New Hope in Paulding County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
The Worst Aircraft Disaster in Georgia History
April 4, 1977
— Southern Airways Flight 242 —
Photographed By David Seibert, February 3, 2013
1. Worst Aircraft Disaster in Georgia History Marker
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
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
this page online
William F. Goubeaud Jr.
Earle C. Griffin Jr.
Emily Griffin
Cecil Griffin
Bruce Groth
William Victor Gudaitis
Herman Galey Hamby
William C. Havercamp Jr.
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
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
Photographed By David Seibert, February 3, 2013
2. Worst Aircraft Disaster in Georgia History Marker
Philip Zeleznok
James L. Phillips Jr.
Lee Quick
Ronald Thomas Seaman
John Tielking
Erected 2011 by New Hope Memorial Flight 242, Inc.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is April 4, 1977.
Location. 33° 57.467′ N, 84° 47.433′ W. Marker is in New Hope, Georgia, in Paulding County. Marker is at the intersection of Dallas-Acworth Highway (Georgia Route 381) and Chester Harris Drive, on the right when traveling west on Dallas-Acworth Highway. The marker stands at the front of New Hope Cemetery, opposite the church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4235 Dallas Acworth Hwy, Dallas GA 30132, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. New Hope Church Cemetery (here, next to this marker); New Hope Battlefield (within shouting distance of this marker); The Federal Attack on Hood’s Corps (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The March of Hardee’s Corps, May 23-25, 1864 (about 400 feet away); Battle of New Hope Church (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Battle of New Hope Church (about 400 feet away); Polk’s March to Lost Mountain (about 400 feet away); New Hope Church Phase of Atlanta Campaign (about 500 feet away).
Photographed By David Seibert, February 3, 2013
3. Worst Aircraft Disaster in Georgia History Marker
Regarding The Worst Aircraft Disaster in Georgia History. In the television series "Air Disasters," also called “Mayday,” the one-hour episode "Southern Storm," frequently broadcast on the Smithsonian Channel, Discovery Channel, Quest TV, and Story TV, is about the crash of Flight 242.
Also see . . . Southern Airways Flight 242 on Wikipedia. (Submitted on December 3, 2017, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia.)
Photographed By David Seibert, February 3, 2013
4. Worst Aircraft Disaster in Georgia History Marker
Photographed By Craig Baker, 2021
5. Marker and Memorial
New Hope Memorial Flight 242 Inc. dedicated this memorial in 2021.
Photographed By David Seibert, February 3, 2013
6. Southern Airways Flight 242 Crash Site
Looking northeast on Georgia Highway 381 (designated as Georgia Highway 92 Connector at the time of the crash): the DC-9 touched down on the highway near where the stoplight now stands, heading northeast on the highway.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2013, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 2,882 times since then and 224 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 3, 2013, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 5. submitted on January 12, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on February 3, 2013, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
