Newark – Washington DC

On November 23, 1962 at 12:24 PM, Newark – Washington DC experienced a crash involving Vickers Viscount, operated by United Airlines, with the event recorded near Ellicott City Maryland.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

17 people were known to be on board, 17 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 13, passenger fatalities: 13, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is other causes. United Air Lines Flight 297, a Vickers-Armstrong Viscount Model 745D, N7430, crashed in a wooded area six miles west-southwest of Ellicott City, Maryland, at approximately 1224 e.s.t., on November 23, 1962. All thirteen Passengers and a crew of four were fatally injured. Flight 297 was en route from Newark, New Jersey to Washington, D. C. The flight was operating at an assigned altitude of' 6,000 feet when it apparently penetrated a flock of Whistling Swans. At least two of these a were struck by the aircraft. One swan collided with the right horizontal stabilizer inflicting superficial damage only. The other bird punctured the left horizontal stabilizer, traveled through the structure, and dented the elevator as it egresses. The weakened structure failed in this area. rendered the aircraft uncontrollable, and resulted in, the aircraft striking the ground in a nose-low inverted attitude.

Aircraft reference details include registration N7430, MSN 128, year of manufacture 1956.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 39.2757°, -76.8317°.