American Eagle Flight 3379 - December 13, 1994

Last updated: January 11, 2020

Change Log:

• January 11, 2020 - Audio recording added. Updating page to incorporate new information from recording.
• May 30, 2018 - Site created

Contents Introduction Audio Recording Maps Narrative - Long Version (Rough) Narrative - Short Version Victims and Survivors Photographs Testimonials Run Card Participating Agencies Statistics Abbreviations Memorial Sources Introduction This page presents information about the emergency response on December 13, 1994, to the crash of American Eagle Flight 3379 in Morrisville, NC. Read NTSB accident investigation report (PDF, 9.3MB)

Audio Recording

Listen to audio recording of 911 caller, dispatch of fire units, and first 13 minutes of radio traffic.

Maps

Crash site with 1998 aerial photo		Crash site with 2017 aerial photo

Narrative - Long Version (Rough)

Read detailed narrative (PDF, 50+ pages).

Narrative - Short Version

On December 13, 1994, American Eagle Flight 3379 crashed about four nautical miles from Raleigh-Durham International Airport. The British Aerospace Jetstream 3201 was approaching Runway 5L was carrying eighteen passengers and two crew members, and was scheduled to land at 6:32 p.m. The plane subsequently crashed into a dense wooden area in Morrisville. At 6:35 p.m., a resident at 1709 Old Maynard Road reported the crash, heard another explosion, and saw an orange glow from the woods behind his house. He and another neighbor grabbed flashlights and walked to the crash site in about ten minutes. They discovered the wreckage scattered across 500 yards of dense woods, with the plane in two parts, and flames engulfing the cockpit and forward cabin. They also found survivors.

At 6:37 p.m., the Morrisville Fire Department was dispatched to the Old Maynard Road address for the crash of a possible "twin engine plane. At 6:38 p.m., immediately after the dispatch of MFD, the Wake County Fire Marshal Office on-duty unit, WC1, was notified. Morrisville 100 (Fire Chief) acknowledged the call. The dispatcher then called Morrisville 100 and advised that they were receiving reports of flames from the scene. Morrisville 100 requested dispatch of an engine company from Yrac.

Communications also contacted Apex communications and requested dispatch of  Apex Rescue Squad. They were dispatched at 6:37 p.m. and responded with an ambulance and “crash truck”. The airport fire department was also notified, and they were dispatched at 6:38 p.m. The airport fire department officer contacted Communications and reported that a plane was confirmed down, with sixteen souls aboard, and of a turbo-prop type.

The first-arriving fire and EMS units began the tasks of reaching the crash site, while also establishing incident command and incident management roles. The Morrisville Fire Chief assumed the role of Incident Commander, and he assigned an arriving MFD Captain the role of Operations Officer. EMS Command was established by the arriving Wake County EMS District Chief, who had self-responded. A temporary command post was established at the intersection of Maynard and Koppers roads. Staging was set at Davis Drive and Koppers Road.

The first ambulance arrived at 6:53 p.m. Apex Rescue Squad 471. The first airport firefighters arrived at 7:07 p.m. The crash site was 150 to 200 yards from the road. Within 35 minutes, the first patient was being extracted from the crash site. The patients were carried on backboards through the woods, and later using all-terrain/four wheel-drive vehicles. With 45 minutes, all patients—total of seven—had been removed from the crash site.

Four were transported to Duke Hospital in Durham. Two were in critical condition. One died during transport, and the second after reaching the hospital. They were transported by three (?) Wake County ambulances. Three more patients were transported to Wake Medical Hospital. Some 35 EMS and rescue squad members responded, including Apex Rescue Squad, Cary EMS, Garner Rescue Squad, Six Forks Rescue Squad, and Wake County EMS.

About 100 firefighters were on scene, from departments including Apex, Fairview, Garner, Morrisville, Raleigh-Durham Airport, Swift Creek, and Yrac. The response included at least a dozen volunteer fire departments. Other responding agencies included Wake County Fire Marshal’s office, Wake County Emergency Management, and law officers from Cary, Morrisville, Raleigh, the airport, and the state highway patrol. Special equipment was also called to the scene, including generators and light trailers, and a request for dry-chemical extinguishers from the airport fire department.

By 10:00 p.m., most of the rescue crews had left the scene. The search was suspended, as all souls aboard were accounted for. The following day, the command post was moved to a nearby hotel. Workers also cut a temporary road to the crash site, to remove the bodies of victims. By late afternoon, they had been removed.

From NTSB report:

The airplane crashed about 4 miles southwest of the runway 5L threshold during an ILS approach. The captain had associated the illumination of the left engine IGN light, illuminated as a result of a momentary negative torque condition when the propeller speed levers were advanced tp 100% and the power levers were at flight idle, with an engine failure. There was no evidence of an engine failure. The captain failed to follow established procedures for engine failure identification, single engine approach, single engine go-around, and stall recovery. AMR Eagle training did not adequately address the recognition of engine failure at low power, the aerodynamic effects of asymmetric thrust from a 'windmilling' propeller, and high thrust on the other engine. AMR Eagle and Flagship Airlines crew training records do not provide sufficient detail for management to track performance. Flagship Airlines management was deficient in its knowledge of the types of crew records available, and in the content and use of such records.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause (s) of this accident/incident as follows. 1) the captain's improper assumption that an engine had failed, and 2) the captain's subsequent failure to follow approved procedures for engine failure, single-engine approach and go-around, and stall recovery. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the failure of AMR Eagle/Flagship management to identify, document, monitor, and remedy deficiencies in pilot performance and training. (NTSB Report AAR-95/07) 

Victims and Survivors

Passengers killed:

• Dennis Allain, 38, Kennesaw, GA
• Jonathan B. Kast, 35, Franklin, MA
• Kelly Ryan-Ciulla, 26, Long Island, NY
• William Gibson, 39, Kernersville, NC
• Scott A. Johnson, 41, Hawthorn Woods, IL
• Pauline Josefson, 70, Warwick, RI
• Bryan Kerchal, 23, Newtown, CT
• Keith Korhorn, 40, Crestwood, IL
• David M. Parker Jr., 39, Zion, IL
• William Peters, 26, Woodstock, IL
• Salvatore "Sam" J. Stellato, 43, Glenview, IL
• Douglas T. Suckow, 22, Holmdel, NJ
• Katanish L. Turner, 20, Redford, MI

Crew killed:

• Captain Michael P. Hillis, 29, Raleigh, NC
• First Officer Matthew I. Sallor, 25, Miami, FL

Passengers hospitalized:

• Lauren S. Anderson, 18
• John Ciulla Jr. 31, Long Island, NY
• Ronald Lewis, 35, Crystal Lake, IL
• Richard Mann, 40, Greensboro, NC
• Donald Merkel, 60, Wheaton, IL

Photographs

Images used with permission of The News & Observer - Raleigh, N.C.

Rescue workers at crash site, 12/13/94. Robert Willet photo.	Triage and treatment area, 12/13/94. Jim Bounds photo.	Triage and treatment area, 12/13/94. Jim Bounds photo.
Crash site, 12/13/94. Jim Bounds photo.	Apparatus at staging area, 12/13/94. Chuck Liddy photo.	Apparatus at staging area, 12/13/94. Mel Nathanson photo.
Duke Hospital Trauma Center, and Six Forks Rescue Squad wheeling in one of two patients, 12/13/94. Harry Lynch photo.	RDU spokesperson Teresa Damiano talks to reporters at the command post, 12/13/94. Mel Nathanson photo.	Crash site, 12/14/94. Chuck Liddy photo.
Press conference at Wake Medical Center about three crash survivors with trauma surgeon Dr. Osi Udekwu, 12/14/94. Harry Lynch photo.	Press conference with US Secretary of Transportation Frederic Pena, 12/14/94. Chuck Liddy photo.	Temporary road to crash site, 12/15/94. Chuck Liddy photo.
Wake County Sheriff's Deputy K. W. Wattenbarger stands guard over the crash site, 12/15/94. Chuck Liddy photo.	Crash site, 12/15/94. Chuck Liddy photo.	Crash site, 12/15/94. Chuck Liddy photo.
Crash site, 12/15/94. Chuck Liddy photo.	Crash site, 12/15/94. Chuck Liddy photo.	Red Cross volunteer Kenneth Guy, of Garner, 12/15/94. Chuck Liddy photo.
NTSB Chairman Jim Hall at Press Conference outside the Meredith Suites off Highway 55, 12/16/94. Rob Cross photo.	Eleven year-old Kelly Williams points to the general direction to motorists, 12/16/94. Robert Thomason photo.	Morrisville Fire Chief Tony Chiotakis at crash site, 12/16/94. Harry Lynch photo.
Trucks carrying parts of the plane on Koppers Road, leaving the crash site, 12/15/94. Jim Bounds photo.	Debbie and Dale Powell, 12/15/94. They were at the scene, helping the victims. Dale is a firefighter and Debbie is a nurse and EMT. Rob Cross photo.	Morrisville Police Officer Chris Rhew,  12/17/94. With land owners Huey W. Maynard and son Billy Maynard and dog "Shaggy." Officer is watching the access road to the crash site. Since Koppers Road was opened to normal traffic, Rhew said over 100 cars have passed through the area. Robert Thomason photo.
Lee and Sue Powell, 12/18/94. Standing by their truck at their home on Good Hope Church Road. Marc J. Kawanishi photo.	Crash site, 12/19/94. Left is access road cut into scene. Right is path of plane. Nose landing near the toppled and scorched tree at right. Harry Lynch photo.

Testimonials

Read testimonials from Wake County EMS personnel.

Read testimonial from responder David Ferrell.

Run Card

EMS and Rescue Squads

Agency	Unit
Apex	471 (w/2) 472 481 (crash truck) POV (w/2)
Cary	Medic 1 (w/3) 582 (mobile command post)
Garner	87_
Knightdale	One ambulance (possibly cancelled en route)
Six Forks	1271
Wake County	EMS 1 (w/2) EMS 4 (w/2) EMS 6 (w/2) EMS 8 (w/2) EMS 103 (driving disaster unit, converted modular ambulance) EMS 104 (DC) EMS 105 (DC)
Bethesda	Medic 51
Parkwood	Medic 61

Fire Units

Participating Agencies

• Rescue/EMS
  • Apex, Cary, Garner, Knightdale, Six Forks, Wake County, Bethesda, Parkwood
• Fire
  • Apex, Bay Leaf, Durham Highway, Fairgrounds, Fairview, Garner, Morrisville, RDU, Swift Creek, Yrac, Wake County Fire Marshal, Bethesda, Parkwood
• Law Enforcement
  • Cary, Morrisville, RDU, Wake County SO, Raleigh/Wake CCBI, NC SHP, FBI
• Emergency Management
  • Wake County, Durham County, North Carolina
• County/State/Federal
  • Red Cross
  • Wake County agencies: Health, General Services, Garbage, County Manager's Office, Mental Health-Crisis Intervention, PIO, Field Services, Social Services
  • NC DOT, NC National Guard
  • NTSB, FAA

Statistics

Some random stats:

• Four day operational period, for Wake County - December 13 to 16
• Approximately 150 emergency workers
• Fire personnel: 111 members, including seven from Wake County Fire Marshal's Office
• Fire equipment: 27 pieces
• Rescue personnel – 41 members, including 12 from Apex and 11 or 13 from Wake County EMS

Abbreviations

Some used in this document include:

• EM - Emergency Management
• POV - Personal-owned vehicle

Newspaper Headlines

Click to enlarge:

Memorial

See this page of information.

Sources

They include:

• Audio recording of 911 caller and first 13 minutes of radio traffic. Contributed by David Ferrell.
• Cary News, various articles. See below.
• GenDisasters [GenD] – Retrieved from  http://www3.gendisasters.com/north-carolina/18976/morrisville-nc-commuter-plane-crashes-dec-1994
• Herald-Sun, various articles. See below.
• National Transportation Safety Board Aircraft Accident Report, December 13, 1994.
• News & Observer photo notes via North Carolina State Archives.
• News & Observer, various articles. See below.
• News Record, see below.
• New York Times, see below.
• Oral histories.
• Raleigh-Durham International Airport fire department records.
• USA Today, see below.
• Wake County Emergency Management records.
• Wake County EMS training video about the crash. Undated.
• Wake County GIS
• WCEMS News - January 1995.
• Wikipedia - Flagship Airlines Flight 3379, via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagship_Airlines_Flight_3379
• WTVD newscast, December 13, 1994, via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjmDNpnvnVA

Sources - Newspapers

Cary News:

• December 17, 1994 - On the crash site
• December 17, 1994 - Two pull survivors from plane wreckage
• December 17, 1994 - Emergency officials put training to work

Herald-Sun (Durham):

• December 14, 1994 - RDU crash kills 15
• December 14, 1994 - Evening turned to horror by crash
• December 14, 1994 - Bad-weather mishaps plaque Jetstream plane
• December 14, 1994 - Crash is latest woe for airline
• December 14, 1994 - Tuesday's crash is worst ever for airport
• December 15, 1994 - Transportation head calls for greater oversight
• December 15, 1994 - Crash takes life of rising bass angler
• December 15, 1994 - British Aerospace defends crashed plane's safety record
• December 15, 1994 - Plane engine failed before deadline crash
• December 15, 1994 - Survivor: There was no warning of danger
• December 15, 1994 - Mom's warning saves college student from crash
• December 15, 1994 - Commuter crashes: Pilots, equipment or bad luck?
• December 15, 1994 - Some American Eagle flyers nervous after crash
• December 16, 1994 - Rescuers cope with tragedy of crash
• December 16, 1994 - Fatal plane crash was first for engine model
• December 16, 1994 - Plane crash survivors remain in hospitals
• December 16, 1994 - Air crash, holidays strain Red Cross blood supplies
• December 16, 1994 - Crash put chaplain in new territory
• December 17, 1994 - American Eagle errs: Engine OK before fatal run
• December 17, 1994 - Horn sounded too-slow alarm just before crash
• December 18, 1994 - Crash touched the living
• December 18, 1994 - 'Christmas present'" Survivor's family grateful, 'She's going to be fine'
• December 18, 1994 - Commuter pilots shatter airline stereotype
• December 19, 1994 - Eagle pilots demand apology for comments about training
• December 19, 1994 - First crash survivor released from hospital
• December 20, 1994 - Families, friends bury victims of Flight 3379
• December 20, 1994 - Grace under pressure

News & Observer (Raleigh):

• December 14, 1994 - 15 die near RDU in American Eagle - worst crash in airports history
• December 14, 1994 - A list of other plane crashes
• December 14, 1994 - Steady drizzle at time of crash, forecasters say
• December 14, 1994 - 5 Jetstreams have crashed in U.S. since '88
• December 14, 1994 - Crash follows ruling on commuter safety
• December 14, 1994 - One of the first rescuers heard an explosion, found victims afire
• December 14, 1994 - '88 American Eagle crash had been worst at RDU
• December 14, 1994 - Emergency crews fought rough terrain
• December 14, 1994 - Rescuers shout for lights during dark hunt for victims
• December 15, 1994 - Engine failure suspected in RDU crash
• December 15, 1994 - The call to 911
• December 15, 1994 - Ill-fated passengers included students, fishing champion
• December 15, 1994 - A dreary vigil at Command Central
• December 15, 1994 - Passengers who died
• December 15, 1994 - Crew members who died
• December 15, 1994 - Passengers who survived
• December 15, 1994 - Last-minute decisions meant life or death
• December 15, 1994 - Stricter standards for commuter planes announced
• December 15, 1994 - Analyst finds similar risks in commuter flights, car travel
• December 15, 1994 - Pilots young, but had experience
• December 15, 1994 - Wary passengers have little choice
• December 15, 1994 - Victim taken from crash site
• December 16, 1994 - Eagle had glitch on earlier flight
• December 16, 1994 - Scene of the crash (graphic)
• December 16, 1994 - Eagle pilots' morale was rock-button before the crash
• December 16, 1994 - Accident was first for engine model used on Jetstream Super 31
• December 16, 1994 - List of Jetstream crashes
• December 16, 1994 - Both Eagle crew members were sons of pilots
• December 16, 1994 - Pilots train extensively to overcome engine failure
• December 16, 1994 - Hospital report crash survivor's conditions improving
• December 17, 1994 - American facing big bill for disaster
• December 17, 1994 - Experts suggest pilot error in crash.
• December 17, 1994 - Midwest Eagles grounded again
• December 17, 1994 - Survivors progress toward recovery
• December 17, 1994 - Pilots and advocates for passengers welcome tighter limits on crew hours
• December 18, 1994 - Triple threat
• December 18, 1994 - Grisly sleuthing all too familiar for NTSB investigators
• December 18, 1994 - A bad week for aviation
• December 18, 1994 - Probe moves beyond Triangle
• December 18, 1994 - 'It shows miracles happen'
• December 19, 1994 - Besieged pilots question union, Eagle
• December 19, 1994 - Turboprop expected to return
• December 19, 1994 - Commuter planes feel brunt of consumer fear
• December 19, 1994 - Crash victims' burials to focus on peace
• December 20, 1994 - Town's longtime fears are realized
• December 20, 1994 - Reality sheds light on drills

News & Record (Greensboro):

• December 17, 1994 - Whys and What Ifs Linger After Plane Crash\ Many Passengers Were Forced To Fly

New York Times:

• December 15, 1994 - Government sets a safety review at every airline
• December 15, 1994 - The Commuter Crashes: The Victims; 15 Dreams Came to End In Crash of Flight 3379 - Via, http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/15/us/the-commuter-crashes-the-victims-15-dreams-came-to-end-in-crash-of-flight-3379.html
• December 18, 1994 - Airlines, govt. wrestle with flying safety

USA Today:

• USA Today, December 14, 1994 - Commuter plane crashes
• December 14, 1994 - Neighbors feared 'the inevitable'

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