The Crash of the 720 (continued)

The landing was not as planned, but it was probably as typical a set of "crash" circumstances as could be expected. According to the script, the crash was to have the characteristics of three common situations: aborted takeoff, landing short and landing hard.

Prime objective of the test was to test a jet fuel additive to inhibit fatal fires in those "typical crashes" that otherwise would be survivable. Mrs. Dole said the previous day that 40 percent of crash fatalities are fire related. If the additive --Anti Misting Kerosene (AMK)-- had been successful, Mrs. Dole said it "will stop accident-caused fire before it starts. "

If there had been people aboard and NO fire, most, maybe all, the occur pants may have walked away.

For the most part, fuselage integrity was maintained.

There appeared to be one, maybe two, fractures in the fuselage crown, roughly in line with the wing leading and trailing edges. There was also a large hole burned through the crown just forward of the vertical fin. Newsmen weren't allowed too close and even Engen said he wasn't permitted to get too near the ship and was unsure of some details.

The FAA was keeping quiet on details that would have been public knowledge in a real crash for more than a month following the demonstration.

Although the impact itself was apparently survivable, the fire that came as the plane was still sliding along the flinty gravel surface would have been a killer if anyone had been aboard.

Because of the AMK, the FAA wasn't expecting any fire; well, maybe some tiny blazes behind the plane that would be self-containing and never engulf the ship.

Woodall tried to convince the newsmen that the AMK worked. There was an initial fire at the rear of the plane that was self extinguishing, he repeatedly said to question after question.

Newsmen who were permitted to view the demonstration from a hillside the FAA and NASA said was 4.2 miles away saw only one fire that grew and grew.