Summary:
When it comes to aviation, mechanical issues are part of the equation, and there is plenty of troubleshooting that happens at 35,000 feet. When the crew of United Airlines Flight 173 faced a frustrating issue that put a safe landing in jeopardy, they had no idea that their attempts to fix the problem would lead to a whole new set of catastrophic consequences. In this week's episode of Take to the Sky: The Air Disaster Podcast, join Stephanie as she shares how United 173 permanently changed the conversation about the role of communication in aviation safety.Listen, Review, and Subscribe on:
Sources consulted for this story:
- NTSB: Accident Report United Airlines N8082U
- Offbeat Oregon: Lessons from Christmastime plane crash still save lives today
- Tailstrike: United 173 CVR Transcript
- Portland Mercury: Julie Whipple's Crash Course Will Make You Never Want to Fly Again
- Willamette Week: In 1978, a Jetliner Crash-Landed on Burnside. In "Crash Course," Journalist Julie Whipple Explores How the Accident Changed Aviation
- Oregon Live: 1978 plane crash into Portland neighborhood killed 10, allowed a prisoner escape -- and haunted pilot
- Oregon Live: Portland airliner crash in 1978 killed 10, but changed the way crews are trained
- The Unfinished Pyramid: 42 YEARS AGO TONIGHT: A DEADLY PLANE CRASH IN PORTLAND
- New York Times: Cause Sought in Portland Plane Crash
Show Notes:
This week's episode talks about not one but two Oregon related air disasters! In a mini story, Stephanie tells the tale of a 1995 helicopter crash that took place at Crater Lake in southern Oregon. In the story about United 173, she mentions the iconic view of Mount Hood that is sometimes visible for passengers on a clear day; in this photo, which she took in 2018, you can see what passengers on United 173 might have seen as the plane descended into Portland.If you enjoyed this week's story and are looking for more, Judy Whipple's book Crash Course is worth a read- you can find it on Amazon as well as many other sites.
Credits:
Written and produced by: Shelly Price and Stephanie HubkaDirected and engineered at: Snow Monster Studios
Sound editing by: Stephanie Hubka
Graphic design and website by: Adam Hubka
Music by: Mike Dunn
Aerial view of the crash site. Source: offbeatoregon.com
Crash site. Source: tailstrike.com
United Flight 173 crash site. Source: OregonLive
Wreckage at the crash site. Source: Reddit
The aircraft involved in the crash, circa 1972. Source: Wikipedia
