Boston - Baltimore - Cincinnati - Indianapolis - Saint-Louis

On September 9, 1969 at 03:29 PM, Boston - Baltimore - Cincinnati - Indianapolis - Saint-Louis experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-9, operated by Allegheny Airlines, with the event recorded near Fairland Indiana.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

82 people were known to be on board, 82 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: 78, passenger fatalities: 78, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. An Allegheny Airlines DC-9 and a Forth Corporation Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee registered N7374J collided in flight approximately 4 miles northwest of Fairland, Indiana, at approximately 1529 e.d.t., September 9, 1969. All 83 occupants, 78 passengers and four crew members, aboard the DC-9 and the pilot of the PA-28 were fatally injured. Both aircraft were destroyed by the collision and ground impact. Allegheny flight AL853 was wider positive radar control of the Federal Aviation Administration's Indianapolis Approach Control, descending from 6,000 feet to an assigned altitude of 2,530 feet at the time of the collision. N7374J has being flown by a student pilot on a solo cross-country flight in accordance with a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan. The collision occurred at an altitude of approximately 3,550 feet. The visibility in the area was at least 15 miles, but there was an intervening cloud condition wbich precluded the crew of either aircraft from sighting the other until a few seconds prior to collision.

Aircraft reference details include registration N988VJ, MSN 47211, year of manufacture 1968.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 39.5860°, -85.8635°.