‘Lovingly crafted’ Observer documentary on city’s deadliest crash premieres in Charlotte
After 50 years, people other than the families impacted by the crash of Eastern Flight 212 were finally talking about the deadly plane crash that claimed the lives of 72 people on board.
And it was due to The Charlotte Observer’s five-part series on the incident that published in September, Tim Ford said.
Tim Ford’s father, Frank Ford Jr., was one of the passengers who died on Sept. 11, 1974.
It’s why Tim Ford was looking forward to seeing all five parts of a movie in one on Wednesday morning near NoDa at The Independent Picture House, where the Observer premiered its documentary “9/11/74: The Untold Story of Charlotte’s Deadliest Plane Crash,” to nearly 100 attendees.
“There was never a lot of discussion,” Ford said. “So this is helping along that line.”
The DC-9 was on its final approach from Charleston, S.C., to Charlotte’s airport when it crashed into a large clearing more than three miles from its intended landing zone. The Observer’s series detailed what happened, and how there was no collective memory in the Charlotte community about the crash.
Ford sat with his family, including his brother Frank Ford III, for the 30-minute documentary, which sometimes drew hushed reactions of disbelief or shock from the crowd, some listening for the first time about the negligent actions of the pilots that day and how the crash impacted the lives of the passengers and their families.
After the showing, the Observer hosted a panel discussion with Frank Ford III; crash survivor Bob Burnham; and Christopher Arnold, whose father survived the crash. Observer journalists Théoden Janes and Scott Fowler, who wrote the series, moderated the discussion.
During a Q&A, some audience members shared how they were directly impacted by the crash, and expressed their desire to see a memorial to honor the victims and survivors.
Audience members included family of the victims, first responders, and many others who took an interest after reading the Observer’s series.
Burnham, who attended with his wife, Carole, said he was impressed with the Observer’s coverage and deep research.
Some of the images from the crash were unsettling when he saw them for the first time, he said, but he tries to not be troubled by the experience. Carole Burnham said she was happy to see people be reminded of something “they just really forgot about.”
She said the experience changed them both, but the couple was in good spirits at the premiere.
“Your mind changes,” she said. “It just doesn’t go back to what it was.”
Burnham’s brother-in-law, Ray Brush, said he learned new information about the crash from the documentary, and that he was happy with the audience’s response.
One of those audience members was Laura Hankins, a librarian and historian. She said she had no connection to people impacted by the crash, but took an interest in seeing the documentary after reading the Observer’s coverage.
“I thought it was beautifully done,” Hankins said. “This project is a manifesto for why local journalism matters.”
She said she hopes to see the materials involved in the research eventually archived.
Arnold, who recently published a book with his dad about the plane crash, said he was thankful for the many first responders and those who helped his father survive. While his father couldn’t be in attendance, he sent a message through his son to the audience: “I am happy.”
Arnold, who traveled from the Bay area in California, said the documentary was well done and thorough.
“It was lovingly crafted, carefully researched ... refreshing,” Arnold said. It “was deeply moving to us who don’t live here, but have the unfortunate fact of being involved in that flight from Charleston.”
The documentary can be found on the Charlotte Observer’s YouTube channel.
Read the Observer’s five-part series about the plane crash here.
This story was originally published September 19, 2024 at 5:00 AM with the headline "‘Lovingly crafted’ Observer documentary on city’s deadliest crash premieres in Charlotte."
