Today marks the 30th anniversary of the worst aviation disaster in Georgia history.
On April 4, 1977 giant balls of hail got caught in the engines of Southern Airways Flight 242, headed to Atlanta from Hunstville. The pilot tried to make an emergency landing in what was then the rural community of New Hope northeast of Atlanta. Richard Carter recalls the scene.
Carter’s wife and baby son were killed when the plane hit the ground. Seventy other people died too, including seven other residents of New Hope.
Carter says New Hope, now surrounded by suburban growth on all sides, has never recovered from the crash. But the town is finally trying to put its ghosts to rest. A local church held a memorial service this weekend, and residents hope to erect a monument to the victims.
On April 4, 1977 giant balls of hail got caught in the engines of Southern Airways Flight 242, headed to Atlanta from Hunstville. The pilot tried to make an emergency landing in what was then the rural community of New Hope northeast of Atlanta. Richard Carter recalls the scene.
It was actually comin’ in here at New Hope Church and he had made it on to the small two lane highway and I think it would have been ok but the utility poles that’s on the right of way of the, the highway – he had clipped one with the left wing – and it turned it slightly to the left right into the little grocery store then, and then that was it. I mean it was, uh - it was explosions and just a big disaster after that.
Carter’s wife and baby son were killed when the plane hit the ground. Seventy other people died too, including seven other residents of New Hope.
Carter says New Hope, now surrounded by suburban growth on all sides, has never recovered from the crash. But the town is finally trying to put its ghosts to rest. A local church held a memorial service this weekend, and residents hope to erect a monument to the victims.
