The Worst Aircraft Disaster In Georgia History ~ April 7, 1977
The Worst Aircraft Disaster
in Georgia History
On April 4, 1977 a DC-9 Southern Airways Flight 242 flying from Huntsville, AL to Atlanta encountered a dangerous thunderstorm over Rome, GA. The hail and rain the aircraft endured was so severe that both engines flamed out and the aircraft quickly lost altitude. The flight crew desperately attempted to land the DC-9 on GA 92 Spur, now known as GA 381 which runs through the community of New Hope.
The result was the worst aircraft disaster in GA history claiming 72 lives including 9 local residents of New Hope. Miraculously 22 passengers survived.
New Hope Fatalities
Kathy Griffin Carter and son Jeffrey Richard Carter
Faye Robinson Griffin and son Larry Allen Griffin
Edna Griffin Gamel, son John T. Gamel and daughter Courtney A. Gamel
Berlie Mae Bell Craton
Ernest L. Prewett
New Hope Memorial Flight 247, Inc. 2011
Side Two:
First Column:
Southern 242 Fatality List
William Wade McKenzie, Pilot
Lyman Keele Jr., First Officer
Wayne Abercrombie
Walter H. Amick
Marvin Oscar Berglin
Glenn F. Bradley
Bobby Cameron
Edwin C. Cobb
Tommy Coe
Gordon Burnett Coley
Wesley R. Corrick
Robert Cummer
Boyden E. Davis Jr
Frank Dawson
Patricia Dawson
Clifton Charles Durham
James Forte
Robert M. Furniss Jr.
Joe Giles
Karen Giles
Harry C. Gordon
William F. Goubeaud Jr.
Earle C. Griffin Jr.
Emily Griffin
Cecil Griffin
Bruce Groth
William Victor Gudaitis
Herman Galey Hamby
William C. Havercamp Jr.
Second Column:
Charlene Yvonne Havisto
Horace Kevin Hay
L. Joseph Heckl
Leo F. Horner
Phillip Anthony Inzina
Earl D. Johnson
Bevil J. “Pete” Kilgore
Homer Kitts
Thomas Monroe Mazingo
Herman McClure
Alton V. Mobley
Corrine Morton
Masaru Ori
Dr. Irwin E. Perlin
William J. Perryman
Ivan Drexel Potts Jr.
Richard Povinelli
James A. Power
William Michael Reeves
Kelsie Aubra Rogers
Edwin F. Rosler
Robert Michael Sanders
Phillip Randy Sherill
Joseph Smith
Romie L. Smith
Annette Snell
Mary Tarbox
Milford Dwayne Waldrep
John “Buster” Walker
Third Column:
Babs Wicksell
Byron Wicksell
George Duncan Wilkinson
Michael Lewis Williams
James W. Williamson
Survivors
Catherine Lemoine, Sr. Stewardess
Sandy Purl, Stewardess
Edward R. Brock
Calvin H. Childress
Richard William Darby
Don Foster
Sally Furniss
Leland C. Lavender
Bernard Bryan
Jerry W. Causey
Frederick L. Clemens
Lee S. Collier
Jeffrey C. Magnell
Robert F. Reams
Amy L. Sebastian
Warren Sindorf
David Anthony Twist
Philip Zeleznok
James L. Phillips Jr.
Lee Quick
Ronald Thomas Seaman
John Tielking
Plaque courtesy Lat34North.com.
Original page, with additional info, here.
Photo credit: Ken Moser.