]

That was the most violent 'bounce' I've ever seen a 747 do! Amazing it held together.

[@davidaaa6427]

Yes it doesnt look like much yes that is a violent bounce on such a big aircraft.

[@JasonWardStudios]

The Flight Sim 2004 Meljet 747 wouldn't have survived that! Boeing makes a great aircraft.

[@davidaaa6427]

JasonWardStudios This summer Im on a Lufthansa fight to Frankfurt. My ticket says 747-400.

[@petercasey1453]

HailAnts I

[@38911bytefree]

Clearly overengineereed, like the 707 and 727. Flying tanks.

[@Giac0966]

for those who are aviation fans this footage is a masterpiece!!! many thanks for having uploaded it.

[@exclipperfa4139]

N747PA remained in Pan Am service for the next 20 years until Dec. 4, 1991 when Pan Am ceased operations. I was a Purser and worked onboard N747PA for many a flight in the years following this accident. The aircraft was eventually renamed 'Clipper Juan T. Trippe' and remained so until Pan Am's last day. My understanding is that due to the amount of damage incurred, N747PA was the heaviest 747-100 in the world once the extensive repairs were finished. I can't verify whether that's a fact, it's just what I had heard. Though if my memory serves me correct, it seems that we were always weight restricted whenever we operated this aircraft as Flt.121 LHR-LAX. Also, while it's true that N747PA was the first 747 ever built, it wasn't the first 747 to actually enter service. The aircraft that operated our 747 Inaugural Flight was N736PA ('Clipper Young America') and was later destroyed in the Tenerife accident in 1977.

[@dutchy1176]

They tested the hell out of this plane at Boeing back in 1969, too. So she should have been used to a few bumps and bruises. Shame that she ended up as a restaurant in korea, where she was eventually scrapped

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

N747PA was not the "First" "747 ever built" That distinction belongs to the Prototype 747 "City of Everett" and today it sits at the Museum of flight Boeing Field Seattle Wash It may have been the first "PRODUCTION" 747...big difference....The "City of Everett" remained with Boeing as a test aircraft it's full life....

[@dutchy1176]

Wilbur Finnigan You're right, Though I still think that this plane was an icon, and should have been saved.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

dutchy1176 True...but how many of these old planes do you want to save...someone has to want them and pay to have them saved and some place to store them...the desert in Arizona is full of these old planes...even the first DC 8 was scrapped.. as only a scrapper wanted it so yes it is a problem especially for these large planes. Fortunately Boeing has saved the first 707 727 737 747, all but 707 are at the Museum of flight Seattle Wash the 707 is at the Smithonian museum the 757 767 777 who knows where they are and the 787 still in service...

[@RoadCone411]

I believe N747PA was scheduled to operate the first B747 flight in 1969 but had gone tech shortly before boarding was to commence, so the ill-fated N736PA was substituted in it's place.I flew N747PA in 1984 LHR-JFK when she was Juan Trippe - operating as flight PA103 no less! I remember it fondly...the film that played that afternoon was 007's "Octopussy!" The aircraft was historical and probably deserved to be saved but as others have said, it is expensive to keep out-of-service planes around. Even on static displays at museums, they need a lot of costly maintenance!

[@caldyer]

The Pan Am aircraft Captain was my father who had over 30-years of commercial multi-engine experience, and he was one of the first pilots, ever trained and checked out on the 747 aircraft. My niece previously wrote about some of the issues, but the biggest problem was it is very easy for all parties to blame “pilot error”. Every party, Boeing, Pan Am, the Airport, FAA etc., wanted to be done with the problem (liability) and blame all on someone else, and guess who that was? Nobody protects the pilot(s) except for the union attorney. There is a reason people can’t find the complete records of the hearing, because some of the information never was included, like Pan Am loading the plane over its maximum allowable gross weight and not providing the actual real weight to the pilot, for the computations for takeoff! The Jensen Manuals were incorrect, the runway was not a legal runway, 9,500 feet long, for a 747 to take off from. The airport authority was also wrong about the length of the runway! Additionally, manuals did not take into account of the effects of jet thrusts at the end of the runway, where it drops off down to the water below. Boeing also lied to save themselves, “stating that the plane should have been able to take off.” As a past young aspiring lawyer I listened to every tape and transcript available and reviewed every document to help and advised my father whenever I could. The hearing process took almost two years and a lot of my dad’s energy. Pan Am wanted him to quit, retire and take the blame; he only went through the process to save the jobs of his junior pilots so they could continue to fly. The finding of the hearing, “there was no finding of pilot error”, however, as previously stated they did find other areas that needed attention.

[@cliffandersson4964]

I remember this incident well, as the plane flew over my home in Redwood City on the return to SFO. My dad, a former crash investigator, noticed the low altitude and damage to the 747 as it flew over. He and I flew on the same aircraft some 5 years later, LHR/SEA/SFO.

[@Erics5th]

Just shows how tough the 747 is. I used to build them... They are built like tanks.

[@Milnoc]

And apparently, they're still being made today. Four more years, and that would make it half a century old.

[@jasoncentore1830]

A 747 truly will bring you home, let's see same situation with today's aircraft. As it is just about every 747 to crash was terrorism, pilot error and maintenance errors. I truly hope down the road with more travelers year by year, they bring 747's mainstream again, I'm so sick of commuter Jets n 737's

[@khalidabdulghani]

@@Milnoc Yep, and that makes them half a century old already, thanks to its master Joe Sutter.

[@jeremypilot1015]

@@jasoncentore1830 I hear ya. I wish they'd bring the Concorde back, but it comes down to good old corporate greed. Shove as many in a small space, fly them slow to save gas and make as much money while spending as little as possible. Watch the original airport movies form the 70s (skip airport 79 that one was just stupid) and you're reminded of how great flying once was in America.

[@mitseraffej5812]

Yes, with appropriate maintenance the 747 has an unlimited life. Most other planes have cycle limits. I fly a twin on over water ETOPS routes. Never flown a four engine plane, If an engine stops way out over the ocean in my twin I’m sure I’ll be wishing I had had four to start with.

[@johnmpifer]

Real testament to the robustness of the B747 that they even made it into the air after all that damage. And that it didn't come apart after that bounce on landing.

[@NearKona]

I was 8 years old when this happened and I remember it on the Bay Area news. The landing gear going into the cabin scared me for a long time after that and I was afraid to fly. I have never seen this before. Very cool.

[@gbear285]

NearKona it’s interesting that the landing gear went into the cabin but the plane was still able to land on it later. I wonder how that happened.

[@DeadlyDiddly]

A remarkable story, I hadn't heard about this accident until today.

[@mickblock]

The hired voice is comforting and all knowing.

[@Adeon55]

Indeed, good sir.

[@joedesnoyer523]

I was plant maintenance mechanic for NWA in SFO. When we took over PAA's Cargo 6 building I found several 8x10 glossy prints of this hard landing. Also have some photos from an old Hughs Airwest crash. I found these when we took over Republic Airlines property. Still have lots of memorabilia from the old days. Started at NWA in 1969.

[@tracer740]

Joe- your comment is not only interesting and appreciated but for us old guys it's a startling reminder of how many, many different airlines there once were, but no longer exist.

[@joedesnoyer523]

In 1969 I was hired by three airlines at the same time, North Central, Delta, and NWA. I chose NWA at the time for $10 a month more. Funny how it all ended up.

[@wwacepeachy]

My dad worked for Hughes AirWest. He would love to see anything you may have related to them.

[@SixTenVisuals]

Woooow. I'm shocked it made it back to SFO with all that damage to the horizontal stab.

[@Gromitdog1]

+Trevor C If they had studied and worked harder in life maybe they could have afforded first class and this would never have happened.

[@atoage8902]

+Gromitdog1 I shouldn't laugh. . . oh fuck it. . . I am on the expressway to hell anyway! Haha

[@watchgoose]

+Ato Âge you can change that.

[@ZepG]

@watchgoose How so wise sage, to pick one of the thousands of religions and brainwash yourself into believing in it?

[@watchgoose]

not a religion, a FAITH. Free.

[@sym667]

As an aviaton enthusiast, I find this video priceless.

[@JohnS916]

A friend of the family was on that flight as a stewardess, I believe it was her first flight after training. I recall her mentioning the severe injury one of the passengers sustained when metal came up through the floor boards, but it could have been much worst if the seats that were impaled by a long piece of angle iron were occupied. From things that I read, the incident came very close to being a catastrophic event, especially on take off when the jet collided with a row of metal landing light structures, they were very lucky that didn't bring the plane down. My friend went on to retire after working 41 years as a stewardess.

[@billanthony7896]

+John S What a first flight, eh? Some people might have found a different career after that. Hats off to your family friend!

[@dr.donchristie7093]

John S, do you and I know that same former Pan Am attendant, later transferring to Delta on the 25th anniversary of her Pan Am employment? (Perhaps your friend was one of my friend's junior colleagues.)

[@TheTruthKiwi]

Wow, talk about a trial by fire. It must have been horrific for that passenger and all passengers surrounding him/her. Your friend was a brave lady and obviously cut out for the job.

[@sweetmana23]

This is really incredible footage of the 747

[@Viewcroft]

Exactly, all accidents are as a result of a chain of events, not one single error. Thanks for the additional info. I had been trying to get a copy of this video for years but only recently obtained it.

[@ramsaimaruti4923]

Such a professional presentation! Serene and smooth.

[@gapelekanos]

Thanks for your help in making a difference

[@miquel440]

Glad it went ok,but what a strong aircraft the 747 is,thanks to Mr.Sutter for building in so much redundancy.For me the best airplane ever build.

[@Afterburner003]

INCREDIBLE !!! Thank you for sharing this story with all of us.

[@adams1961]

An analysis of the accident from a person who had studied the NTSB report and other data would confirm all the issues noted above. But the critical flaw was that the aircraft had been overloaded with airfreight, etc. That fact was hidden from the pilot. The extra weight was like the “hair that broke the camels back” because this plane actually came within inches of clearing those runway lights. Unfortunately the pilot was unfairly “scapegoated” and forced into early retirement.

[@caldyer]

Ac

[@caldyer]

Technically he was not forced into retirement. After the hearings were completed and the pilots were found innocent they were all given back their pilot licenses. However, by that time approximately a year and a half had passed all the pilots were required to re-certify for their license renewals, which meant back to ground school, re-training, re-testing, and new physicals. The senior pilot, my father, had always been number one in his flight class from his days in the Navy and at Pan Am, and he continued to pass all the flight testing required by him from both the FAA and Pan Am. My father also past his FAA physical exam, however, Pan Am when over him with a team of doctors and found that he had a cataract starting in one eye and grounded him until it could be repaired. Upon advise of his eye doctor and surgeon he was told to wait a few years for surgery because of all the improvements in this field, so at that time he retired.

[@lexluthermiester]

This was very interesting video. Thank You for posting it.

[@nigelssurfshop]

This aircraft N747PA was the first 747 built for commercial use. It was later sold to Tower Air and then to Pasta Air, both companys kept the same tail number because of its history.

[@idadho]

This was not recorded in VHS. In 1971, the video recording was done with a real to real system with a large almost suitcase size real to real recording deck connected to the camera with cable. U-Matic, the first cassette system was released by Sony in September, a few months after this event. It would have been rerecorded to VHS after 1976. There would be a two generation loss in quality.

[@alexriesenbeck]

Crazy vintage footage! Thanks !

[@Bobman84]

Sad that such an amazing plane had such a sad ending as a restaurant and is now scrapped. There's also a Pan Am documentary about this very plane and the fondness from stewardesses who flew it as it was the first ever 747 to take commercial flight.

[@donmcpherson1608]

This plane ought to have been purchased or given to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum when it was still in California. Sad that nobody cared enough and let it go.

[@scottmathews3777]

Don McPherson I don't think that the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy museum has room for a 747, it's pretty well packed right now. I suppose they could store it offsite somewhere, but maybe they would think that having the 367-80 (prototype 707) is enough of a tribute to one manufacturer?

[@roykliffen9674]

Ah well, so it goes, unfortunately. I just today saw the last part about the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6), the most decorated vessel of the US Navy during WWII. It fought from day one up to almost the end of the war and took enormous amounts of damage while doing so. In June 1945 it was damaged so badly it had to go into dry-dock and still was there when the war ended in August. As it was unsuitable to operate the new jet-fighters and bombers, it was decommissioned and sold for scrap.

[@donmcpherson1608]

When they go they never can come back. Sometimes cities buy surplus planes with some claim to fame and put them in parks. Wouldn't it have been cool if they did that with a 747 jumbo jet? I wouldn't mind having a picnic under the wing of one.

[@dcs002]

+Bobman84 Such a historic plane - I'd hate to be the guy who bent it.

[@robertglenn5398]

Back in 71, pilots were just that "pilots" and could take charge in any emergency such as the one your grandfather experienced. Today's crews are too dependent upon automation and I really wonder what would happen today under similar circumstances. Your grandfather exhibited phenomenal skill and I'd have flown with him anytime, anywhere.

[@anononomous]

Dirt saves the day again. Three cheers for dirt!

[@stevegacovino6699]

This is a very thorough description of why this disaster occurred.

[@nwadoug]

Thank you for posting this!

[@Firografi]

“THE END”. That one thing all the Movies and Documentaries had back in those days !!!

[@shiv0681]

B747 is a strong plane folks..wow!! a beauty..

[@solomonpilot2510]

UN LIKE SCARE BUS !

[@gravydavy4188]

Solomon Pilot Pathetic.

[@ck1film]

This was more than 40 years ago... the slides and procedures have changed immensely since then.

[@colinashby3775]

really interesting. thanks.i am sure that much was learnt and changed from this episode.

[@chris746568462]

Here is what happened to the plane: It was repaired and returned to service until 1991. Cut into pieces in 1999, shipped to Korea and rebuilt into a restaurant. Scrapped in 2010.

[@clayz1]

The restaurant plane! Awesome. Thanks for that tidbit.

[@TheTruthKiwi]

Interesting. Tnx. I'm guessing the airline kept the horrific things that happened to some of the passengers pretty low key when it was flying again.

[@incrediblesimilarity5858]

Interesting story, at http;//airwaysmag. com Search FINDING THE CLIPPER JUAN T. TRIPPE-IN 2017 Gimme a thumbs up if you enjoy the link to the story referenced above. Thanks.

[@bagpopuk]

@@incrediblesimilarity5858 May I suggest "FINDING THE CLIPPER JUAN" will suffice, as your full title yields no relevant results. A great link all the same, thanks. This aircraft has an amazing history and I'm glad she's still around, even though she looks a little sad. Post either this address or coordinates for her location in Google maps (without speech marks): "1052-14 Wolmun-ri, Wabu-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea" "37.590565, 127.227662"

[@timemachinefan]

@@bagpopuk Thank you for the coordinates for Google Earth. Brought me right to the site and was even able to view the aircraft from the Google Earth street view. Cheers my friend.

[@katrinajones8788]

Back in the days when flying was a real treat.

[@sausagefingers714]

any when everybody would clap for the captain when the plane landed.. what happend to that? nobody seems to do it any more

[@TheDeJureTour]

No way I would have gone down that front slide...

[@lostinspace9818]

You know my dad worked at the airport for 33 years and what i recall is the plane landed short of the runway , have never heard this version before, things are very weird in this world.

[@MrL1mey]

Responses like this are what make reading responses in this medium worthwhile.

[@steelcityterps]

Great find. Thanks for uploading

[@opdrvr]

Wow. You learn something every day. Thank you.

[@Clipper1094]

I have heard alot about this accident but after seeing the video I had no idea it was that bad.

[@sundevilification]

authority and common sense. best statement of the film. thank you.

[@georgesager1628]

I had met the captain on this flight. He gave me and a number of others a tour of the first 747s that Pan Am rec'd. I understand his life didn't got well after this crack up.

[@andypreston1524]

"Thank you for flying Pan Am today, we hope you had a comfortable flight......etc etc "

[@DaveyCrockett001]

I would have been pissed off that all that shit got real and i ended back in the same place I started from - like what was the point of that please?

[@eds1994fatboy]

I do remember this on the news....its amazing that all passengers lived.....could have been way worse....thank you oh lord for their safety

[@LOLmusics]

How on earth did you get this footage? Excellent coverage by the way!

[@psygn0sis]

Time machine.

[@shions3135]

I think he had the VHS tape says in desc

[@boydgrandy5769]

I was in San Fransisco the day this happened, and my buddies and I watched this 747 orbit around the Bay between SF and Alameda at 4 or 5 thousand feet, and you could see the fuel coming out of the plane. I had not realized how badly the aircraft had been damaged. I do remember Boeing making a pitch about how safe and stable this design was after they were able to land it without killing everyone.

[@kernyager9832]

My wife was on this flight. I remember standing on the old observation deck of the SFO Central terminal watching the takeoff and seeing the dirt and debris falling from under the plane as it first dipped towards the bay, but then lifted into the air. I watched the landing from a UAL utility truck on the ramp side of the Central terminal near the old PSA gates. I often wonder why the crew took off in this situation, but have to credit their skill in getting that plane back on the ground

[@DaveyCrockett001]

Rule of thumb - always preferable to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than vice - a - versa.

[@jonathanbecker8935]

Gosh that two hour flight to dump fuel and assess damage must've been white knuckles for all involved. Amazing airmanship that they got it on the ground safely. That big bounce on the landing is testament to the strength of the gear and the great force of impact during the take-off. Those poor people who were sent down that nearly vertical emergency slide must've been hurting. I wonder how close to the ground the two tail exits were when the fusilage see-sawed aftward. It's incredible that the airplane was repairable and flown into the nineties. Must've had many updates and upgrades over the years. I've always wondered how they calculate how much fuel to leave onboard during the dump so they have enough to do any necessary go arounds.

[@sblack48]

Kenneth Tombs amazing airmanship??? Those twits caused the whole thing by a lack of basic airmanship!

[@wannamlwithu]

interesting video to learn about emergency landing. thanks for uploading!

[@kontol41]

Unbelievable to think it carried on airborne two hours in the condition it was in.

[@Bounty_Hunter84]

Great footage and very rare. When the pole went up through the floor of the plane it sliced a mans foot off but 4 seats it cut through no one was sitting in them that's lucky.

[@billanthony7896]

Bo Danville I hope the guy got a good insurance settlement from the morons at the airlines.

[@blumax999]

Hey! I didn't know the 747 was a tail dragger! You learn something new everyday.

[@bguzman003]

the 747 had 4 hydraulic systems, in this accident 3 were damaged. the DC-10 had only 3 hydraulic systems. that made a big difference in this accident.

[@upatreepete]

It doesn't matter whether the area around the runway is land or water. If you miss the runway or go off the runway, it's not going to be pretty. The pilots know how long the runways are and where they are, they just have to aim right and get airborne before the runway ends. Communication and correct information is key.

[@DannyGoldingTV]

Great story! Thanks for sharing!!

[@sobelou]

Excellent upload, thanks!

[@bryson217]

Could have been another Sioux City cartwheel...fantastic landing.

[@jayfbee]

wow! Great docu.

[@gabrielcox3835]

My dad witnessed this with his own eyes. He worked for TWA at the time.

[@WJack97224]

The NTSB Report did not come up when the link was clicked. It would be interesting to know what happened to the pilots and other managers and the full extent of injuries and compensation and how the injured recovered.

[@jrblanston]

I was a 16 month old passenger on this flight. I was fine until Pat stole me!

[@dinocrest1946]

M E T A

[@haiqjiqjjsjjwj926]

@@dinocrest1946 meta? Facebook?🗿

[@peterpalmer9755]

How lucky for you and your son, Pat. Watching that was horrifying. I very rarely fly and when I do it's always a white-knuckled flight.

[@Zoomer30]

The 747 is a freaking tank. Such a hard hit on touchdown. The DC10 Flight 232 that crash landed in Sioux City, IA in 1989 was debris after the first hit.

[@432b86ed]

apples and oranges, severity wise.

[@Zoomer30]

Yeah, the Flight 232 in Souix City decent rate was over 1,000 feet/min. Hard hit.

[@dutchy1176]

This aircraft was flown until the mid 1990s, and then sold to a korean couple who made the mistake of shipping it home in pieces and reassembling it to turn it into a restaurant. Somewhat of a cliche event at the time. The restaurant venture failed, and the by then miserable looking fuselage was abandoned. Nothing of the plane inside or out, resembled her former glory, but they did put Juan Trippe's name on it. It was scrapped a ears ago. RIP.

[@AugustusLarch]

Thank you for the info.

[@charlieabbot3649]

Amazing that plane held together.

[@martyaus2905]

I was a passenger on this flight, was very scary.

[@cincycap]

martyaus2905 Assuming that you are serious and were really there.....I have a couple questions if you don't mind. Did the passengers scream or freak out or anything? Which was scarier - hitting the light poles on the way up, or landing with a broken plane? Im guessing the landing would be more scary since there was time to think about it.

[@johnmanley3849]

@@cincycap I will try and answer the question. In 1971 the demographics mostly traveling on airplanes at the time were the greatest generation those born Around 1920 that were WW2 veterans and there wifes. The next grouping is the silent generation. Born in the thirties. Also my mom and dads generation. Both of these generations were as tough as Nails. These generations would Not freak out at anything so I bet they all just looked around and helped the injured and stayed Calm.

[@tantrispicks2440]

I know of another passenger too. He didn't want to talk about it.

[@LivviEquestrian]

its transported over 80 percent of the human race since its introduction in 1969 yes i would travel on a 747 any day of the week very safe reliable air plane.

[@andyevans9369]

LivviEquestrian I

[@gootchie]

Would like to see a Mayday - Air Crash Investigation episode made out of this incident.

[@smoodiverg2286]

gootchie i wouldnt, it would take an hour to explain what this chap did in ten minutes

[@sfflyer123]

great video!

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

Amazingly clear video for 1971! Certainly equivalent to HD!

[@tp7614]

My pop drove our family to SFO to watch this ..... Back in those days you could park 100 yards from the airfield.

[@desireegrisham3892]

My word, there so many experts here!

[@sweetmana23]

Amazing... good work. Job well done. Still love the jumbo any day.

[@JADEAV]

That time I was 3 years old.....I never knew or saw this before until now.....it looked so scary....geez

[@lucasjibhi]

This is very interesting, thanx for the upload;) Miracle nobody got killed!!

[@mdamad1318]

wow engineers couldn't calculate possibilities like this no way !!!

[@myname7558]

Man i cant believe how that thing just tipped back like that ...back and forth really .

[@rooftopvoter3015]

Pulling a wheelie, or would that be a wingy?

[@jpsheffer]

Anyone here ever see a large airliner bounce like that and stay in one piece? I'm always amazed at just how much punishment the 747's can take and still keep going, just an incredibly machine!

[@jmcgatkinson]

Your grandfather seemed to ask the right questions, which his training and experience ensured. It seems that the data he was given was mysteriously 'adjusted' to ascertain a take-off, satisfying the commercial motive of the airline. A concern is the power of the engines being less than stated (perhaps when new only) after some use, where the maximum thrust is not a normal observation..

[@michaelrobbins7390]

Interesting film. Thank You.

[@claudemaassen2963]

Quick action from ground personnel

[@TheGodParticle]

Damn, that angle iron that had gone through the seat, how that didn't kill anyone.

[@brianbradburn]

The narrator said no one was sitting there.

[@TheGodParticle]

Brian Bradburn just as well, that could of been incredibly messy.

[@BerserkPublishing]

I'm still impressed it got in the air and was able to stay there for two hours. Longest two hours of those people's lives I'm sure.

[@johnny5805]

2021 monitors really expose VHS resolutions as horrendous. They didn't seem like that at the time.

[@kennethhacker3014]

I'm impressed how fast they deployed emergency escape ramp ...well done people