Clifford Davids

I just received an advance copy of "Southern Storm, The Tragedy of Flight 242," a well written book about the crash of Southern Airways Flight 242 in New Hope, GA on April 4, 1977 - it is set to be published early next month. The following is the author's description of New Hope in 1977: "New Hope, population 150, was not officially a town - it had never been incorporated. Thirty miles northwest of Atlanta, it was sometimes described as a wide place in the road. But it definitely was and still is a community. Most of its families had lived there for several generations, some dating back to

I am looking to contact Officer Rusty Wilson, now retired from the Dallas, GA Police Department, to discuss his role as a first responder at the crash site of Southern Airways Flight 242 in New Hope, GA on April 4, 1977. If anyone knows how I can reach him, please provide me with his contact information. Thank you. Cliff Davids

As you know, the 40th anniversary of the crash of Southern Airways Flight 242 is approaching next year. There will be a memorial service on March 25, 2017 at 11:30 AM at the New Hope First Baptist Church on 31 Bobo Road in Dallas, GA. I hope all of you are able to attend. I also wanted to let everyone know that I have been able to locate Louie F. Schneider, the former chief of the Dallas, GA Police Department in 1977. Chief Schneider, who is now 86 years old, arrived at the Southern 242 crash scene within minutes of the devastating crash. He and the men in his department played a key role

Here is some more WSB-TV newsreel. This one contains interviews with both New Hope VFD Chief John Clayton and local resident Lyone Abney. The interviews were done in 1978 on the first anniversary of the crash. The footage also includes the crash site in New Hope as well as images the old VFD building, which was torn down years ago. You can find a link to Chief Clayton's interview at the bottom of his story: https://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/04/28/john-clayton/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

In May of 1979, freshman Congressman Newt Gingrich hosted the family of Southern Airways Flight 242’s First Officer Lyman Keele, Jr. at his office in Washington, D.C. They were gathered together to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the April 4, 1977 crash of Southern 242 in New Hope, GA. Keele, who died in the crash, was being posthumously honored by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) for his heroic efforts to land the crippled aircraft on a narrow strip of highway in New Hope. Seventy-two people died that day, but there were also 22 lucky survivors. I recently found a WSB-TV news

Jack Barker, former FAA spokesman (1966-1991) for the Southern Regional Office in Atlanta, GA will be appearing at the Hiram Public Library, 1815 Hiram Douglasville Hwy, Hiram, GA at 11 AM this Friday, April 1, 2016. Mr. Barker will provide details about the NTSB investigation into the April 4, 1977 crash of Southern Airways Flight 242. He will also be available afterwards to answer any questions. For more information, read about the flight controller who tracked Flight 242 and the NTSB investigation here: https://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/10/18/flight-controller/ Th

With the 39th anniversary of the April 4, 1977 crash of Southern Airways Flight 242 in New Hope, GA fast approaching, Flight Attendant Catherine Cooper shares her compelling story of survival on that tragic day. You can find it at: https://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/07/08/lucky-few/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

Annette Snell was an R&B singer who recorded the first four songs of her first album with Jimmy Johnson at the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in March/April of 1977. She was returning home to NYC on Southern Airways Flight 242 when it crashed in New Hope, GA, on April 4, 1977. She was killed in the crash, and afterwards Columbia Records only released two of her four songs. I interviewed Jimmy last year while I was writing a series of articles about the crash, and I discovered that he still had copies of the two unreleased songs that Annette recorded with him in back in 1977. The

Just a reminder that the Weather Channel will be airing an episode of Why Planes Crash on Monday, December 29th, at 9 PM. It will feature the tragic crash of Southern Airways Flight 242 in New Hope, GA, on April 4, 1977. Read about the crash, and see the amazing NTSB photographs, here on my blog: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/category/the-tragic-crash-of-southern-airways-flight-242/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

Yes. Severe Weeather is going to air the episode on December 29, 2014 at 9 PM on the Weather Channel.

A closer look into the tragic death of Lyman W. Keele, Jr., the first officer aboard Southern Airways Flight 242 when it crashed in New Hope, GA, on April 4, 1977. Read my interview with Ron Crysler, a retired navy pilot and Keele's best friend. He sheds new light on the hectic 24 hours after the fiery crash. You can find it directly at: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2014/11/22/crysler-interview/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

The NBC producers tell me that the Severe Weather episode which includes the crash of Southern Airways Flight 242 in New Hope, GA in 1977 is set to air on Monday, December 29, 2014 at 9pm on the Weather Channel. It will also air at a later date, to be determined, on MSNBC. Stay tuned for further updates. As always, you can find all of my stories and photographs on Flight 242 here: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

I recently received the following e-mail from the NBC News executive in charge of producing the upcoming documentary for the Weather Channel concerning the April 4, 1977 crash of Southern Airways Flight 242: "We are waiting for final approval from the network, but essentially the show is entirely wrapped up. We have completed the reviews with the aviation experts to be sure that the animation is technically accurate, and I think we have built some very compelling content around the great interviews we got. We want to be sure to show respect for the pilots and passengers who lost their live

This is the story about an unforgettable farm in Cumming, GA--a spiritual location of healing that saves neglected and abused horses and gives them a final home. You can find the story directly at: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2014/06/03/save-the-horses-farm/ Thank you. Cliff Davids

I recently received these eerie night photos of the Southern Airways Flight 242 crash site in New Hope, GA from Frederick Clemens, one of the 22 survivors. You can find the pictures at the following link, at the bottom of the story: http://ashevilleoralhistoryproject.com/2013/06/04/redstone-arsenal/ Thank you. Cliff Davids