1965 Carmel mid-air collision
The 1965 Carmel mid-air collision occurred on December 4, 1965, when Eastern Air Lines Flight 853 (N6218C), a Lockheed Super Constellation en route from Boston Logan International Airport to Newark International Airport, collided in mid-air with Trans World Airlines Flight 42 (N748TW), a Boeing 707-131B en route from San Francisco International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport, over Carmel, New York, United States.
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | December 4, 1965 |
| Summary | Mid-air collision due to optical illusion and pilot error |
| Site | Carmel, New York, United States |
| Total fatalities | 4 |
| Total injuries | 50 |
| Total survivors | 108 |
| First aircraft | |
| The Trans World Airlines Boeing 707 involved in the accident | |
| Type | Boeing 707-131B |
| Operator | Trans World Airlines |
| Registration | N748TW |
| Flight origin | San Francisco International Airport |
| Destination | John F. Kennedy International Airport |
| Occupants | 58 |
| Passengers | 51 |
| Crew | 7 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 1 |
| Survivors | 58 |
| Second aircraft | |
| A Lockheed Super Constellation similar to the accident aircraft. | |
| Type | Lockheed L-1049C Super Constellation |
| Operator | Eastern Air Lines |
| Registration | N6218C |
| Flight origin | Boston Logan International Airport |
| Destination | Newark International Airport |
| Occupants | 54 |
| Passengers | 49 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Injuries | 49 |
| Survivors | 50 |
TWA Flight 42 made an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport, while Eastern Air Lines Flight 853 was forced to make a crash landing on Hunt Mountain in North Salem, New York. Three passengers died, plus the Constellation's pilot, Captain Charles J. White, who had returned to the aircraft's cabin to help the last passenger.