TWA 514 LbNA #22650 (ARCHIVED)
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Nearby Boxes
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | May 30, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Bluemont |
| County: | Clarke |
| State: | Virginia |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | paper trail |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Feb 26, 2011 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | May 30, 2006 |
History:
On December 1, 1974 TWA Flight 514 was en route from Indianapolis to Washington’s National Airport. An intense winter storm of rain, wind, hail and fog was blanketing the DC metro area. Because of the high crosswinds, National Airport was closed and Flight 514 was diverted to Dulles Airport.
The pilots were attempting to make a “controlled flight into terrain in instrument conditions.” At 11:01 A.M. the pilot was cleared to descend to 7,000 ft and handed off to Dulles Approach Control. Five seconds later the flight was cleared for an approach on runway 12 at Dulles. At 11:07 the rough weather began to both the crew, “It’s dark in here and bumpy too. We’re getting seasick” watching the instrument controls bounce around. The Captain reported, “according to this dumb sheet (the instrument approach chart) it says 3,400 ft until Round Hill.” Flight 514 was at 1800 ft. when the radio altimeter warning horn sounded.
At 11:09 Flight 514 struck the west side of the Blue Ridge, severing treetops before coming to rest straddling a boulder on Blue Ridge Mountain Road. All of the 85 passengers and 7 crewmembers perished in the crash. This box is placed in their memory.
The legacy of Flight 514 has led to massive improvements in airline safety. Because of this tragedy, the Aviation Safety Reporting System was set up under NASA to be independent of the FAA therefore avoiding the blame game of whistle blowers. Guidelines for communication between pilots and air traffic controllers have been clarified for operating on “unpublished routes” and new pilots are drilled on what “cleared for approach” actually means. Ground warning systems that sound an alarm at higher elevations are now mandatory on carrier aircraft.
The legend lives on that Flight 514 crashed because the air traffic controller did not have Mt. Weather on the maps. Mt. Weather is located 1.1 miles south of the crash site on Blue Ridge Mountain Road. Now operated under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security/ FEMA this underground facility is reported to be the secret bunker of the president. It’s worth a side trip to see.
Clue:
Blue Ridge Mountain Road (Rt. 601) runs at the crest of the mountain between Rt. 7 and Rt. 50 on the Loudoun/Clark County border. It’s an all paved road with interesting views. Beware of deer and racing drivers.
I recommend approaching from Rt. 7, as the only parking will be on your right. From Rt. 7 turn south on Blue Ridge Mountain Road. Travel 3.6 miles and look for a medium boulder on your left. The boulder is often sprayed with graffiti and adorned with homemade crosses. Pull over on your right and park on the shoulder. Cross the road, (looking left, right, left) and stand directly in front of the major crevice of the boulder. Walk 13 steps to right and then 3 steps to the left. When you see the trees enfolded with the boulder, look down.
Behind one of the crosses is a binder that has stood there for years with press clippings of the crash. I replaced the binder yesterday; it was soggy, but kept the insides intact. If you know who placed the binder, please give them my email. This sacred space needs to be preserved from development.
On December 1, 1974 TWA Flight 514 was en route from Indianapolis to Washington’s National Airport. An intense winter storm of rain, wind, hail and fog was blanketing the DC metro area. Because of the high crosswinds, National Airport was closed and Flight 514 was diverted to Dulles Airport.
The pilots were attempting to make a “controlled flight into terrain in instrument conditions.” At 11:01 A.M. the pilot was cleared to descend to 7,000 ft and handed off to Dulles Approach Control. Five seconds later the flight was cleared for an approach on runway 12 at Dulles. At 11:07 the rough weather began to both the crew, “It’s dark in here and bumpy too. We’re getting seasick” watching the instrument controls bounce around. The Captain reported, “according to this dumb sheet (the instrument approach chart) it says 3,400 ft until Round Hill.” Flight 514 was at 1800 ft. when the radio altimeter warning horn sounded.
At 11:09 Flight 514 struck the west side of the Blue Ridge, severing treetops before coming to rest straddling a boulder on Blue Ridge Mountain Road. All of the 85 passengers and 7 crewmembers perished in the crash. This box is placed in their memory.
The legacy of Flight 514 has led to massive improvements in airline safety. Because of this tragedy, the Aviation Safety Reporting System was set up under NASA to be independent of the FAA therefore avoiding the blame game of whistle blowers. Guidelines for communication between pilots and air traffic controllers have been clarified for operating on “unpublished routes” and new pilots are drilled on what “cleared for approach” actually means. Ground warning systems that sound an alarm at higher elevations are now mandatory on carrier aircraft.
The legend lives on that Flight 514 crashed because the air traffic controller did not have Mt. Weather on the maps. Mt. Weather is located 1.1 miles south of the crash site on Blue Ridge Mountain Road. Now operated under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security/ FEMA this underground facility is reported to be the secret bunker of the president. It’s worth a side trip to see.
Clue:
Blue Ridge Mountain Road (Rt. 601) runs at the crest of the mountain between Rt. 7 and Rt. 50 on the Loudoun/Clark County border. It’s an all paved road with interesting views. Beware of deer and racing drivers.
I recommend approaching from Rt. 7, as the only parking will be on your right. From Rt. 7 turn south on Blue Ridge Mountain Road. Travel 3.6 miles and look for a medium boulder on your left. The boulder is often sprayed with graffiti and adorned with homemade crosses. Pull over on your right and park on the shoulder. Cross the road, (looking left, right, left) and stand directly in front of the major crevice of the boulder. Walk 13 steps to right and then 3 steps to the left. When you see the trees enfolded with the boulder, look down.
Behind one of the crosses is a binder that has stood there for years with press clippings of the crash. I replaced the binder yesterday; it was soggy, but kept the insides intact. If you know who placed the binder, please give them my email. This sacred space needs to be preserved from development.