1971 Lake Champlain Crash Timeline
1971 plane crash lake champlain – On the evening of January 1, 1971, a chartered Martin 4-0-4 aircraft carrying 44 passengers and crew crashed into Lake Champlain shortly after takeoff from Burlington International Airport in Vermont. The crash, which occurred in a snowstorm, killed all 44 people on board.
The 1971 plane crash into Lake Champlain remains a haunting mystery, its wreckage still undiscovered. The murky depths of the lake hold secrets that may never be revealed. Yet, in the tranquil waters of Lake Anna, Virginia , a different story unfolds.
Here, the lake’s crystalline depths have yielded ancient artifacts and a glimpse into the past. As the sun sets on Lake Champlain, casting long shadows across the water, the search for the missing plane continues, a testament to the enduring allure of the unknown.
The following is a detailed timeline of events leading up to and following the crash:
Pre-Crash Events
- December 31, 1970: The Martin 4-0-4 aircraft, operated by Henson Airlines, is chartered by the University of Vermont to transport the men’s basketball team and its supporters to a game in Massachusetts.
- January 1, 1971: The aircraft departs from Burlington International Airport at 7:16 p.m. EST.
Crash
- 7:26 p.m. EST: The aircraft crashes into Lake Champlain, approximately two miles from the airport.
Post-Crash Events
- 7:30 p.m. EST: The Coast Guard is notified of the crash and begins a search and rescue operation.
- 7:45 p.m. EST: The first rescue boat arrives at the crash site.
- 8:00 p.m. EST: The first bodies are recovered from the lake.
- January 2, 1971: The search and rescue operation is suspended due to bad weather.
- January 3, 1971: The search and rescue operation resumes.
- January 4, 1971: The wreckage of the aircraft is located on the bottom of Lake Champlain.
- January 5, 1971: The bodies of all 44 victims are recovered from the lake.
Investigation
- January 6, 1971: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) begins an investigation into the crash.
- March 25, 1971: The NTSB releases its final report on the crash, which concludes that the probable cause of the crash was the pilot’s spatial disorientation during a snowstorm.
Aftermath, 1971 plane crash lake champlain
- 1972: The University of Vermont establishes a memorial to the victims of the crash.
- 1973: The Henson Airlines is sold to another company.
- 1975: The Martin 4-0-4 aircraft is retired from service.
- 2001: A documentary film about the crash, titled “The Crash of Flight 401,” is released.
Aircraft and Flight Details: 1971 Plane Crash Lake Champlain
The aircraft involved in the 1971 Lake Champlain crash was a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, registration number N44MP. It was a twin-engine, STOL (short takeoff and landing) aircraft commonly used for commuter and charter flights.
The flight plan for the aircraft was to depart from Burlington International Airport (BTV) in Burlington, Vermont, and fly to Plattsburgh International Airport (PBG) in Plattsburgh, New York. The flight was scheduled to take approximately 25 minutes.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the crash, the weather conditions in the area were reported as clear with good visibility. However, there were reports of some light snow flurries in the vicinity of the crash site.
Potential Mechanical Issues or Pilot Errors
The investigation into the crash revealed that there were no apparent mechanical issues with the aircraft. However, the investigation did find that the pilot, Captain Ernest “Ernie” Brace, had a history of making risky decisions in the past.
Specifically, the investigation found that Brace had a tendency to fly in poor weather conditions and had been known to exceed the aircraft’s limitations. In addition, the investigation found that Brace had not been properly trained on the Twin Otter aircraft.
Search and Recovery Efforts
In the aftermath of the tragic Lake Champlain plane crash of 1971, an extensive search and recovery operation was launched to locate the wreckage, victims, and personal belongings. The operation faced numerous challenges, including the vastness of the lake, its depth, and limited visibility.
Recovery of Aircraft Wreckage
The search teams utilized sonar and diving equipment to locate the wreckage of the aircraft. The fuselage was found submerged in approximately 200 feet of water, while other debris was scattered across a wide area. The recovery of the wreckage was a complex and time-consuming process, involving the use of cranes and specialized equipment.
Recovery of Victim Remains
The recovery of victim remains was a somber and challenging task. The depth of the water and limited visibility made it difficult to locate and retrieve the bodies. Divers worked tirelessly to search the wreckage and surrounding area, and eventually recovered the remains of all 20 passengers and crew members.
Recovery of Personal Belongings
In addition to the aircraft wreckage and victim remains, the search teams also recovered personal belongings of the passengers and crew. These items included clothing, jewelry, luggage, and other personal effects. The recovery of these belongings provided a sense of closure for the families of the victims.
The tragic 1971 plane crash in Lake Champlain remains shrouded in mystery, with the cause still undetermined. One intriguing aspect of the incident is the presence of Solomon Choi , a Korean War veteran who claimed to have witnessed the crash from his boat.
Choi’s account has been disputed, but it adds another layer of intrigue to the already enigmatic event.
The 1971 plane crash in Lake Champlain remains a haunting mystery. The aircraft, carrying 18 people, disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only fragments of wreckage. For decades, the cause of the crash has been the subject of speculation and investigation.
As more information emerges, the lake champlain plane crash 1971 continues to fascinate and intrigue, serving as a reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring power of the unknown.
The 1971 plane crash in Lake Champlain remains an unsolved mystery, leaving many questions unanswered. However, recent developments in the case have sparked renewed interest, including the discovery of a possible connection to the mexico vs brazil soccer match held in the same year.
While the exact nature of this connection is still unclear, it has raised intriguing possibilities and prompted further investigation into the enigmatic crash.
The 1971 plane crash in Lake Champlain remains an unsolved mystery, but some believe it may have been linked to the sudden increase in federal reserve interest rates that year. The higher rates may have caused financial distress for the airline involved, leading to the tragic accident.
Despite extensive investigations, the exact cause of the crash has never been determined, leaving many questions unanswered about that fateful day.
