To me it just doesnt add up that Spears is going to tell his best friend of many decades, a man with essentially no history of violence, to take on this package like its Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner.. Initially, there was some speculation based on the fact that a noted Chicago mobster--Ellis Itchy Mandel--was on the flight. All 42 on board were presumed killed in the incident. As it turned out, William Turska was not a model citizen himself. Nearly every comment is just a "great job, best ever", and nearly all of the questions posited have no answers or discussions below them. A rival airline company? saw an unusual light in the sky [] in the general direction of where [the flight] was lost and at about the time it was lost [] the light was red or dark red, appearing suddenly, lasting a couple of seconds then producing a vertical white light which fell with a white trail [] the initial red flash was almost as big as the sun. With the time and funds available it was possible to cover only 29.75square miles of an area selected after an analysis of wind and current factors and the results of all previous searches. All times herein are Central Standard based on the 24-hour clock. Track American Airlines (AA) #967 flight from Austin-Bergstrom Intl to Dallas-Fort Worth Intl. Pan Am paid too high a price for National, and was ill prepared to integrate National's domestic route network with Pan Am's own globe-girdling international network. If he were not, I don't know anything I could do about it. [Here she began choking back tears] "I know one thing, we had planned on celebrating my son's birthday and we had bigger plans for Christmas. But even then there would be no point in destroying the plane or himself. Clearly, Dr Spears had not been on that plane. The bodies were stripped of clothing and revealed severe burns, he said. His testimony indicates that the light was red or dark red, appearing suddenly, lasting a "couple of seconds," and then producing a vertical, white light which fell with a white trail. During this time, Spears had briefly visited his wife (on January 7)--so her answers in her first interview were a lie. 1 adult. Repeated calls to it, starting at 0106 on company frequency, were not answered. The flight originated in Miami at 10:22 PM the previous evening, landed at Tampa at 11:00 PM, and departed for New Orleans at 11:22 PM. Though he was legally dead, many had begun to doubt that Taylor was ever on that flight at all. Carefully the investigators went through the flight manifest. . This dialogue will close in 60 seconds or you can click the exit icon in the top right corner to go back to the flight map immediately. If the plane had any larger parts recoverable, they might have been able to tell if dynamite was the cause by examining residues or scorch marks. National Airlines Flight967 of November 15, 1959, was scheduled between Miami, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana, with a stop at Tampa, Florida. November 5 After suffering an in-flight engine fire, the second North American X-15 (AF 56-6671), piloted by Scott Crossfield, breaks its Back making an emergency landing on Rosamond Dry Lake, California. Mr Frank? Mrs Spears replied that she had not. He was cleared by the New Orleans Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC - ZNO) located in the terminal building at New Orleans Lakefront Airport to descend to and maintain 5,000 feet and to report leaving 8,000 feet. Police seriously looked into the possibility that Al Taylor may still be alive, even working with Mexican law enforcement to explore the possibility that he had fled south of the border. That's where the stories of him driving and Taylor flying, Taylor needing to carry the dynamite, and Taylor accidentally or purposefully igniting it all come from just stories from a guy who was trying not to get accidentally blamed from a plane crash he didn't plan or commit. Geo resource failed to load. If it had been, I doubt there would be much mystery as to what happened. Link. You can easily find cheap flights / LCC plane tickets from Lloydminster Airport in Lloydminster to Columbia. Logan alleges "Turska was planning his own exit strategy" before the crash--in September 1959 he had put up his Arizona property for sale: "priced to sell, owner leaving state". 04:35. She later said she had a premonition that her husband had been on that flight, and she never wavered from it. They had been divorced longer than she claimed, and the divorce had been far from amicable. Some small quantity of clothing and other personal effects and several mail bags were also found. He added that the passengers apparently had no warning to don lifebelts, as only one life preserver was found among the debris. Mrs Taylor recalled that Dr Spears had held an unnatural sway over her former husband. Though no longer married to Al Taylor, Alice later told reporters they had been amicably divorced, and were still close. Get the FlightAware App for the best flight tracking experience on your device. In that interview, he said he knew about the plane crash, admitted taking Spears to see his wife, and said that Spears had confided in him that he wanted to start a new life: He wanted to change his character, Turska said, change his fingerprints, change everything.. The day before the fateful flight, Taylor had visited his ex-wife Alice Steel Taylor at her home, looking for their adult son Junior, who wasnt home. In this case, the plane likely suffered the same fate. Capt. All 42occupants, 36passengers and 6crew members, were killed. ASSURANCE and the U.S.S. However, Taylor himself purchased $37,500.00 worth of life insurance at the airport; when his ex-wife attempted to collect on that policy, authorities were notified. National Airlines Flight 967 Latest Breaking News, Pictures, Videos, and Special Reports from The Economic Times. A tragic accident due to some unforeseen mechanical malfunction or even pilot error? National Airlines Flight 967, registration N4891C, was a Douglas DC-7B aircraft that disappeared over the Gulf of Mexico en route from Tampa, Florida, to New Orleans, Louisiana, on November 16, 1959. This dialogue will close in 60 seconds or you can click the exit icon in the top right corner to go back to the flight map immediately. She contacted his work--they knew nothing. Throughout this observation the radar scope indicated no other object. Comprehensive flight tracking to enhance your FBO operations and increase sales. A massive search began. Quickly purchase historical reports delivered via email. * Boeing 747-135 Questions also surround the third man involved in all this--William Turska, the naturopath who Spears went to stay with in the immediate aftermath of the crash. This segment of the flight was completely routine. I think it's because "my friend took my ticket last minute under my name, but when I heard the plane exploded, i decided to duck out and start a new life because not only am i a con man, I was in big trouble for illegal abortions too" doesn't make for a convincing story. Despite these strange details, Mrs Taylor stuck to her story--her ex-husband had been hypnotized. According to the Nov. 17, 1959, edition of the New York Times, I. W. Dymond, vice president of operations for the airline, said the weather "was anticipated, but it was not a factor" in the crash. By using and further navigating this website, you accept this. In this role I provide oversight and management of supply and demand, schedules, supplier . Flight Departure Times. 8840'W. [5], "Con Man, Best Man, An Air Crash - A Far Out, Far Up Mystery", "Robert Spears, 1959 bomb suspect, dies in Dallas", Aviation Safety Network report on Flight 967, Civil Aeronautics Board Aircraft Accident Report on Flight 967, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Spears_(naturopath)&oldid=1106844718, This page was last edited on 26 August 2022, at 19:28. She ultimately succeeded, and her son Junior received an undisclosed settlement. Great attention to detail. Flight 967 Hardcover - January 1, 1963. This is the last known radio contact with Flight967. I believe him lost in the crash.". In 1954 before this case, England lost several planes to it within months of each other, thanks to metal fatigue causing the decompressions. In spite of this string of suspicious details, the airplane was still missing, therefore there was no hope of charging Spears with anything relating to the crash. The car belonged to a man named Al Taylor, a longtime friend of Dr Spears, who had been the best man at his wedding. Divers established that the contact was a sunken ship. There was one witness--the attendant of a lookout tower 30 miles west of the crash site, who. In that interview, Turska said he now thought Spears had been lying to hm, and implied Spears's wife was in on the whole scam--accusing her of faking her reaction to seeing him. This position is about 108miles east-southeast of New Orleans, about 30miles east of Pilottown, near the mouth of the Mississippi River, and very nearly on the planned course. All 42 occupants perished. 46 people perished. Coast Guard and civil surface craft immediately searched the area exhaustively and retrieved everything sighted. Nothing unusual was observed and no other objects were observed in the vicinity of the flight which indicated to the station that any difficulty was being encountered. Accordingly, the aircraft was flown in a northerly direction for some five to ten miles from the point of spiral-down, whereupon floating debris was seen. 2910'N, and Long. She called Spearss wife (who was still grieving at that time) and asked if she had seen or heard from Taylor. He was sentenced to the maximum term of 5 years. National Airlines Flight 967, a DC-7B on a flight from Tampa, Florida to New Orleans, crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. 2004. OP, thank you for your work on this, especially noting the numerous sources you cited. He needed to get the dynamite from Tulsa to Dallas. - January 6, 1960, a DC-6B en route from New York to Miami was destroyed by a bomb near Bolivia, North Carolina, killing all 34 on board. The main wreckage has not been located despite several well planned searches. Track National Aeronautics and Space Administration #967 flight from Chennault Intl to Houston Ellington Flugstatus, Tracking und Flugverlaufsdaten fr National Aeronautics and Space Administration 967 (NASA967) 02.03.2023 (KCWF-KEFD) mit geplanten, geschtzten und tatschlichen Start- und Landezeiten Acknowledging "there is little or no physical evidence on which to explain this accident", the CAB was forced to conclude, after nearly three years of investigation: Because of lack of physical evidence, the probable cause of this accident is unknown. Las Vegas, Nevada, United States333 followers 331 connections. We deliver industry-leading performance in safety, clinical quality, and patient advocacy, committing to zero balance bills. Headwinds of about 15 to 20knots at the filed flight altitude of 14,000feet were forecast. National Airlines records do not show a ticket issued in his name and he was not carried on their records as a passenger on Flight967. 2913'N, Long. Two more liferafts were soon seen in a similar condiiton. The theory of a Svengalian puppet master was convenient not just for the former Mrs Taylor. While circling in this general area, several bodies were sighted as well as one liferaft that had been broken out of its case but was not inflated and appeared to be about three-fourths submerged. [] The final ruling was probable severe turbulence.. After this case, planes continued to disintegrate in flight due to explosive decompression. Early that morning, they spotted something: a small amount of debris, a large oil slick, and several floating bodies. The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by: National Airlines Flight 967 took off from Tampa (TPA) at 23:32 for a flight to New Orleans (MSY) at FL140. I loathed him, she said, and had always considered him a bad influence on Al. 432 in 1951, 905 in 1955, 1041 in 1960, 2663 in 1965, 2643 in 1970, 3865 in 1975. Investigation disproved the possibility of collision with another aircraft, either civil or military, and there were no missiles or rockets in flight at the time and place. The flight was estimated to be at the Crab Intersection, a customary reporting point, at 0004. but he would have had to have done some rushing to get aboard the plane because it taxied away at 12:25 am. According to Junior, Taylor was carrying over $600 in cash--a lot of money at the time, especially for a man in serious debt. Emirates Airlines is the preferable and national . He moved to California and took up hypnotism, his business was with a doctor performing abortions (which were then illegal in the U.S.). He ran unsuccessfully for Idaho County Coroner in 1972 on the Republican ticket. DC-7 Cockpit - From the display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. While spiralling, radio contact was established with Coast Guard aircraft although no direct contact was possible with Coast Guard surface vessels due to the lack of compatible radio frequencies. I have not yet been back in that direction, but in my few decades of air travel, every flight to Tampa meant a stop in Houston before moving on, and the same can be said for the return flight. At first, Turska downplayed his association with Spears, saying they were merely acquaintances and that Spears had showed up out of the blue. It was determined that Taylor had boarded the flight using a ticket issued for Spears. This appeared to be bits of upholstery, sound deadening material, and white objects like sponge rubber pillows encased in plastic envelopes. National Airlines Flight967, a DC-7B, N4891C, crashed in the Gulf of Mexico while en route from Tampa, Florida, to New Orleans, Louisiana, on .mw-parser-output .nowrap,.mw-parser-output .nowrap a:before,.mw-parser-output .nowrap .selflink:before{white-space:nowrap}November 16, 1959, about 0055c.s.t. The industry standard flight tracking platform for business aviation (BA) owners and operators. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. Logan says Taylors ex-wife was media-savvy--and points out that she had a potential financial motive to portray Taylor as an unwitting passenger on that flight. 8840'W. The company posted $1.027 billion in membership fee income compared to $967 million a year earlier, a $60 million increase, or 6.2%. Turska? He was subsequently apprehended by Federal authorities in Phoenix, Arizona, for having unlawful possession of Mr. Taylor's vehicle. So, I think he spun a couple different stories to see if any if them fit enough to get in the least amount of trouble. From January 9, 1960 to January 15, 1960, the U.S.S. At Tampa, some passengers deplaned and others boarded. 8839'W. Consultative detailed and customized flight tracking data reports. The passenger manifest for Tampa-New Orleans listed 36passengers. He had become financially successful in Texas as a . The aircraft was a DC-7, N 4891C, owned by Delta Air Lines and operated by National under an equipment interchange agreement. At 0014, while between Crab and NL1, the flight received the 0600 New Orleans weather from National Flight968, which was: "M700 overcast; 2-1/2 miles visibility; very light drizzle; fog; temperature 54; dewpoint 52; wind northeast 3; altimeter 30.14; ceiling ragged; obstruction lights out of service; see NOTAMS.". [Note: this post is largely based on information from Self-Styled: Chasing Dr Robert Vernon Spears by Alan C. Logan. If there was, did it come before or after the crash? The theory arose that Spears, desperate to avoid trial and wanting a fresh start, had tricked Taylor (perhaps through hypnosis)[1] into boarding the aircraft with a piece of luggage containing a bomb; when the aircraft crashed, it would be assumed that Spears was on board. The line between the airports does. He heard about the Flight 967 disaster along the way, and although he was devastated to think his old pal had perished, Spears simply decided it was an opportunity for a fresh start.". As for the insurance policy taken out by Taylor, Spears said: Taylor was sort of a nut on insurance. In one letter, Spears urged Taylor not to use his real name in future communications, but to refer to him as F. Taylor's body was not among those recovered. She told them all about her missing husband and his missing pink Plymouth, which sparked a nationwide search. Investigation failed to reveal any item of maintenance of either the aircraft or its powerplants which could be significantly related to the accident. Immediately they concentrated their efforts on this area, eventually retrieving: "nine bodies, a portion of a tenth body, five life rafts, five life vests, and a highly diversified quantity of buoyant debris.". Taylor also wanted to go to Dallas, to see a doctor about a neck injury, and to get away from his irritating ex-wife. - February 14, 1953, a DC-6 crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off Mobile, AL. This position was buoyed and two dives were made in depths of 210 feet. Frank was covered by $900,000 in life insurance policies at the time of his death, and had also been under investigation for corruption. He was charged with unlawful possession of an automobile but due to lack of evidence was never charged in the alleged bombing of Flight 967. No seat belt abrasions were found. Turska also gave wildly conflicting accounts of his involvement in the affair. St. Petersburg Times. At 00:55 the aircraft suddenly crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. For most of its existence the company was headquartered at Miami International Airport, Florida. You can help us keep FlightAware free by allowing ads from FlightAware.com. I've never heard of this and I love aviation mysteries. 0 bags. His wife would then cash in an insurance policy for $100,000 on Spears' life. 8839'W on March 11, 1960, but the XN3 TV camera revealed it to be marine wreckage. Contact Us. On January 6, 1960 (less than two months after Flight 967) Frank was on board a National Airlines flight which was blown up by dynamite over North Carolina, resulting in 34 deaths. The BITTERN obtained four separate bottom contacts at Lat. He felt he had been a burden and it was a chance to free us of that burden.. The only noteworthy observation from the gate agent in Tampa was "a man in a brown or tan suit, carrying a newspaper but no luggage, hurrying toward the Flight 967 gate right at closing time". He had actually been hiding out with an old associate named William Turska (also a naturopath), in Turskas remote bungalow in the desert 40 miles from Phoenix, Arizona. Forty-two people were on board, and less than 1% of the wreckage was recovered.
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