1956 Grand Canyon mid-air collision
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | June 30, 1956 |
| Summary | Mid-air collision due to inadequate ATC system |
| Site | Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States |
| Total fatalities | 128 |
| Total survivors | 0 |
| First aircraft | |
| A United Air Lines DC-7, similar to the aircraft involved | |
| Type | Douglas DC-7 Mainliner |
| Name | Mainliner Vancouver |
| Operator | United Air Lines |
| IATA flight No. | UA718 |
| ICAO flight No. | UAL718 |
| Call sign | UNITED 718 |
| Registration | N6324C |
| Flight origin | Los Angeles International Airport, California, United States |
| Destination | Chicago Midway Airport, Illinois, United States |
| Occupants | 58 |
| Passengers | 53 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 58 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Second aircraft | |
| N6902C, the Lockheed L-1049A Super Constellation involved | |
| Type | Lockheed L-1049A Super Constellation |
| Name | Star of the Seine |
| Operator | Trans World Airlines |
| IATA flight No. | TW2 |
| ICAO flight No. | TWA2 |
| Call sign | TWA 2 |
| Registration | N6902C |
| Flight origin | Los Angeles International Airport, California, United States |
| Destination | Kansas City Downtown Airport, Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
| Occupants | 70 |
| Passengers | 64 |
| Crew | 6 |
| Fatalities | 70 |
| Survivors | 0 |
The Grand Canyon mid-air collision occurred in the western United States on June 30, 1956, when a United Air Lines Douglas DC-7 struck a Trans World Airlines Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation over Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. The first plane fell into the canyon while the other slammed into a rock face. All 128 on board both airplanes died, making it the first commercial airline incident to exceed one hundred fatalities. The airplanes had departed Los Angeles International Airport minutes apart from each other and headed for Chicago and Kansas City, respectively. The collision took place in uncontrolled airspace, where it was the pilots' responsibility to maintain separation ("see and be seen"). This highlighted the antiquated state of air traffic control, which became the focus of major aviation reforms.