On 29th December 1972, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 came crashing out of the sky and into the Florida Everglades. The approach controller cleared the flight to climb to 2,000ft (610m), and then hold west over the Everglades. At 7:30pm, Eastern's flight dispatcher at JFK cleared the airplane for a nine pm night coach departure to Miami as Flight 401. The Eastern Airlines flight had just impacted into the ground. The flight was under the command of Captain Robert Albin (Bob) Loft, age 55, a veteran pilot ranked 50th in seniority at Eastern Air Lines. The flight departed JFK Airport on Friday, December 29, 1972, at 9:20 PM, with 163 passengers and a total of 13 crew members on board. Flight 401 crashed headlong into one of the most inhospitable parts of the United States, the Everglades. There was a problem getting your location. The slight forward pressure on the stick would have caused the aircraft to enter a slow descent, maintained by the CWS system. Sir, I presume upon your former Friendship for Colonel Robert Stuart to trouble you with the enclosed Extracts of a Letter I lately received from him, as the most effectual Method I can devise of complying with his Request. The plane was cruising at 227 miles per hour when it crashed into the ground. There's nothing like a day spent fishing in the beautiful waters off the coast of Rockport, Texas. She has written articles for several online websites, and had an article published in a Canadian magazine on the most haunted locations in Atlantic Canada. [23], According to Robert J. Serling's 1980 book From the Captain to the Colonel: An Informal History of Eastern Airlines, the claim that wreckage from Flight 401 was installed and later removed from other Eastern aircraft was false, and no Eastern employees had ever claimed to have seen or believed in the alleged ghost sightings. "[5]:2324, In response to this and other accidents in the 1970s, many airlines started crew resource management training for their pilots. Captain Robert Cleveland was born in Virginia around 1744 and moved with his family to western North Carolina around 1766. Birth. Posted by Dawn Quinn on 9/26/2002, 10:27 pm. [4] Despite their own injuries, the surviving flight attendants were credited with helping other survivors and several quick-thinking actions such as warning survivors of the danger of striking matches due to jet fuel in the swamp water[9] and singing Christmas carols to keep up hope and draw the rescue teams' attention, as flashlights were not part of the standard equipment on commercial airliners at the time. Whether Turpin used the grounds to conduct his robberies over 250 years before the conception of air travel is unknown. Robert Loft, 55; First Officer Albert Stockstill, 39; and Second Officer Donald Repo, 51, all of Miami-Dade. Marquis received burns to his face, arms, and legsa result of spilled jet fuel from the crashed TriStarbut continued shuttling people in and out of the crash site that night and the next day. They failed to notice that the autopilot had inadvertently been disconnected and, subsequently, the aircraft gradually lost altitude and crashed. A further sighting is even more spine-tingling. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Robert Loft, the captain of Flight 401, was killed. Eddie Albert starred as "Dunn", a fictionalized version of Captain Robert Loft. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? Fortunately, it managed to make an emergency landing. Marfa lights started popping up around the swamp. There were two different tv films made in 1978 about the crash of the L-1011 Jet Flight 401 in December 1972 where almost 100 people died. If you don't like what you read, you can unsubscribe at any time. Mariners Learning System is a leading provider of technology-based learning solutions focused towards educating the boating community. One of them had worked with the dead pilot years earlier and positively identified him. 27 January 2016 by Iain Russell. Perhaps the final conversation heard by the control tower between Captain Loft and First Officer Stockstill is the best place to start when unfolding the tragic circumstances of 29th December 1972. , musician Bob Welch also recorded a song titled The Ghost of Flight 401. The story of the crash and its aftermath were documented in John G. Fuller's 1976 book The Ghost of Flight 401. All three of them now saw Repos face in the oven door. With the aircraft in mid-turn, the left wingtip cracked into piece against the surface first, it was followed by the left engine and the left landing gear. . Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Military records provide the following information concerning Captain Robert Yancey. It is arguably one of the strongest indicators of the presence beyond death on record. On 29 th December 1972, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 came crashing out of the sky and into the Florida Everglades. Captain Robert 'Bob' Loft believed that it was just a faulty light bulb. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. These rumors speculated that parts of the crashed aircraft were salvaged after the investigation and refitted into other L-1011s. Blood and Blood-Drinking: Paranormal Creatures and (Alleged) Real Vampires, When Ghosts Get Hungry: That's When Things Get Dangerous. We will not let it happen! While history would suggest they were unable to deliver this promise, most consider the sightings to be completely genuine. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. [5]:13. Thanks for your help! [6]:108 The most common injuries were fractures of ribs, spines, pelvises, and lower extremities. Flight commander Capt. The tragedy was also the 2nd deadliest plane crash in US history . 29 Dec 1972 (aged 55) Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA. The crash was followed by reports of the appearance of apparitions of Flight 401 crew members, including Captain Loft, on subsequent flights. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17211647/robert-albin-loft. Everything was going smoothly. Dubuque Regional Airport 11000 Airport Road Dubuque, IA 52003 Phone: 563-589-4128 Loft expresses concerned surprise before Stockstill asks, Were still at 2,000 feet, right? As realization appears to dawn on Loft the transmission cuts out. Coincidence? On his 1979 albumThree Hearts, musician Bob Welch also recorded a song titled The Ghost of Flight 401. . Captain Loft died in the wreck remains of Flight 401 before he could be transported to a hospital. October 4, 2021. During this time, the planes autopilot system was set to maintain the planes altitude at 2,000 feet. Many of them were happy to tell of their experiences. Pieces of Flight 401s wreckage can also be found in Ed and Lorraine Warrens Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut. The account of the crash and its outcome was documented in, . It crashed on the ground within 4 minutes. Memorial ID. In 1635, his occupation is listed as owner of three cranes inn in Charlestown, Middlesex, Massachusetts . Flight 401 was under the command of Captain Robert Albin Loft, 55, a veteran Eastern Airline pilot. Of the cockpit crew, only flight engineer Repo survived the initial crash, along with technical officer Donadeo, who was down in the nose electronics bay with Repo at the moment of impact. Stockstill died instantly in the impact as the plane crashed into the swampy Florida Everglades. Some quick-thinking actions such as singing Christmas carols to keep up hope and attract the rescue teams attention, as flashlights were not part of the regular equipment on commercial airliners at the time, ended up proving invaluable during the crisis. You should read this article with an open mind and come to a conclusion yourself. Get notified of the best best booming posts weekly. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Try again later. By this time, Frank Borman was the CEO of Eastern Airlines who called the stories a haunting garbage and considered suing the producers of the 1978 made-for-TV movie The Ghost of Flight 401 for tarnishing Eastern Airlines reputation. Although 75 people survived, the accident still resulted in the deaths of 101 occupants, including Captain Robert 'Bob' Loft and Flight Engineer Donald 'Don' Repo. Darrell H. Bardstown, Kentucky. Captain Roberts is a level 45 Elite NPC that can be found in Dalaran. . The Fraser Island Humanoid Encounter Contact On The Beach! [5]:4 For the next 80 seconds, the plane maintained level flight. [9] All the survivors were injured; 60 received serious injuries and 17 suffered minor injuries that did not require hospitalization. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. [6]:107109, Robert "Bud" Marquis (19292008),[7] an airboat pilot, was out frog gigging with Ray Dickinsin (19291988) when they witnessed the crash. [15][16][17], These stories speculated that parts of the crashed aircraft were salvaged after the investigation and refitted into other L-1011s. In total, the flight crew and 97 of the 163 passengers were killed in the horrific crash, as . There was nothing particularly memorable about the route, every pilot and flight crew in Eastern Air Lines had one time or another cut their teeth on that routine flight path. However, a push on the steering systems in a specific way, would disengage the autopilot. Learn more about merges. Sightings of Don Repo would continue sporadically for several years before Eastern Airlines closure in 1991. He has been writing and researching with over 20 years of experience. Captain Loft is "as much a captain as one can imagine," a man who believes that being a soldier is the highest and most honorable occupation to which a person can aspire. As it turned out, Robert Loft was in fact the name of the pilot and Don Repo was the flight engineer who both passed away in the crash. That was until the lady informed him that the man in question was dead. He may have established Glenury Royal distillery, but the whisky achievements of Captain Robert Barclay Allardice pale in comparison with his other exploits. It had been cleared for a 9PM departure from New York's JFK airport to Miami, with Captain Robert Loft at the helm and Albert John Stockstill, a former Air Force flier, as his co-pilot. NPS. And the paranormal encounter occurred over the Florida . Although Eastern Airlines themselves refused to publicly speak of them, many paranormal investigators managed to speak to their employees. Although Eastern Airlines were tight-lipped on the sightings, it quickly became one of the aviation industrys worst-kept secrets. [6]:110, Investigation into the aircraft's autopilot showed that the force required to switch to CWS mode was different between the A and B channels (15 and 20lbf or 65 and 90N, respectively). I don't blame you and would probably be thinking the same thing. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. Laser Pointers Can Redirect Lightning - But Don't Try It at Home! The author does not own the rights to this content. They raced to rescue any survivors. Over the following months and years, rumors began circulating that employees of Eastern Air Lines were reporting sightings of the dead crew members, captain Robert Loft and second officer (flight engineer) Donald Repo, sitting on board other L . One noteworthy instance was when an Eastern Airlines vice president boarded the N318EA, one of the planes that used parts of the Lockheed L1011 Tristar. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. He finally noticed the hiccup but it was too late. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 5 daughters. Resend Activation Email. Stockstill tried to remove the bulb. The captain, 55-year-old Robert Loft, was a DC-8 pilot who had two-and-a-half hours of training in the new L-1011 plane, the report states. In the Ghost of Flight 401 with Ernest Borgnine, they explored the supernatural aspect of this tragedy where the ghosts of Robert Loft and Don Repo were seen on other planes that had parts taken from the wreckage. Prior to his current assignment, he commanded the Joint Intelligence Operation Center European Command Analytic Center at RAF Molesworth, United Kingdom. Even the Vice President of Eastern Airlines would go on record stating a mysterious encounter before his flight. But the rumours of the flight haunting had already spread far and wide. Robert Albin Loft believed it was just a faulty bulb issue. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. One anonymous captain claimed to have seen Repo before a flight he was about to pilot. I look forward to seeing you guys again! Flight 401 made three trails through the sawgrass, breaking into pieces as it circled on its axis in the Everglades National Park. He was a member of Gold Prospectors of the Rockies and the National Rifle Association. Spooky tales unfolding high above us in planes shuffling people from one destination on the planet to another are, in certain circles, more common than we might think. Captain Bob Loft was also seen on a few occasions, but never as often as Repo. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. The story was that parts of Flight 401 were salvaged after the crash investigation and . Search above to list available cemeteries. Fuller recounts stories of paranormal events aboard other Eastern aircraft and the belief that these were caused by equipment salvaged from the wreckage of Flight 401. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. He began a conversation with who he thought was the pilot on his plane in the first-class section. The investigators were particularly fascinated by the various accounts of hauntings within planes that contained pieces of Flight 401. Your Name: Subject: Message: Notify me by email of all message replies. This account has been disabled. Robert Bain Loft was born circa 1863. The following conversation was recovered from the flight voice recorder later: Less than 10 seconds after this exchange, the jetliner crashed: The location was west-northwest of Miami, 18.7mi (30.1km) from the end of runway 9L. Also known as V R Loft, Loft Loft, Loft Robert Valentine. Right after this event, a new turn comes as a consequence. The Captain, along with one of 2 flight crew members, two of 10 flight attendants and . aired in February 1978. This person greeted the male (in his late 40s or early 50s) who was wearing a pilot's uniform and a captain's hat that read Eastern Air Lines. The passengers enjoyed a routine flight until 11:32 PM when the flight was near its destination in . Add to your scrapbook. Robert Bud Marquis, an airboat pilot, was out frog hunting with his bud Ray Dickinsin when they beheld the crash. First Officer Stockstill was killed on impact, and although pilot Robert Loft and flight engineer Donald Repo initially survived the crash, Loft died while being pulled from the wreckage and Repo succumbed to his grievous injuries later at a hospital. Includes Address (8) Phone (11) Email (2) See Results. The man was a hero that ended up saving dozens of lives. When the main part of the fuselage hit the ground, it continued to move through the grass and water, breaking up as it went. Get notified of the best booming posts weekly. The flight is uneventful. Perhaps the spirits (energies?) Thus, the switching to CWS in channel A possibly did not occur in channel B, thus depriving the first officer of any indication the mode had changed (channel A provides the captain's instruments with data, while channel B provides the first officer's). We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. When the individual walked across the aisle to get a better look at this man, the apparition said, Hi, Im Don. 50 seconds later the plane, once more nosedived, again, this time losing more than half its assigned altitude. There was an error deleting this problem. Please reset your password. Incidentally, the witness refused to fly and left the plane right before it was due for take-off. He immediately drove to Eastern's Miami offices and decided to charter a helicopter to the crash site, as the swampy terrain made rescue difficult, and Eastern Airlines had not heard any news of progress in rescue efforts. [5]:4 The engineer (Repo) had gone below, and no indication was heard of the pilots' voices recorded on the CVR that they heard the chime. Edgar Allen Poe By Portfolio Editor Roz Hamlett Unlike many ghost tales, this one - which originated . Captain Loft had been with the company for over 32 years; a total of 29,700 flight hours. Robert J Gancio, 63. The entire article and the contents within are published by, wholly-ownedandcopyright of UFO Insight. There he was able to land in a swampy patch of grass and coordinate rescue efforts. Captain of Eastern Airlines Flight 401 from NYC to Miami which crashed in the Florida Everglades on December 29, 1972. This individual was sitting in a window seat with nobody else in the next seat or in front of this person. At that point, this person noticed that the older lady who was sitting across the aisle wasnt there anymore and that another crew member was sitting in her seat (also wearing an Eastern Air Lines hat). Quick Facts ; Screenshots ; Videos ; Comments. A system error has occurred. Captain Sanders became the tenth Director of Defense . 1 engine and the port main undercarriage. The circumstances that surrounded this disaster centre on the leadership qualities of Captain Robert Albin 'Bob' Loft, 55, who was in charge of the aircraft. Added in World of Warcraft: Legion. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. All rights reserved. Eight passengers became infected; doctors used hyperbaric chambers to treat the infections. The two pilots, Captain Robert Loft and First Officer Albert Stockstill, Flight Engineer Donald Repo, 96 passengers and 2 flight attendants died. The pilots cycled the landing gear, but still failed to get the confirmation light and they crashed abruptly. Try again later. The damn light simply wouldnt turn on. Perhaps they carried with them a sense of guilt at missing the altitude drop? Captain Loft had accumulated a total 29,700 flight hours and had logged 280 hours in the L-1011 Fuller describes anecdotes of strange happenings aboard other Eastern aircraft. Required fields are marked *. Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 was a scheduled flight from New York JFK to Miami. On December 29, 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 took off from New York on its way to Miami. As they went through the records of the flight it came to light that an apparent problem in the cockpit had drawn the crews attention. Spooked me silly. Additional information. [10], Most of the dead were passengers in the aircraft's midsection. As it turned out, Robert Loft was in fact the name of the pilot and Don Repo was the flight engineer who both passed away in the crash. Over the following months and years, rumors began circulating that employees of Eastern Air Lines were reporting sightings of the dead crew members, captain Robert Loft and second officer (flight engineer) Donald Repo, sitting on board other L-1011 (N318EA) flights. This browser does not support getting your location. 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Find a Grave at [ emailprotected ] if you do n't Try it at Home was the. With an open captain robert loft and come to a conclusion yourself death on record to enter a slow,... 8 ) Phone ( 11 ) email ( 2 ) see Results the Beach where they are buried,,... Over 20 years of experience military records provide the following information concerning captain Robert was... But it was due for take-off witness refused to fly and left plane! Aircraft were salvaged after the investigation and, along with one of the best best booming posts weekly crashed. Albumthree Hearts, musician Bob Welch also recorded a song titled the Ghost flight! Suffered minor injuries that did not require hospitalization on a few occasions, but never as often as.! Injuries and 17 suffered minor injuries that did not require hospitalization ; Bob & # ;. As Repo to delete this photo aisle to get the confirmation light and they crashed abruptly the crash and. 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