Near Dawson in Navarro County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Braniff International Flight 352
Attempting to bypass the storm, the crew decided to descend and deviate to the west, despite being notified that other flights were deviating east. At 4:47 P.M., flight 352 encountered severe weather, including hail, and began to make a 180 degree turn. At that time, the plane began to roll with the nose pitched down. A roll recovery maneuver was initiated but the right wing failed, then the tail section, causing the plane to break in half. At 4:51 P.M., Fort Worth Air Traffic Control reported the plane missing from radar.
The citizens of Dawson were first on the scene to offer assistance. Many witnessed the horrific event that claimed the lives of 80 passengers and five crew members. On June 19, 1969, the National Transportation Safety Board issued the official accident report which determined that passage into a known area of severe weather was the cause. The crash and investigation led to an update of safety and training programs and operational procedures, as well as new federal regulations to address how pilots use radar to avoid storms, all making air travel safer.
Erected 2019 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 22514.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is May 3, 1968.
Location. 31° 54.127′ N, 96° 41.91′ W. Marker is near Dawson, Texas, in Navarro County. Marker is on Farm to Market Road 709, ¼ mile east of County Highway 3170, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located along the south side of FM 709. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16880 FM 709, Dawson TX 76639, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Britton Dawson Home (approx. ¼ mile away); Town of Dawson (approx. 1.1 miles away); Evangelist Lester L. Roloff (approx. 1.1 miles away); Battle Creek Burial Ground (approx. 2½ miles away); Battle Creek Massacre Memorial Monument (approx. 2½ miles away); Spring Hill (approx. 2.7 miles away); Former Site of Liberty Hill Settlement (approx. 3½ miles away); Younger Cemetery (approx. 5.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dawson.
Also see . . .
1. Lockheed L-188 Electra. Wikipedia
The Lockheed L-188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flown in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner built in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes that led to expensive modifications to fix a design defect, no more were ordered. With its unique high power-to-weight ratio, huge propellers and very short wings (resulting in the majority of the wingspan being enveloped in propwash), large Fowler flaps which significantly increased effective wing area when extended, and four-engined design, the airplane had airfield performance capabilities unmatched by many jet transport aircraft even today—particularly on short runways and high field elevations. Jet airliners soon supplanted turboprops for many purposes, and many Electras were modified as freighters. Some Electras are still being used in various roles into the 21st century. The airframe was also used as the basis for the Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft.(Submitted on January 18, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
2. Braniff International Airways Flight 352. Wikipedia
Braniff International Airways Flight 352 was a scheduled domestic flight from William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, United States, to Dallas Love Field in Dallas; on May 3, 1968, a Lockheed L-188A Electra flying on the route, registration N9707C, broke up in midair and crashed near Dawson, Texas, after flying into a severe thunderstorm.(Submitted on January 18, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 18, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,263 times since then and 225 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 18, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.