Empire State Building Plane Crash was a terrible tragedy that happened on July 28th, 1945, when a United States Army Air Forces B-25 bomber crashed into the 79th and 80th floors of the Empire State Building in New York City. The crash killed 14 people and injured 26 others. It is one of the most famous and infamous plane crashes in history.
The Crash
At 9:40 am on July 28th, 1945, the plane piloted by Lieutenant Colonel William F. Smith crashed into the 79th and 80th floors of the Empire State Building. The plane was flying in thick fog and Smith had become disoriented, causing him to crash into the building. The impact of the crash caused an explosion that sent debris flying out of the building and started a fire. The fire was eventually put out by the New York Fire Department.
The crash killed 11 people inside the building, as well as Lieutenant Colonel Smith and his two crew members. In addition, 26 people were injured, some of them seriously. The building suffered extensive damage, with the 79th and 80th floors completely destroyed and parts of other floors damaged.
Investigation
The crash was investigated by the United States Army Air Forces and the Civil Aeronautics Board. The investigators determined that Smith had become disoriented in the thick fog and had not seen the building until it was too late. They also determined that the plane had been flying too low and too fast, making it impossible for Smith to avoid the crash.
The investigators also determined that the crash was due to human error, not mechanical failure. Smith was found to have been negligent in his flying and was court-martialed for his role in the crash. He was later acquitted of all charges.
Legacy
The Empire State Building Plane Crash is one of the most famous and infamous plane crashes in history. It has been featured in books, films, and television shows. The crash also served as a reminder of the dangers of air travel, and helped spur the development of new safety regulations and technologies.
Safety Regulations
The crash of the Empire State Building served as a wake-up call for the aviation industry. In the wake of the crash, the United States Army Air Forces and the Civil Aeronautics Board put in place new safety regulations and technologies. These included:
- Requiring all pilots to be certified by the Civil Aeronautics Board.
- Establishing minimum altitude requirements for aircraft.
- Requiring aircraft to be equipped with navigation and weather-avoidance equipment.
- Establishing air traffic control systems.
These new regulations and technologies helped to make air travel much safer and helped to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Conclusion
The Empire State Building Plane Crash was a tragedy that killed 14 people and injured 26 others. It served as a reminder of the dangers of air travel and spurred the development of new safety regulations and technologies. These regulations and technologies helped to make air travel much safer and helped to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.