Everglades Flight 401 Disaster.

[Bigcypresshunter]

The 35th anniversary of the Eastern Airlines Everglades passenger jet crash was recently in the news. I am thinking about detecting this disaster site in the shallow waters of this sawgrass swamp. We often metal detect disaster sites but is this one too recent? I would like to hear members comments for and against. http://www.miamiherald.com/multimedia/news/flight401/

 

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[jeff of pa]

I enjoy Extreme Treasure Hunting So IF the site isn't
protected, I'd go for it.

To me Recent would be a crash Today
& I'd still wish I Could. :P
even if I had to turn everything over.

 

[Sandman]

At least you shouldn't find many pesty pull tabs.

 

[jeff of pa]

At least you shouldn't find many pesty pull tabs.

No But he will find plenty of Tiny Pieces of Aluminum.
Possably Gold from the Engine & Cockpit parts also.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Thank you for your comments. I would like to hear more opinions.
The marsh that holds the wreck site is on state land and is not protected as far as I know. The large pieces have been removed but Im sure something must remain. The 1972 disaster is in a very remote location. Note the life raft that opened in the picture above.
If I find any identifiable personal possessions, I would of course try to return to survivors or relatives.

I posted the recent survivors reunion story in "Everything else."
http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,131732.0.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22443854#22418703 NBC video clip. Dec. 30. Plane crash hero gets his due.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/09/16/Life/_Flight_401__RESCUE_I.shtml

 

[Loosemoose]

OK, well first up being an airline pilot, I gotta say I find the idea really macabre, possibly the last place I'd want to detect, however I can see there might be some interest for others.

A couple of facts are, you won't find gold from engine or cockpit parts, the only gold used might be in electrical circuit boards, and you'd be better off with an old computer from your basement. Also, there is a real likelihood of finding human remains, and the issues that come with that, both legal and personal.

Look, I wouldn't think bad of anyone who detected the site, but man, you live in Florida, I'd be looking for Reales.

BTW, Flight 401 is a classic aviation learning story. They had a bulb blown in one of their "gear down and locked" indications, and while they were both concentrating on replacing the bulb, the autopilot disconnected, and the aircraft went into a gradual turning descent into the ground, which neither pilot noticed until it was too late. Out of this came the procedure that when something happens nowadays, one pilot is assigned responsibility for control of the aircraft, while the other sorts out the problem.

 

[954hunter]

I was actually out at this site after Value Jet, theres alot remaining there........but I for one wouldn't touch it.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I was actually out at this site after Value Jet, theres alot remaining there........but I for one wouldn't touch it.

The more recent Flight 596 Valujet nose dived into the muck and almost completely disappeared with no survivors in 1996. Only 10 percent of the wreckage was ever found.

You have been to this older Flight 401 Eastern crash site? I havent been. How far is it from the levee? I have the coordinates but havent placed it on the map yet. Im still a bit undecided.

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[baspinall]

I road an airboat with a guy who did recovery stuff after the crash. I'd check it out now before the humidity kick in full time.

Brian

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I road an airboat with a guy who did recovery stuff after the crash. I'd check it out now before the humidity kick in full time.

Brian

We are just beginning our Winter dry season. It was 80 degrees Christmas week up to New Years Day. We finally got our first good cool front. The nice weather will remain thru about May here in South Florida. We are also entering the dry season. I may be able to ride out in my ATC as water levels go down. Our rainy humid season is the Summer. Yes, the Winter/Spring is the time to go. A person would not survive long out there in the summer if they became disoriented. I have been stuck out there in my fulltrack swamp buggy before the invention of cellphones and GPS. No place for the unexperienced to fool around back in those days. ... Anyone want to go with me to check it out?

Thanks for responding. Do you remember how far it was from the levee? Are you sure it was the 1972 Eastern crash and not the Valujet in 1996?

 

[954hunter]

I road an airboat with a guy who did recovery stuff after the crash. I'd check it out now before the humidity kick in full time.

Brian

I was working and we were trying to locate Value and actually worked stumbled across Eastern, I wouldn't be able to point to it, but it was really noticable on the horizon once we got in the area........lots and lots of debris out there, and reptiles of every type.

 

[954hunter]

When I was out there one of the "swamp guys" corrected us,we thought it was Value jet and he knew it was Eastern, our blunder was report in the news and I thought I would never stop hearing about it.

 

[gold-digger]

As interesting as it sounds, it still feels like it would be taboo. Like hunting an old cemetery.
Too many spirits looking for rest, not to mention the snakes and gators.

There is the other notion that you may find something of personal value that may be returned to a grieving family member that would make the search justifyable.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

As many of you know, Jeff Pa MDed the 1948 Flight 624 crash. Here is his story: http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?board=301.0


We search violent disasters sites all the time and think nothing of it. Revolutionary, Civil War sites, even WWII.
Many people died at the 1715 Fleet disaster which was on a much larger scale. Think about it.
I guess being that it happened recently is the problem. I would not search the Valujet site (too recent) but I am considering the 1972 disaster.
I mean no disrespect to any family members that may stumble upon this online thread.

 

[KINGPULLTAB]

At least you shouldn't find many pesty pull tabs.

I guess I wont show up--LMAO---Have a great day sandman KPT

 

[vulcan007]

Ahoy mates!

Hey bigcypresshunter mate,

Me wouldn't dig that location.

Ye are a good mate and why goin there lookin for booty in tha first place. What do ye expect to find? coins, jewelry, and some personal item, but ye will be steppin over tha area where people died. The area is a cemetery. Like the fella from downunder said huntin there is controverssial. Tha state may no like ye messin there. That place may give wierd vibes...

good day mate!

V

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Everglades Flight 401 Disaster. (Poll added).

Ahoy mates!

Hey bigcypresshunter mate,

Me wouldn't dig that location.

Ye are a good mate and why goin there lookin for booty in tha first place. What do ye expect to find? coins, jewelry, and some personal item, but ye will be steppin over tha area where people died. The area is a cemetery. Like the fella from downunder said huntin there is controverssial. Tha state may no like ye messin there. That place may give wierd vibes...

good day mate!

V

"coins, jewelry, and some personal item?" Isnt that what MDers look for? Would you feel the same way about World War II sites? What about the 1715 disaster on the Treasure Beaches? Civil War battlegrounds? What makes this different? I appreciate your imput.

BTW I don't think anyone is buried at the Eastern 401 site. Correct me if Im wrong. The valujet site is different; a cemetary where no body was recovered.

 

[diggummup]

I agree with you BigC, it's no different than hunting a CW battle site. The only difference is time. I think all the bodies were recovered, I can't find anything stating otherwise. I would go with you but I will be leaving the country for an extended period of time in a couple weeks. I won't even have computer access for a good while. Here is a little reading that might interest you, you may have already read it but just in case you haven't here you go-http://eastern401.googlepages.com/home I like the ghost stories part in the epilogue.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I agree with you BigC, it's no different than hunting a CW battle site. The only difference is time. I think all the bodies were recovered, I can't find anything stating otherwise. I would go with you but I will be leaving the country for an extended period of time in a couple weeks. I won't even have computer access for a good while. Here is a little reading that might interest you, you may have already read it but just in case you haven't here you go-http://eastern401.googlepages.com/home I like the ghost stories part in the epilogue.

Yes, a good link. I am not ready to go yet because I dont have an airboat or full tracked vehicle anymore.. My plan would be to wait until the water levels go down and maybe I can make it out on my ATC.

This Southern Airboat Club pic is from the recent 35 yr. reunion of survivors and relatives on the crash site. Roses were dropped from the air.

 

[finderzzs]

WHY? Do you remember the guards standing by so the divers weren't eaten by all the gators?