American Airlines Flight 1 (1962)

American Airlines Flight 1

An American Airlines Boeing 707-123B, similar to the one involved
Accident
Date	March 1, 1962
Summary	Improper maintenance, manufacturing defect leading to mechanical failure
Site	Jamaica Bay, New York, U.S. 40°37′4″N 73°50′13″W / 40.61778°N 73.83694°W / 40.61778; -73.83694
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Boeing 707-123B Astrojet
Aircraft name	District of Columbia
Operator	American Airlines
IATA flight No.	AA1
ICAO flight No.	AAL1
Call sign	AMERICAN 1
Registration	N7506A
Flight origin	New York International Airport
Destination	Los Angeles International Airport
Occupants	95
Passengers	87
Crew	8
Fatalities	95
Survivors	0

American Airlines Flight 1 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight from New York International (Idlewild) Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport) in New York City to Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. During takeoff on March 1, 1962 flight, the Boeing 707 rolled over and crashed into Jamaica Bay in New York City two minutes after taking off, killing all 87 passengers and eight crew members aboard. A Civil Aeronautics Board investigation determined that a manufacturing defect in the autopilot system led to an uncommanded rudder control system input, causing the accident. A number of notable people died in the crash. It was the fifth fatal Boeing 707 accident, and at the time, the deadliest.^[1] It was third of three fatal crashes during an operation of American Airlines Flight 1, and the third fatal crash involving one of American's 707s in the New York area within a three-year period after Flight 514 and Flight 1502.