United Airlines' Flight 409 Crash

Wreckage from United Airlines Flight 409 still in the Snowys! Wow!
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Medicine Bow Peak and the Snowy Range Mountains have always been one of my favorite spots to visit. It wasn't long after my first visit to the area that I heard about a plane that crashed into the mountains decades earlier. The plane was a United airlines plane given the flight number 409. It sounded mysterious and I have always wondered exactly where it had crashed. My curiosity only intensified when I heard that wreckage remained in the area from the crash. I kept postponing my search for the wreckage because I always have plenty of other trips I want to accomplish in the area. However, now seemed like the perfect time to find it. Today marks the 60th anniversary of the plane crash in the Snowy's and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the event. At the time, United Airlines Flight 409 was the deadliest plane crash in American commercial aviation history. To me it's not too surprising after you understand how rugged the terrain is. The terrain in the Snowys is very harsh, but that's part of the reason why I love it. However, I'd be lying if I said I always felt 100% safe, secure, and comfortable in the area. The crash had me thinking, "Why do I even bother coming to places like this." As much as I'd love to lie to everyone and say it's always the best time of my life, I have personally faced some tough challenges in these mountains. In fact, I'm fairly certain I had hypothermia on my first backpacking trip in these very mountains due to a rookie mistake on my part.
The beauty of the mountains and the experiences they've given me are things I wouldn't trade for anything else. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families that were affected by the crash, and especially to the families that are still reminded of their loss. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to get the news.
I knew I wanted to get shots of a bird flying into the mountain (or at least looking like it flew into the mountain) to symbolize the crash. I was having no luck finding any birds in the area and the couple that I did see were not flying anywhere near the area I needed them to fly to get the perspective I wanted. It was starting to get dark. It was raining/sleeting and I hadn't found any wreckage yet. About to give up I took a few last steps and startled a flock of birds and got the shot I wanted. Although I didn't count, it seemed like there were probably about 66. I couldn't help but make the connection. Shortly after getting that shot I stumbled across all the wreckage. It was a powerful experience in one of the most powerful areas I've ever had the opportunity to visit.
I hope you enjoy this film. Thanks for watching. - Chris
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[@paragliderpete]

I'm a pilot and have about 20,000 or more hours flying A beach 18 to DC8 and now corporate jets. The mountains still keep me on edge every time I fly into Aspen or Jackson hole when it's very cloudy or low ceilings .I have been to medicine Bow about three or four times and it always intrigues me . One never knows when he's about to make a fatal mistake until it's too late . God bless all the souls that were lost on the mountain that day .

[@josephdupont]

the plane was at cruise power as it wallowed into the mountain.. The color of the skin of the dead was indicative of of CO poisonings. There were s ever military rated pilots who would have gone to the cockpit to investigate why the pilots were at such a low altitude.

[@AlexG2020]

What you said in the clip, sunk in to my core. Being a former Flight Attendant, might be one reason, but I like you have always had the exploring bug. If perhaps someday one of my adventures takes me, I will have gone doing what I love. Mother Nature doesn't care if you make it out alive, like you said, it's just there for us to go be apart of it. Be safe, be prepared, and live like it's your last day on this rock! Thanks for sharing the story of United Flight 409.

[@inspireAson]

Well put! That's awesome that you were a flight attendant. I love air travel and part of that involves the great men and women who take care of the details in the skies. It's always fun to get out and see somewhere new. :) - Chris

[@AndyOnTheMountain]

Great video Chris, you always have a good story line. It's so true, you have to do what you love even if it can kill you. -Andy

[@inspireAson]

+Andy Timinsky Thanks Andy! You must get up super early. I checked the video this morning and was surprised you already had a chance to watch and comment. I always appreciate the support man. People like you make it a lot of fun to try and come up with new ways to tell stories. Thanks for watching. :) - Chris

[@Featheredprop]

Most excellent work, Chris. I so enjoy the diversity of your videos. Everything about this one is good. Thank you. Dane

[@inspireAson]

+featheredprop I really appreciate it Dane. I tried some new things in this video that I think turned out pretty well. It's nice to know that you thought the same! The support means a lot to me. Thank you! :) - Chris

[@user-xe1ce4wx3c]

My brother was on this flight . I was 11 years old when it happened ,I still remember that day.

[@inspireAson]

Sounds like it would be impossible to forget. Sorry you lost your brother at such a young age. Hopefully this video honors and respects your personal experience with this tragedy.

[@dseednorwayn47]

I need to be outdoors and as your skill level increase the more spectacular adventure awaits. another great edit mate

[@PrimalOutdoors]

Great job I thought this was very nicely done, and you covered a subject I think about often. Not sure if you have watched any of my videos of late but I have done some fairly risky things, in fact one of the mountains I climbed without a rope someone died on a couple of weeks ago doing the same thing. I realize these things are dangerous but like you said these very things that could kill me make me feel happy and alive. Jason

[@inspireAson]

+Primal Outdoors It's weird how that works, isn't it? Life is either an incredible adventure, or nothing at all. The excitement and challenges make it worth it. - Chris

[@NorwegianWoods]

Really nice video! Thanks for sharing - Martin

[@inspireAson]

+NorwegianWoods Thanks for watching! I appreciate the compliment. :) - Chris

[@naturecallsoutdoors]

Great video effort. I love the thoughts you had on this one. I feel the same. I am drawn to the wilderness knowing it could take me out, and hold and protect me at the same time. Most of the time it always makes me work hard in every case.

[@inspireAson]

+Nature Calls The outdoors can challenge anyone at any skill level. I think that's what makes life outdoors so exciting. There's always something new to learn and discover. Thanks for watching, and I'm glad I caught your Periscope today. Thanks for the kind mention, too! :) - Chris

[@OregonMikeH]

Hi Chris, I've been a Pilot since Age 17. I've been a Sub for some time now but never comment nearly as often on all my thumbs up as I should. This may have been a shorter Video but as an Outdoors-man I found your message and mood setting to be griping! Thanks Pal, I really felt this one. Blessings to Ya from Oregon, ... Mike.

[@inspireAson]

Thanks so much for your kind words. It’s always nice to know people are connecting with the message. Hope all is well out your way. Thanks again :) - Chris

[@KentuckyWoodsman]

Really good video! Your words are very true. If we refrained from everything we enjoy doing just because it could be dangerous, we would miss out on some truly awesome sights and life changing opportunities Thanks for sharing!

[@TheoutdooradventureNet]

Thanks!

[@inspireAson]

+The Outdoor Adventure Thank you for watching Paul! - Chris

[@CampfireTalk]

Well done!

[@inspireAson]

+CampfireTalk Thank you! It was a fun project to produce. :) - Chris

[@josephdupont]

A gentleman is looking into different scenarios that may have caused the crash of flight 409 from 1955 and presented a court order to exhume the remains for possible testing. On Monday September 18th at 10:00am Cemetery Staff proceeded with the disinterment. The remains were in a casket and sealed bag. However, Cemetery Staff takes precautions during any disinterment and the local authorities were present. That is all the information that I can supply you as the Cemetery Staff doesn’t follow the process after the testing. I am not sure what the ultimate goal for the testing was or if it will shed light on anything new that the authorities at the time did not know. Scott A. Hunter Parks and Cemetery Crew Supervisor City of Laramie Parks and Recreation 1.307.721.5257 | 1.307.761.0413

[@trevors5216]

First off , well done with having that ..." just a little longer "...Attitude ....that afforded you the that Amazing Clip of birds heading into the Mountains.!! Secondly , and I mean NO disrespect whatsoever , but I'm Really Shocked that So Much wreckage from that flight is STILL PRESENT there..?!?!? I just would not have thought that ....with THAT amount of time since the Tragic Accident , plus a lot of times with these Large Airliners CRASHING ....the FAA ...or FDA.??...usually swoop in and essentially take ALL of the carnage with them to piece together Exactly what has taken place.?? So , to see Actual parts of this Airliner ......would almost be a tad bit .." Haunting "... ( not trying to sound Dramatic )...but a trip like this , Would Absolutely be worth it on So Many levels. You've done an excellent job explaining some of the more important reasons for this Trek , and I do applaud you for that , and the Mountains themselves seem to ....every now and then , offer up a piece of it's Incredible History. Well Done once again Chris...... Very impact full Video. Cheers.

[@inspireAson]

+Trevor Stuart Thanks for watching Trevor! I'm glad you liked the symbolic shot of the birds "crashing" into the mountains. That was an important shot for the trip and I'm really glad it came together at the very end. I think there's a lot of wreckage there still for a couple of reasons. The first is that the wreck happened in the 50's when perhaps there wasn't as much concern with picking up the wreckage as there is now? (Just an assumption). The second is the timing. At the time of the crash it was very cold and snowy. The area was very hard to access in the snow. They did remove many pieces. They actually dropped shells on the wreckage to make the pieces smaller and easier to carry out. I think they did the best they could. Now, you're not supposed to touch/remove the pieces and people are respectful of that. It's nice to see how respectful people have been to the area and the wreckage. It allows others to experience the area in an undisturbed way. I'm really glad you stopped by to watch and even happier that you enjoyed the video. Thank you! :) - Chris

[@gladegoodrich2297]

The pilot tried to save a few minutes by taking this shortcut through the mountain pass. Wifes brother died on this plane, coming home from the World Series. Pilots fault!

[@josephdupont]

62 years ago on Oct, 6, 1955 at least 65 innocent people were killed on United Flight 409 in Wyoming. Within an hour after taking off from Denver 4 residents from our area impacted the cliff of a mountain. As a result of this the John B Merrill Parkway ,in Towanda, was named after a brilliant man who worked at Syvania. Just prior to their departure an innocent flip of a coin sealed the fate of two couples on the flight. Three executives of the Sylvania Electric Company in Towanda, PA, and their wives were enroute to Salt Lake City. They were to board the plane in Chicago, however, there was room for only two couples so they flipped a coin to see which couple would have to stay behind for a later flight. Mr. & Mrs. Paul Felton lost the coin flipping and lived. The winners of the coin flip were Mr. & Mrs. John B. Merrill and Mr. & Mrs. James E. McGarr, and they died. in addition, the mother of a Michigan airman Private Lawrence Monk killed in the crash said that her son had a premonition of impending death. Mrs. Richard Ryan of Cheboygan said her 18-year-old son, Pvt. Lawrence Monk, gave her his Bible early Sunday morning and said, “I’ll never need it again.” Mom, you’ll never see me again but you’ll hear about me,” They went to church together Sunday and took communion . Monk, was in route to Oakland, Ca., and ultimately was together the 65 other doomed passengers in Denver, which is over a mile in elevation. What makes this all very interesting is that out of all the dead found, only the pilot and co-pilot had discolored skin. This may be explained if the flight crew was killed just prior to the crash . Had they been murdered just prior to the crash the death process would have been proceeding at over 10,000 feet and at “room temperature”. Every one alive at the time of impact would have been chilling down the moment after impact! In 1955 the authorities /media apparently accepted “Premonitions”. But today the FBI, FAA ,NTSB would have run a complete psycholoical assessment of Pvt. Monk. But at the very least Oct. 6th should be a time to think about the orphans, friends and relatives left to deal with this violent event. If the plane was hijacked you can only imagine the terror of the finals seconds of their lives. So the next time you drive down the John B Merrill maybe you might have a different feeling doing it.

[@jdmcgarr6601]

I'm told this wasn't an accident, but that the pilot intentionally hit the mountain. My Grandparents were James and Margaret McGarr. I was also told that the husbands of the Sylvania couples actually "drew straws" as opposed to a coin flip as well. Its cool that people are still interested in this. Cheers

[@OregonMikeH]

@@jdmcgarr6601 Outstanding!

[@OregonMikeH]

What a Great Cintrbution to the Commentary! Well Done, & Blessings from Oregon! .. Ⓜike