Quantcast

United Airlines Flight 389 crash remembered six decades after Lake Michigan tragedy

Tycoon unveils £25 billion rival Heathrow expansion plan
Proposals for commercial planes to operate with one pilot shelved after critical EU report
Air Travel Fatalities Up 300% in 2024, According to Shocking Global Report
Boeing Halts Strike Talks Amid $36 Billion Deal & Union Dispute
FAA’s Broader Runway Safety Push Builds on EMAS Legacy
Ryanair CEO says aviation sustainability targets are 'dying a death'
US FAA funds system to prevent accidents involving runaway airplanes
Exclusive: Korean Air makes airline's biggest-ever Boeing jet order amid Trump-Lee summit
Boeing Stock Jumps on Massive Korean Air Order
FAA EMAS: Proven Safety Wins Since 1996
Air Canada flight attendants try to build on US gains on unpaid work
Cathay Pacific warns of declining fares and cargo uncertainty, shares fall
Clear intentions, cloudy path: aviation's ongoing ESG challenge
Turkish Airlines is preparing binding offer for Spain's Air Europa, executive says
Air Canada flight attendants approve strike mandate
US criticizes use of AI to personalize airline ticket prices, would investigate
Ethiopian Airlines' annual revenue rises as it draws more passengers, adds routes
Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights
JetBlue, United partnership gets go-ahead from U.S. Transportation Department
United-JetBlue partnership gets US DOT approval
Air India Warned Over Crew Fatigue and Training Failures Following Fatal Crash
Heathrow Chief Defends £50–60 billion Third Runway Amid Rising Costs Debate
New UK airline with cheap US fares is ‘parked’ after just TWO flights – with people fearing it’s been scrapped for good
US carriers shamed in surprising new list of the world’s ‘cleanest’ airlines
Air Force Pilot Wasn't Alerted to Collision Course with Passenger Jet Before Scary Near Miss, Says Official
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy may deny flights from Mexico over broken aviation agreement
Plane Makes Emergency Landing After ‘Unruly’ Passenger Attempts to Open Exit Door Mid-Flight
American Airlines Launches Ultra‑Long‑Haul DFW–Manila Flights
Thousands of flights canceled or delayed across America's busiest airports
Summer flight delays to be 'worst ever' this year - what to do if affected
United Airlines Flight 389 crash remembered six decades after Lake Michigan tragedy
Policy
Webp scoo
Scott Kirby, chief executive officer | United Airlines

Sixty years ago, United Airlines Flight 389 crashed into Lake Michigan while approaching Chicago O'Hare International Airport, resulting in the deaths of all 30 people onboard. The flight, operated by a Boeing 727-100 that had been in service for less than three months, departed from New York's LaGuardia Airport on August 16, 1965.

The flight proceeded normally until its descent toward Chicago. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), air traffic controllers cleared the aircraft to descend to 6,000 feet. The crew acknowledged this instruction and received information about O'Hare's altimeter setting. However, the captain initially read back the altimeter setting incorrectly before being corrected by air traffic control.

Shortly after this communication at 21:19, Flight 389 crashed into Lake Michigan in water approximately 250 feet deep and exploded on impact about 30 miles east-northeast of O'Hare Airport. As reported by the Aviation Safety Network:

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

"Last radio communications with the flight were at 21:19 when the crew were told to maintain 6000 feet and that ILS approaches were in progress on runway 14R. Shortly after this the aircraft crashed into Lake Michigan in 250 feet of water, 30 miles ENE of O'Hare Airport."

Investigators did not reach a conclusive cause for the crash. The NTSB stated it was "unable to determine the reason for the aircraft not being leveled off at its assigned altitude of 6,000 feet." Although part of the aircraft's flight data recorder was found, its contents could not be recovered.

Investigators suggested that pilot misreading of the three-pointer altimeter may have contributed to the accident. Radar data indicated that Flight 389 was already between 1,000 and 2,500 feet when instructed to descend to 6,000 feet. Three-pointer altimeters were known for being difficult to read accurately; pilots may have believed they were flying at an altitude much higher than their actual position.

This type of instrument had been implicated in other fatal accidents and was later replaced by more reliable counter-pointer and drum-pointer designs before glass cockpit technology became standard.

Flight 389 marked the first hull loss involving a Boeing 727 aircraft. The model had entered commercial service only eighteen months earlier and would go on to become one of Boeing’s most successful jetliners with over a thousand units sold. According to Aviation Safety Network data, there were a total of 120 Boeing 727 hull losses out of nearly two thousand built.

At the time of this crash, United Airlines operated around forty Boeing 727s and experienced another fatal accident involving a similar aircraft later that year.

United Airlines continues as a major full-service carrier with hubs across several U.S. airports including Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Flying Food Group, Inc. has announced the recipients of its 2025 scholarships, with all five applicants receiving awards this year.

Oct 23, 2025

Dnata, a global provider of air and travel services, has entered into a joint venture with Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Group to launch ground handling and cargo operations at Alat International Airport, located in the Alat Free Economic Zone in Baku.

Oct 22, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced the release of version 7.5 of its mobile app, introducing new features aimed at making travel planning and management easier for customers during the holiday season.

Oct 22, 2025

The Fair Work Commission has ruled that a former employee of dnata Airport Services was unfairly dismissed and awarded $36,468.39 in compensation.

Oct 22, 2025

The 13th Annual Breast Care International Walk for the Cure took place in Kumasi, Ghana, drawing around 30,000 participants, including survivors, healthcare professionals, students, traditional leaders, and advocates.

Oct 22, 2025

The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has announced the closure of Terminal 5 to allow for a significant redevelopment.

Oct 22, 2025