"I am happy. Of the 154 people on the plane, 110 were from Arizona, with most of them from greater Phoenix. In the investigation, the captain and the first officer were determined to be qualified in accordance with applicable federal aviation regulations, company regulations, and procedures to operate the airplane. At 7 p.m. Joanne called him at home and said her plane had been forced back to the terminal because of mechanical difficulties and would be delayed a few hours. Since 1970, there have been only 15 instances where a commercial plane crash left a single survivor. The flight's captain, John R. Maus, was an experienced pilot with 31 years of experience with the airline. Copyright 2023 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. It was the second-deadliest aviation accident at the time in the United States. "Being an adolescent and confused, so it was just extra stress for me. I remember feeling angry and survivor's guilt. Disney chief Bob Iger calls Gov. Opinion: Why do so many young white men in America find fascism cool? John Maus, was headed for Phoenix and on to Southern California. 
Crocker is now happily married, studies art therapy and flies regularly. 
"You're limiting the opportunity for movement of the upper torso, and hence, you're limiting the impact speed of your head against an obstacle," Galea said. [24], In 2016, motorsport journalist Tom Higgins posted his recollections of Northwest 255. in the crash. But in the aftermath of Flight 255's fiery end, there was the life of a 4-year-old girl who survived the crash. The Saturday before she left, Hidi went to say goodby to her grandmother, Thelma Lesniewski. [1]:3, Flight 255 made its takeoff roll on Detroit's runway 3C at 20:44:21, with Maus at the controls, as recorded on the aircraft's cockpit voice recorder (CVR):[1]:3, The plane lifted off the runway at 170kn (200mph; 310km/h), and began to roll from side to side[1]:4 just under 50ft (15m) above the ground. [1]:22 The impact caused the left wing to start disintegrating and catch fire. The takeoff performance data that was in the flight crews package was based on using either runway 21L or 21R. At the airport she was told the plane had developed mechanical problems, so she went to Northwest Airlines--and got one of the last open seats on Flight 255. But 2,500 miles away, friends and family gathered a few hours later in the fluorescent glow of John Wayne Airport to greet a plane that would never arrive. David watched Joanne board Continental Flight 657 and saw the plane taxi away. A black granite memorial was built in 1994 to commemorate the victims. Her parents, David and Shelley Surowitz, and Brian, 15, had moved to north Tustin earlier in the summer, and her older sister, Stacey, had left Saturday. Another monument to the victims (many of whom were from the Phoenix area) stands next to Phoenix City Hall. "[1]:53. The autothrottle system failing to engage was the first red flag, with the stall warning being the second. WebFlight 255 carried 149 passengers and six crew members. The McDonnell Douglass MD-80, piloted by Capt. She is also studying political science and communications at Wayne State University. And for a self-described sports nut, what better place to be than Southern California. Here is a look back at this Southeast Michigan tragedy. I gave her some money, and we kissed, Donnie Ratliff said. bus and the CAWS unit. | Interviews with first officers and other captains who had flown with him described him as a competent and capable pilot. As of 2014, Northwest, now owned by Delta, continues the retirement of 255 as a flight number. She was mad at her Dad and he was mad at her, the mother said. Dodds had logged 8,044 flight hours during his career (including 1,604 hours on the MD-82), and had worked for the airline for more than eight years. Nick Vanos, a 24-year-old center for the Phoenix Suns, was killed. As the plane rushed down the runway, it lifted only 40 feet off the ground. The flight was headed to California when it left the gate in Detroit. Their takeoff weight had to be below the allowable limits for runway 3C. Dodds also recalculated the allowable takeoff weight for the flight, and concluded that it was within normal limits. Guestbook He is also survived by his honorary son Nick (Nikki) Zajas of Howell; nephews and nieces. In Toledo, Ohio, a week ago today, Hidi Ratliff was eager to get home to Santa Ana and begin cheerleading practice. He had been at a family reunion in Toledo but left early. An exclusive screening of "Sole Survivor" was held Wednesday night in Royal Oaks, Mich., near the 1987 Northwest Airlines flight 255 plane crash site. In memory of the victims, a black granite memorial was erected in 1994; it stands (surrounded by blue spruce trees) at the top of the hill at Middlebelt Road and I-94, the site of the crash. She was found several feet from the bodies of her family. An investigation of their personal background and actions during the days before the accident also turned up normal. Three possible conditions would have caused power to be interrupted at the P-40 circuit breaker - the circuit breaker was intentionally opened by either the flight crew or maintenance personnel, the circuit breaker tripped because of a transient overload and the flight crew did not detect the open circuit breaker, or the circuit breaker did not allow current to flow to the CAWS power supply and did not annunciate the condition by tripping. Another person featured in the film is George Lamson, who, at age 17, was the only person found alive after Galaxy Airlines flight 203 went down in Reno in 1985. Northwest Flight 255 crashed at 8:46 p.m. on August 16, 1987, just seconds after it took off from Detroit Metro Airport. When he first was appointed pastor (at St. Francis Xavier in 2011), he wanted to have a social gathering, but not anything fancy. A Continental spokesman said he was very eager to get back to Orange County that night. While the plane was taxiing, the pilots got a little lost on their way to the runway. The near bridge is the, During the takeoff roll, the pilots noticed that the aircraft's autothrottle was not engaged, indicating that the aircraft's computer was not in takeoff mode. 
She had slept little Sunday night, and now she was chain-smoking as she waited at Gate 26 for this new Flight 255. Wieging would no longer be around but that doesnt make the loss any easier. Although he had split with his girlfriend, who had also moved here from Florida, he had a growing circle of friends. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Times staff writers Lynn Smith and Alan Jalon in Orange County and Bob Schwartz in Detroit contributed to this article. Over the years, Fr. Related: Hank Winchester: Its hard to believe its been 35 years since Flight 255 crashed on I-94. According to the accident report, the flight crews training records did not reveal anything abnormal. The NTSB published its final report on May 10, 1988, in which it concluded that the accident was caused by pilot error: "The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the flight crew's failure to use the taxi checklist to ensure that the flaps and slats were extended for takeoff. As of 2013, the crash is the fourth-deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. It was the end of a two-week vacation to visit family in Michigan. When she finished packing, she called home to confirm that her mother would be waiting at John Wayne Airport when Northwest Flight 255 landed at 10:35 p.m. Also boarding the Northwest jet at Detroits Metropolitan Airport was a Laguna Hills couple on the last leg of a two-week trip back to New York. Those from Orange County on the flight generally mirrored the overall passenger list. [2][3] It is also the deadliest aviation accident to have a sole survivor. More than 30 of the Recordings in the cockpit indicate that the engine power began increasing immediately after the all-clear for takeoff. 
The pole sliced a four or five-foot chunk off of the left wing and the plane continued to roll to the left. Other than a minor problem taxiing to the arrival gate, the flight from Saginaw to Detroit was uneventful. 
He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. She didnt tell anyone. His funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 17 at St. Andre Bessette Parish in Ecorse. The aircraft was powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217 turbofan engines. The NTSB was unable to determine a cause for the electrical-power failure in the central aural warning system (CAWS): "The failure of the takeoff warning system was caused by the loss of input 28V dc. He finally bribed me by offering to pick up my lunch the next day.. Wieging for two years from 2010-12 at St. Francis Xavier in Ecorse. She showed her the sweat shirt she had bought for her new boyfriend--stenciled with his name, Jim, on one side, and the make of his motorcycle, Honda, on the other--back in Santa Ana. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Stunning before-and-after images: California reservoir goes from almost empty to 100% full, How Kevin McCarthys Bakersfield is reacting to Trumps indictment, This hidden flaw in California homes can cause major earthquake destruction, L.A. blasting classical music to drive unhoused people from subway station. On Sunday, Mary Ann Ratliff was busy working in her kitchen when she got a call from Hidi. ROMULUS, Mich. (FOX 2) - Thirty-five years ago, Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed moments after taking off from Detroit Metro Airport, killing everyone on 
Wieging served as a chaplain of the Detroit Police Department and the Wayne County Sheriffs Department where he was serving at the time of the plane crash and later became a chaplain at the airport itself. 
Out of 148 passengers, six crew members, two Then there is the most remarkable plane crash survivor story of recent memory, when U.S. Airways Captain Chesley "Sulley" Sullenberger safely landed in Hudson River shortly after take-off. But their life is altered forever, and it's not easy for them to pick up and go on and there's very little of it that feels lucky to them.". This poster with the names and photos of every victim was displayed during an anniversary commemoration. Now, Continental officials were telling passengers there was a problem with one of the planes wings. The aftermath of the crash of Northwest Airlines flight 255, Detroit, 1987. Their statements on whether or not the flaps and slats were extended varied, but most responded that they were extended, although they could not tell how far. Carl A. Scherer, 58, Clarence Center, N.Y. Jay Strausbaugh, 29, Sterling Heights, Mich. Erica Thomsen, 61, Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Phyllis A. Zigler, 32, Gasport, N.Y. ON THE GROUND. Thiede will be there tomorrow for the remembrance, but theres a constant reminder every time he goes to work. She had slept little Sunday night, and now she was chain-smoking as she waited at Gate 26 for this new Flight 255. In addition to his parish work, Fr. She now is one of 14 people who have been interviewed for the documentary Sole Survivor, which sought out people who are the only ones to live through major air crashes. Melvin C. Roundy, 53, Mesa, off-duty Northwest employee. Their spirit lives on in our hearts and minds forever. "When we found it and found her, it was just elation," Thiede said. Following the crash, investigators started to attempt to gain an understanding of how Flight 255 crashed. The captain, John Maus, was originally hired in 1955 by a company that Northwest Airlines absorbed. She is a sole survivor who took control, and turned tragedy into a life of triumph. They call themselves the Flight 255 family. Twenty-five times now, theyve gathered at a It was so common for pilots to pull the P-40 circuit breaker that the area around the circuit breaker was smudged from routinely being manipulated. Why me?". When he found human remains, he blessed every one of them.. Wieging taught in the religious studies department at Madonna University in Livonia for 26 years, and was the state chaplain of the Daughters of Isabella. Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. The second ground controller specified the route to runway 3C. The now uncontrolled plane crashed inverted onto Middlebelt Road and struck vehicles just north of its intersection with Wick Road, killing two people on the ground in a car. [1]:2526[11] After the crash, Cichan moved to live with her maternal aunt and uncle in Birmingham, Alabama. For instance, he loved to collect teddy bears and figurines, which he kept catalogued in the parish rectory. [1]:4. Two people died when their cars were incinerated by the fireball. Hidi had flown to Ohio with her mother, Mary Ann, late last month. The last-minute change to the flights runway was a decision based on the tower supervisors judgment that the wind direction was changing from southwest to northwest. The sole survivor of the crash was a 4-year-old girl named Cecelia Cichan, who was seriously injured. An American Airlines jet went down in May 1979 and killed 275 people. "The most important thing that people can take away [from the film] is that survivors are really victims too," Dickens said. A memorial to the victims of Flight 255 was erected near the scene of the crash and families of the victims have gathered there since on the anniversary. Just before 8 she called and said she was leaving on Northwest Flight 255. Also, a marker stone is located at the General Motors Proving Ground in Milford, MI, in memory of the 14 GM employees and seven family members who were killed in the crash. Upon completion of an individual checklist, the pilot completing the checklist will state (CHECKLIST NAME) CHECKLIST COMPLETE.. The sole survivor was a 4-year-old girl who sustained serious injuries. ECORSE As the news of Michigans worst air disaster in history began reaching the ears of area residents the evening of Aug. 16, 1987, Fr. [7], Of the 149 passengers aboard, 21 were children, the youngest being six months old. His matter-of-fact, pull-no-punches personality allowed him to cut to the chase, both in his personal life and his parish work a trait those around him appreciated, even if they didnt always like what he had to say. Wieging was appointed pastor of nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in 1973, at the time the youngest pastor in the archdiocese at age 31. [20] Another was held there on August 16, 2017, the 30th anniversary. Discovery Channel's "Curiosity: Plane Crash" investigation compiled a team of experts who rigged a 727 jet with cameras, sensors and test dummies and then crashed it, on purpose, in the Mexican desert to see whether there are ways to help passengers survive when tragedy unfolds. Contributing to the accident was the absence of electrical power to the airplane takeoff warning system which thus did not warn the flightcrew that the airplane was not configured properly for takeoff. It was the first time he had seen her since he rescued her on Middlebelt Road. Detroit tower (to Northwest Airlines Flight 766). Over time, the two developed a friendship and stay in touch today mostly through emails and text messages. I loved her so much, David remembered, sitting in the basement of the Surowitz home last week with Joannes family and friends. Memorial Page, Order He served for 46 years as a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, including as its vice president in 1981 and president in 1983. By that time, Kish had gone in another direction to search for survivors. If it wasnt the pilots themselves, the aircraft, or the weather, it had to be the takeoff configuration. Wieging comforted them, keeping vigil into the early morning hours the next day, holding candles, consoling grieving families, praying with those on the ground and listening and crying with friends and relatives. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. He was not expected to start, but he had a chance of seeing lots of playing time. He was a very strong, independent individual, Zanger said. This Sole Survivor project is more about a group, and thats why Im willing to get involved and be part of something bigger.. Takeoff initiated on Runway 3C at Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Fr. The victims of the crash included NBA player Nick Vanos, seven people from Orange County, California and a four-month old baby from Arizona. Resources | He was employed for 31 years and was certified to fly several different types of planes. Higgins, then of The Charlotte Observer, and fellow NASCAR beat reporters Steve Waid and Gary McCredie (of Grand National Scene) arrived at a hotel near the Detroit Metropolitan Airport awaiting a Monday morning flight to Charlotte, North Carolina, after finishing coverage of the Champion Spark Plug 400 that afternoon at Michigan International Speedway, and were witnesses to the plane crash. flight 255 crash victims photos. Wieging was asked by the FBI to counsel first responders at Ground Zero in New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Although the stall warning was annunciated, investigators determined from the CVR that the aural takeoff warning was not annunciated by that warning system. It was th There were the sudden bonds of humanity forged by tragedy and need, anguish and caring. Northwest one eighty five metro tower three center taxi into position and hold you have about three minutes two to three minutes on the runway. When my daughters father passed away, I couldnt think of a better priest to help us through that, said Resst, bookkeeper at St. Andre Bessette Parish in Ecorse who worked with Fr. Burial is in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Wyandotte. [1]:6, The flight's first officer was 35-year-old David J. Dodds, from Galena, Illinois. Web1/63Wreckage from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 lies in a field on July 22, 2014 in Grabovo, Ukraine. [1]:22,26 The plane rolled 90 to the left, striking the roof of an Avis Car Rental building. Then there is Bahia Bakari, who was 14 when she survived after Yemenia flight 626 plummeted into the Indian Ocean in 2009, and spent nine hours clinging to plane wreckage before she was rescued. His wife, waiting nervously at John Wayne Airport for news of the severity of the Northwest crash, never knew of her husbands inattentiveness--and good fortune--until she spotted him in the Orange County terminal arriving on another airline from Detroit. More: Firefighter who pulled lone survivor from Flight 255 wreckage talks about crash, 35 years later, From the Vault: News coverage from crash of Northwest Flight 255 in 1987. "When you see the footage of the wreckage, it's just a complete miracle and blessing that somebody walked away from that," said Jeff Krappitz, who lost his grandfather in the crash. WebThe deadliest aviation disaster to have had a sole survivor was Northwest Airlines Flight 255, which crashed in Romulus, Michigan, on 16 August 1987, killing 154 of the 155 people on board the aircraft, as well as two people on the ground. It was now time to point the investigation towards the actual takeoff. The performance that Flight 255 demonstrated was not consistent with an expected performance of an airplane that is caught in a wind shear. The only survivor, Cecelia Cichan, a four-year-old from Arizona, was traveling with her mother, father, and older brother. Showcasing the positive things going on in our neighborhoods and communities that you may not know about. The trip back on Flight 255 would add several thousand miles to his frequent flier plan for a free ticket. The final takeoff weight for Flight 255s airplane was 144,047. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. "There is no one seat that is the safest seat on the aircraft.". A lone survivor escaped the crash 4-year-old Cecelia Cichan, who was trapped in an air pocket underneath her mother's body. The compassion this man had for everybody was just impeccable, Zanger said. [14] This circuit breaker also controls some of the stall warning sounds. Search, order a Loving A single Associated Press photo of the girl was released a few months after the crash, showing her with bandages on her arms and a bow on her head while she was being treated at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor and she disappeared from public life after that. Virginia Robinson, 45, Fountain Valley, Calif. Capt. He remained at Our Lady of Lourdes for 39 years, guiding the parish through the difficult process of closing its school, demolishing its old church and the construction of a new church. Shortly after 8 a.m. it was in the air, headed east for stops in Minneapolis, Detroit, Saginaw, Mich., and back to Detroit to pick up passengers for the trip west again. Departing Saginaw, the flight crew operated the same aircraft as Flight 255, flying to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, with intermediate stops scheduled at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan (near Detroit), and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona. May 16, 2013— -- At just 4 years old, Cecelia Crocker became known as America's orphan after being the only survivor in a 1987 plane crash, which, to this day, she doesn't remember. links below. She knew her friend, Bonnie Monary, was planning to meet the Continental flight. It was a good time for her to get engaged, the stars said. A Comair flight crashed 18 miles short of the airport on Jan. 9. Theres a name for Friedman and other relatives of Flight 255 victims. J. Cathie Corona, 44, St. Clair Shores, Mich. Lewis Dresch, 45, Sterling Heights, Mich. Ernest John Mathews, 38, Sterling Heights, Mich. Eric Mazade, 30, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. Suzanne Morris, 35, Federal Way, Wash., off-duty Northwest flight attendant. The total weight of the airliner was 144,046 pounds (65,338kg) with a maximum allowable weight of 146,058 pounds (66,251kg). In Loving Memory | James Wieging was already en route to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. This poster with the names and photos of every victim was displayed during an Along the way, they stopped for lunch and to buy some magazines. The flight's first officer, David J Dodds, had logged more than 8,000 hours of flying in his career. It wasnt until his death on Aug. 11 that Fr. The crew also received a brief weather report. Their Airplane Flying Handbook stated that good cockpit management requires consistent checklist usage. He was very, very simple.. However, the recording also revealed that the flight crew had trouble engaging the autothrottle system at first, but did engage the system moments later. Joanne Surowitz awoke last Sunday morning in a Detroit suburb, anticipating that by days end she would be reunited with her family in their new Tustin home. [25], In Busy Philipps' 2018 memoir This Will Only Hurt a Little, Philipps mentioned that her friend Megan Briggs died the summer going into 5th grade on this plane crash. Memorial Page for loved one(s). (Europa Press) Today, the crash of Spanair flight 5022 holds several important qualifiers which give it enduring significance. The two went together to have Lisas bridesmaids dress fitted. Its hard to go back and work knowing some of what I would have worked for isnt there.. You didnt always get the answer you wanted, but he gave you an answer.. The plane began to break apart, bursting into flames as it hit a railroad and an overpass on I-94. For years, Higgins feared the August NASCAR weekend after this crash, noting how he was a witness on Middlebelt Road. James Wieging, who ministered to families who lost loved ones during the Northwest Airlines Flight 255 They wanted to spend it in and around their hometown of Corning and the bucolic countryside with their most valued possessions--family and friends. A tall, skinny redhead, the Saddleback coaches nicknamed him Red., Bushong had been booked on the Continental flight, but asked to be transferred when it developed problems. Born Sept. 27, 1941, in Monroe, Fr. At 8:44 p.m., Flight 255 was cleared for takeoff. They had spent two weeks in Upstate New York, visiting family and friends, but now were anxious to get back to their newly bought El Toro home. The cockpit recording revealed that the flight crew neither called for nor accomplished the TAXI checklist. [1]:3, At 20:42:11, Flight 255 was instructed to line up and wait at the beginning of runway 3C. Lies in a wind shear John R. Maus, was planning to the... On I-94 back at this Southeast Michigan tragedy, anguish and caring a for... 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Guestbook he is also studying political science and communications at Wayne State University this! 1 ]:6, the pilots themselves, the flight 's first officer was 35-year-old David J.,! Had a chance of seeing lots of playing time audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com was annunciated investigators. On flight 255 victims she was chain-smoking as she waited at gate 26 this! And turned tragedy into a life of a two-week vacation to visit family in Michigan a... The engine power began increasing immediately after the all-clear for takeoff adolescent and confused, so it the. Increasing immediately after the all-clear for takeoff crash is the Digital content and audience for! By Delta, continues the retirement of 255 as a competent and capable pilot and on to Southern.. Southern California was based on using either runway 21L or 21R took control, and that... According to the arrival gate, the flight from Saginaw to Detroit Metropolitan Airport stated that good management. Mary Ann Ratliff was eager to get home to Santa Ana and begin cheerleading.... Spanair flight 5022 holds several important qualifiers which give it enduring significance David Joanne! Since 1970, there have been only 15 instances where a commercial plane crash left a single..
Crocker is now happily married, studies art therapy and flies regularly. She had slept little Sunday night, and now she was chain-smoking as she waited at Gate 26 for this new Flight 255. Wieging would no longer be around but that doesnt make the loss any easier. Although he had split with his girlfriend, who had also moved here from Florida, he had a growing circle of friends. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Times staff writers Lynn Smith and Alan Jalon in Orange County and Bob Schwartz in Detroit contributed to this article. Over the years, Fr. Related: Hank Winchester: Its hard to believe its been 35 years since Flight 255 crashed on I-94. According to the accident report, the flight crews training records did not reveal anything abnormal. The NTSB published its final report on May 10, 1988, in which it concluded that the accident was caused by pilot error: "The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the flight crew's failure to use the taxi checklist to ensure that the flaps and slats were extended for takeoff. As of 2013, the crash is the fourth-deadliest aviation accident in U.S. history. It was the end of a two-week vacation to visit family in Michigan. When she finished packing, she called home to confirm that her mother would be waiting at John Wayne Airport when Northwest Flight 255 landed at 10:35 p.m. Also boarding the Northwest jet at Detroits Metropolitan Airport was a Laguna Hills couple on the last leg of a two-week trip back to New York. Those from Orange County on the flight generally mirrored the overall passenger list. [2][3] It is also the deadliest aviation accident to have a sole survivor. More than 30 of the Recordings in the cockpit indicate that the engine power began increasing immediately after the all-clear for takeoff. The pole sliced a four or five-foot chunk off of the left wing and the plane continued to roll to the left. Other than a minor problem taxiing to the arrival gate, the flight from Saginaw to Detroit was uneventful. He also authors the Morning Report Newsletter and various other newsletters. She didnt tell anyone. His funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 17 at St. Andre Bessette Parish in Ecorse. The aircraft was powered by two Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217 turbofan engines. The NTSB was unable to determine a cause for the electrical-power failure in the central aural warning system (CAWS): "The failure of the takeoff warning system was caused by the loss of input 28V dc. He finally bribed me by offering to pick up my lunch the next day.. Wieging for two years from 2010-12 at St. Francis Xavier in Ecorse. She showed her the sweat shirt she had bought for her new boyfriend--stenciled with his name, Jim, on one side, and the make of his motorcycle, Honda, on the other--back in Santa Ana. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Stunning before-and-after images: California reservoir goes from almost empty to 100% full, How Kevin McCarthys Bakersfield is reacting to Trumps indictment, This hidden flaw in California homes can cause major earthquake destruction, L.A. blasting classical music to drive unhoused people from subway station. On Sunday, Mary Ann Ratliff was busy working in her kitchen when she got a call from Hidi. ROMULUS, Mich. (FOX 2) - Thirty-five years ago, Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed moments after taking off from Detroit Metro Airport, killing everyone on Wieging served as a chaplain of the Detroit Police Department and the Wayne County Sheriffs Department where he was serving at the time of the plane crash and later became a chaplain at the airport itself. Out of 148 passengers, six crew members, two Then there is the most remarkable plane crash survivor story of recent memory, when U.S. Airways Captain Chesley "Sulley" Sullenberger safely landed in Hudson River shortly after take-off. But their life is altered forever, and it's not easy for them to pick up and go on and there's very little of it that feels lucky to them.". This poster with the names and photos of every victim was displayed during an anniversary commemoration. Now, Continental officials were telling passengers there was a problem with one of the planes wings. The aftermath of the crash of Northwest Airlines flight 255, Detroit, 1987. Their statements on whether or not the flaps and slats were extended varied, but most responded that they were extended, although they could not tell how far. Carl A. Scherer, 58, Clarence Center, N.Y. Jay Strausbaugh, 29, Sterling Heights, Mich. Erica Thomsen, 61, Lake Havasu City, Ariz. Phyllis A. Zigler, 32, Gasport, N.Y. ON THE GROUND. Thiede will be there tomorrow for the remembrance, but theres a constant reminder every time he goes to work. She had slept little Sunday night, and now she was chain-smoking as she waited at Gate 26 for this new Flight 255. In addition to his parish work, Fr. She now is one of 14 people who have been interviewed for the documentary Sole Survivor, which sought out people who are the only ones to live through major air crashes. Melvin C. Roundy, 53, Mesa, off-duty Northwest employee. Their spirit lives on in our hearts and minds forever. "When we found it and found her, it was just elation," Thiede said. Following the crash, investigators started to attempt to gain an understanding of how Flight 255 crashed. The captain, John Maus, was originally hired in 1955 by a company that Northwest Airlines absorbed. She is a sole survivor who took control, and turned tragedy into a life of triumph. They call themselves the Flight 255 family. Twenty-five times now, theyve gathered at a It was so common for pilots to pull the P-40 circuit breaker that the area around the circuit breaker was smudged from routinely being manipulated. Why me?". When he found human remains, he blessed every one of them.. Wieging taught in the religious studies department at Madonna University in Livonia for 26 years, and was the state chaplain of the Daughters of Isabella. Copyright 2022 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. The second ground controller specified the route to runway 3C. The now uncontrolled plane crashed inverted onto Middlebelt Road and struck vehicles just north of its intersection with Wick Road, killing two people on the ground in a car. [1]:2526[11] After the crash, Cichan moved to live with her maternal aunt and uncle in Birmingham, Alabama. For instance, he loved to collect teddy bears and figurines, which he kept catalogued in the parish rectory. [1]:4. Two people died when their cars were incinerated by the fireball. Hidi had flown to Ohio with her mother, Mary Ann, late last month. The last-minute change to the flights runway was a decision based on the tower supervisors judgment that the wind direction was changing from southwest to northwest. The sole survivor of the crash was a 4-year-old girl named Cecelia Cichan, who was seriously injured. An American Airlines jet went down in May 1979 and killed 275 people. "The most important thing that people can take away [from the film] is that survivors are really victims too," Dickens said. A memorial to the victims of Flight 255 was erected near the scene of the crash and families of the victims have gathered there since on the anniversary. Just before 8 she called and said she was leaving on Northwest Flight 255. Also, a marker stone is located at the General Motors Proving Ground in Milford, MI, in memory of the 14 GM employees and seven family members who were killed in the crash. Upon completion of an individual checklist, the pilot completing the checklist will state (CHECKLIST NAME) CHECKLIST COMPLETE.. The sole survivor was a 4-year-old girl who sustained serious injuries. ECORSE As the news of Michigans worst air disaster in history began reaching the ears of area residents the evening of Aug. 16, 1987, Fr. [7], Of the 149 passengers aboard, 21 were children, the youngest being six months old. His matter-of-fact, pull-no-punches personality allowed him to cut to the chase, both in his personal life and his parish work a trait those around him appreciated, even if they didnt always like what he had to say. Wieging was appointed pastor of nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in 1973, at the time the youngest pastor in the archdiocese at age 31. [20] Another was held there on August 16, 2017, the 30th anniversary. Discovery Channel's "Curiosity: Plane Crash" investigation compiled a team of experts who rigged a 727 jet with cameras, sensors and test dummies and then crashed it, on purpose, in the Mexican desert to see whether there are ways to help passengers survive when tragedy unfolds. Contributing to the accident was the absence of electrical power to the airplane takeoff warning system which thus did not warn the flightcrew that the airplane was not configured properly for takeoff. It was the first time he had seen her since he rescued her on Middlebelt Road. Detroit tower (to Northwest Airlines Flight 766). Over time, the two developed a friendship and stay in touch today mostly through emails and text messages. I loved her so much, David remembered, sitting in the basement of the Surowitz home last week with Joannes family and friends. Memorial Page, Order He served for 46 years as a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, including as its vice president in 1981 and president in 1983. By that time, Kish had gone in another direction to search for survivors. If it wasnt the pilots themselves, the aircraft, or the weather, it had to be the takeoff configuration. Wieging comforted them, keeping vigil into the early morning hours the next day, holding candles, consoling grieving families, praying with those on the ground and listening and crying with friends and relatives. Ken Haddad is the digital content and audience manager for WDIV / ClickOnDetroit.com. He was not expected to start, but he had a chance of seeing lots of playing time. He was a very strong, independent individual, Zanger said. This Sole Survivor project is more about a group, and thats why Im willing to get involved and be part of something bigger.. Takeoff initiated on Runway 3C at Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Fr. The victims of the crash included NBA player Nick Vanos, seven people from Orange County, California and a four-month old baby from Arizona. Resources | He was employed for 31 years and was certified to fly several different types of planes. Higgins, then of The Charlotte Observer, and fellow NASCAR beat reporters Steve Waid and Gary McCredie (of Grand National Scene) arrived at a hotel near the Detroit Metropolitan Airport awaiting a Monday morning flight to Charlotte, North Carolina, after finishing coverage of the Champion Spark Plug 400 that afternoon at Michigan International Speedway, and were witnesses to the plane crash. flight 255 crash victims photos. Wieging was asked by the FBI to counsel first responders at Ground Zero in New York City after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Although the stall warning was annunciated, investigators determined from the CVR that the aural takeoff warning was not annunciated by that warning system. It was th There were the sudden bonds of humanity forged by tragedy and need, anguish and caring. Northwest one eighty five metro tower three center taxi into position and hold you have about three minutes two to three minutes on the runway. When my daughters father passed away, I couldnt think of a better priest to help us through that, said Resst, bookkeeper at St. Andre Bessette Parish in Ecorse who worked with Fr. Burial is in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Wyandotte. [1]:6, The flight's first officer was 35-year-old David J. Dodds, from Galena, Illinois. Web1/63Wreckage from Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 lies in a field on July 22, 2014 in Grabovo, Ukraine. [1]:22,26 The plane rolled 90 to the left, striking the roof of an Avis Car Rental building. Then there is Bahia Bakari, who was 14 when she survived after Yemenia flight 626 plummeted into the Indian Ocean in 2009, and spent nine hours clinging to plane wreckage before she was rescued. His wife, waiting nervously at John Wayne Airport for news of the severity of the Northwest crash, never knew of her husbands inattentiveness--and good fortune--until she spotted him in the Orange County terminal arriving on another airline from Detroit. More: Firefighter who pulled lone survivor from Flight 255 wreckage talks about crash, 35 years later, From the Vault: News coverage from crash of Northwest Flight 255 in 1987. "When you see the footage of the wreckage, it's just a complete miracle and blessing that somebody walked away from that," said Jeff Krappitz, who lost his grandfather in the crash. WebThe deadliest aviation disaster to have had a sole survivor was Northwest Airlines Flight 255, which crashed in Romulus, Michigan, on 16 August 1987, killing 154 of the 155 people on board the aircraft, as well as two people on the ground. It was now time to point the investigation towards the actual takeoff. The performance that Flight 255 demonstrated was not consistent with an expected performance of an airplane that is caught in a wind shear. The only survivor, Cecelia Cichan, a four-year-old from Arizona, was traveling with her mother, father, and older brother. Showcasing the positive things going on in our neighborhoods and communities that you may not know about. The trip back on Flight 255 would add several thousand miles to his frequent flier plan for a free ticket. The final takeoff weight for Flight 255s airplane was 144,047. Copyright 2019 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. "There is no one seat that is the safest seat on the aircraft.". A lone survivor escaped the crash 4-year-old Cecelia Cichan, who was trapped in an air pocket underneath her mother's body. The compassion this man had for everybody was just impeccable, Zanger said. [14] This circuit breaker also controls some of the stall warning sounds. Search, order a Loving A single Associated Press photo of the girl was released a few months after the crash, showing her with bandages on her arms and a bow on her head while she was being treated at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor and she disappeared from public life after that. Virginia Robinson, 45, Fountain Valley, Calif. Capt. He remained at Our Lady of Lourdes for 39 years, guiding the parish through the difficult process of closing its school, demolishing its old church and the construction of a new church. Shortly after 8 a.m. it was in the air, headed east for stops in Minneapolis, Detroit, Saginaw, Mich., and back to Detroit to pick up passengers for the trip west again. Departing Saginaw, the flight crew operated the same aircraft as Flight 255, flying to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, with intermediate stops scheduled at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Michigan (near Detroit), and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Arizona. May 16, 2013— -- At just 4 years old, Cecelia Crocker became known as America's orphan after being the only survivor in a 1987 plane crash, which, to this day, she doesn't remember. links below. She knew her friend, Bonnie Monary, was planning to meet the Continental flight. It was a good time for her to get engaged, the stars said. A Comair flight crashed 18 miles short of the airport on Jan. 9. Theres a name for Friedman and other relatives of Flight 255 victims. J. Cathie Corona, 44, St. Clair Shores, Mich. Lewis Dresch, 45, Sterling Heights, Mich. Ernest John Mathews, 38, Sterling Heights, Mich. Eric Mazade, 30, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich. Suzanne Morris, 35, Federal Way, Wash., off-duty Northwest flight attendant. The total weight of the airliner was 144,046 pounds (65,338kg) with a maximum allowable weight of 146,058 pounds (66,251kg). In Loving Memory | James Wieging was already en route to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. This poster with the names and photos of every victim was displayed during an Along the way, they stopped for lunch and to buy some magazines. The flight's first officer, David J Dodds, had logged more than 8,000 hours of flying in his career. It wasnt until his death on Aug. 11 that Fr. The crew also received a brief weather report. Their Airplane Flying Handbook stated that good cockpit management requires consistent checklist usage. He was very, very simple.. However, the recording also revealed that the flight crew had trouble engaging the autothrottle system at first, but did engage the system moments later. Joanne Surowitz awoke last Sunday morning in a Detroit suburb, anticipating that by days end she would be reunited with her family in their new Tustin home. [25], In Busy Philipps' 2018 memoir This Will Only Hurt a Little, Philipps mentioned that her friend Megan Briggs died the summer going into 5th grade on this plane crash. Memorial Page for loved one(s). (Europa Press) Today, the crash of Spanair flight 5022 holds several important qualifiers which give it enduring significance. The two went together to have Lisas bridesmaids dress fitted. Its hard to go back and work knowing some of what I would have worked for isnt there.. You didnt always get the answer you wanted, but he gave you an answer.. The plane began to break apart, bursting into flames as it hit a railroad and an overpass on I-94. For years, Higgins feared the August NASCAR weekend after this crash, noting how he was a witness on Middlebelt Road. James Wieging, who ministered to families who lost loved ones during the Northwest Airlines Flight 255 They wanted to spend it in and around their hometown of Corning and the bucolic countryside with their most valued possessions--family and friends. A tall, skinny redhead, the Saddleback coaches nicknamed him Red., Bushong had been booked on the Continental flight, but asked to be transferred when it developed problems. Born Sept. 27, 1941, in Monroe, Fr. At 8:44 p.m., Flight 255 was cleared for takeoff. They had spent two weeks in Upstate New York, visiting family and friends, but now were anxious to get back to their newly bought El Toro home. The cockpit recording revealed that the flight crew neither called for nor accomplished the TAXI checklist. [1]:3, At 20:42:11, Flight 255 was instructed to line up and wait at the beginning of runway 3C. Lies in a wind shear John R. Maus, was planning to the... On I-94 back at this Southeast Michigan tragedy, anguish and caring a for... 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