Emery Worldwide Airlines

Douglas DC-8

On February 16, 2000, about 1951 Pacific standard time, Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc., (Emery) flight 17, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71F (DC-8), N8079U, crashed in an automobile salvage yard shortly after takeoff, while attempting to return to Sacramento Mather Airport (MHR), Rancho Cordova, California, for an emergency landing. Emery flight 17 was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 as a cargo flight from MHR to James M. Cox Dayton International Airport (DAY), Dayton, Ohio. The flight departed MHR about 1949, with two pilots and a flight engineer on board. The three flight crew members were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

While taxiing at Chicago-O'Hare Airport to reach the Emery Air Freight Terminal, the airplane was caught by strong crosswinds. It went out of the taxiway and collided with an electrical transformer before coming to rest in flames. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire. It was leased from Pinehurst Airlines.