Flight 255

Disaster: Commercial Plane crashes onto highway.
Date: Aug. 16, 1987
Deaths: 156
Survivors: 1 (Four year old girl)
Lesson Learned: Always complete pre-flight checks.

1st photo from: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0816Flight255.html?&wired

In August of 1987, Flight 255 was planned to head for California with one stop in Phoenix. Before taking off in Detroit, the pilots skipped crucial steps of the pre-flight check in order to beat some on coming bad weather. The wing flaps, which help give the plane lift, were not put down as listed in the pre-flight.

During take off, Flight 255 failed to get off the ground quickly. Near the end of the runway the plane was 40 feet in the air when it should have been 600 feet. Due to not getting enough lift, Flight 255 crashed into a nearby highway killing two people in a car. Everyone on the flight (except for one) died in the crash. A four-year-old girl was the only survivor. The plane took off with 149 passengers and six crew.

For more info http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/plane-crashes-into-highway

http://www.flight255memorial.com/thecrash.html

2nd photo from: http://www.flight255memorial.com/thecrash.html