1977 — Mar 27, KLM 4805/Pan Am 1736 runway collision, fog, Tenerife AP, Canary Isl.–US~339

— 583 Aviation Safety Network. Database 1977.
–335 Pan American World Airways 1736
–248 KLM
— 583 eNotes.com “Tenerife airport disaster.”
— 582 Ferrara, Grace M. The Disaster File: The 1970’s. New York: Facts on File, 1979, p. 21.
— 580 Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Hundreds Dead in Jet Collision.” 3-28-1977, p. 2.
— 576 Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). 1982, p. 385.
–351 Pan Am
–225 KLM
— 575 Valley News, Van Nuys, CA. “Dutch prober says KLM pilot at fault.” 3-3-1977, sec 1, 3.
— 559 Gastonia Gazette, NC. “Plane Collision Kills Record 559.” 3-27-1977, p. 1.
–~339 U.S. Fatalities (335 fatalities on Pan Am and 4 on KLM)
— 322 U.S. passengers Pan Am. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Project-Tenerife.com. “Passenger list of the Pan Am.”
— 9 NY-based Pan Am Crew. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
— 4 Canadian fatalities, Pan Am. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
— 2 Royal Cruise SFO

Breakout of Fatalities by State of Residence

Alaska ( 2)
Anchorage. Ralph Koslosky. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Ruby Koslosky. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77

Arizona ( 11)
Glendale. Florence Ruppell. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Green Valley. Ruth Culbertson. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Phoenix. Hardaway Dinwiddie. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Loraine Dinwiddie. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Mary Hess Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ A. W. Miller. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Mrs. A. W. Miller. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Byron Steffarud. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Goldie Steffarud. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Scottsdale. Mr. Duncan Axford. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Mrs. Arlene Axford. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2

California (250)
Albany. Joseph Jeans. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Martha Jeans. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “PanAm…” 3-29-‘77
Anaheim. Helen Ames. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
Aptos. William Monty. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Mary Monty. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Bakersfield. Barbara Mitchell. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ David Singleton. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Beverly Hills. Russell Dimnock. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Philip Ensminger. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Borrego Springs. Frank Kershaw. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Dorothea Kershaw. Project-Tenerife.com. “Passenger list of the PanAm.”
Burbank. Clifford Morris. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Emilie Morris. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Capistrano Beach. Isabella Parker. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
Chino. Albert Roberts. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Mrs. Verne Roberts. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ William Weller. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Hazel Weller. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Corona del Mar. Brita Brandenberg. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Coronado. Emilie Godfrey. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Crescent City. Helen Stuart. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Daly City. Emily Freedman. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Davis. Henry Campbell. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Helen Campbell. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Del Mar. Jessie Bergen Briggs. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
El Cerrito. Mary Bowman. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
Emeryville. Maurine Grimwood. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Escondido. Fred Barth. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Kathryn Barth. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Dorothy Johnston. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Charles N. Miller. Project-Tenerife.com. “Passenger list of the PanAm.”
“ Dorothy Miller. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Hazel Reed. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Foster City. Ms. S. Yee. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Fresno. James Calandra. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Irma Calandra. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Domenick Guerriero. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Elizabeth Guerriero. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Lorelle Shute. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Richard Sibley. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Mrs. Richard Sibley. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Fullerton. Marie Robertson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
Glendale. Margaret Gilson. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Betty Strandt. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Hemet. Frank Aston. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Marie Aston. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Alta Libert. Project-Tenerife.com. “Passenger list of the PanAm.”
“ Maurice Libert. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Hollywood. Eve Meyer. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Irvine. Mary Webber. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
La Jolla. Walter Edelman. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Jane Hart. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Alexander Lippmann. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Evelyn Lippmann. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Melva Perry. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
La Verne. Jack D. Daniel. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Lafayette. Norman Reid. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Laguna Hills. Ethel Blanche. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Mable Brassfield. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Lloyd Chatterton. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Helen Chatterton. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Myra Cochran. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ William Combs. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Leone Combs. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Sherman Ellsworth. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Marian Ellsworth. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Martin Fisher. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Raymond Halldorson. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Helen Halldorson. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Jean Houston. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Frank Kase. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Gwendolyn Kase. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Karl Larson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Lorraine Larsen. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Benjamin Malin. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Helen Peters. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Elizabeth Reining. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Ethel Selbo. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Francis Simmons. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Kathryn Simmons. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Florence Sparr. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Irene Tyubir. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Helen Vernon. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Charles Ziebell. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Fern Ziebell. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
Long Beach. Esther Bartholomew. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Fay Blackburn. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Matile Hirshfield. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Milton Hirshfield Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Donald Locke. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Mrs. Donald Locke. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Ms. Isabelle Lord Project-Tenerife.com. “Passenger list of the PanAm.”
“ Richard Mueller. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Ruby Mueller. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Shirley Murdoch. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Dora Torres. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Julio Torres. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Los Altos. Myrtle McClintock. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Glovif Reiter. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Joseph Reiter. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Ruth Roman. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Alvin Shapro. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Lillian Shapro. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Los Angeles. James Basickowski. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Paul Johnson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Madeline Johnson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Gertrude Jordan. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Jerry Lewis. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Lila Lewis. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Richard Moran. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Dorothy Moran. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Sara Rehbock. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Milton Rothstein. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Natallye Rothstein. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Meyer Simon. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Harold Wallace. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Marina Del Rey. Howard Harper. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Mill Valley. Philip Emerzian. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Pat Spomer. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Montclair. Hazel Bebee. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
Newport Beach. Robert Guedhart. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Beverly Guedhart. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Monte Johnston. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Patricia Johnston. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
Oakland. Rhelma Araujo. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Marietta Parkinson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Oceanside. Merritt Edmunds. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Marjorie Edmunds. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Orange. Milton Cornell. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Margaret Cornell. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Esther Frier. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Oroville. Eleanor Crosby. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Palm Desert. Gloria Kirkorian. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Palm Springs Linda Soyous. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Palos Verdes. Genevieve Foley. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Theodore Younes. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Pasadena. Fred Beutel. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Dorothy Marsden Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “6 Star-News…” 3-29-1977, 57.
Petaluma. Moreen Waters. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Col. Mervin S. Waters. Project-Tenerife.com. “Passenger list of the PanAm.”
Piedmont. Joseph Stringfellow. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Marlive Stringfellow. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Pinedale. Catherine Ellis. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Rancho Mirage. Bernice Harmon. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Rancho Santa Fe. Beth Shaw. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Redondo Beach. Frank Silva. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Mrs. Frank Silva. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Redwood City. Remy Bernascowi. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Lena Bernascowi. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ George Berne. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Helen Berne. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Alvera Querantes. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Louis Querantes. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Riverside. Clarence Huffman. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Martha White. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Rolling Hills. Geraldine Knox. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Robert Knox. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Rosemead. Mabel Beardslee. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
Sacramento. Fred Bellnokini. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Iva Bellnokini. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Cynthia Magante. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Genevieve Pitcock. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Albert Veglia. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Mary Veglia. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
San Clemente. Ann Stevenson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Robert Stevenson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
San Diego. Carl Anderson. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Leondre Anderson. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Margaret Anderson. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2.
“ Lt. James Barkdull. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Alice Barkdull. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Stanley Cohen. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Helen Cohen. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Kenneth Crawford. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Ruth Crawford. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Lillian Donald. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Raymond Evans. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Hallie Evans. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Herbert Grupp. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Mrs. Herbert Grupp. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Art Hauser. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Helen Hauser. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Lucille Hegdahl. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Alfred Herb. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Eileen Herb. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Charles Pinkstaff. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Aubrey Shulkino. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Sylvia Shulkino. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Aenid Taylor. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Chalmer Taylor. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Maurice Tyler. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Virginia Tyler. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Irene Vedder. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Walter Vedder. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
San Francisco. Gail Lane. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Walter Moore. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
San Jose. Wilbur Cox. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ La Welle Cox. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Katherine Dordich. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Roy Dordich. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Mary Dordich. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Stephan Dordich. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Peter Hamann Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Frances Hamann. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Robert Rasch. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Doris Rasch. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Joan Wilkinson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
San Juan Capist. Col. Bradley Clifford. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…plane.” 3-28-‘77, A3
“ Marjorie Bradley. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
San Marino. Mr. Wilton Adams. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Mrs. Edna Adams. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
San Mateo. Ben Nelson Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Karin Nelson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Emma Thomas. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
San Pedro. Mr. Richard Babron. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
Santa Ana. Vera Hohner. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Charles Reed. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Lorraine Reed. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Mary Jane Smith. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Wilbur Smith. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Dennis Stecher. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
“ Margaret Stecher. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County…” 3-29-‘77
Santa Barbara Ray Geiberger. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Gertrude McCullough Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “PanAm…” 3-29-‘77
“ Florence Nelson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Roy Vogel. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Santa Cruz. George Fitzgerald. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Francis McRae. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Eleanor Van Resselaer. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Santa Monica. Perry Johnson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Mrs. Perry Johnson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Liza Johnson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Santa Rosa. Michael Stebben. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Arlene Stebben. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Sepulveda. Fred Paris. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Roberta Paris. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Stockton. Dr. Langley Collis. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Mrs. Margaret Collis. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Studio City. Elsie Church. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Torrance. Charles Saygol. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Visalia. Margaret Fox. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Robert Jakoubek. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Walnut Creek. Nancy Lamp. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Watsonville. Carol Boyington. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Anna Chounet. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ James Cocke. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Linda E. Lamb. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “6 Star-News…” 3-29-1977, 57.
“ Roscoe Lively. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Whittier. Mrs. Louise Adams. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Mrs. Sara Bellah. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Mrs. Hazel Bellah. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
Woodland Hills. W. D. Cornelius. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Mrs. Freda Cornelius. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3

Colorado ( 4)
Boulder Creek. William Hempel. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Mignonne Hempel. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Littleton. Nancy Langhorn. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Renee Roberton. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77

Hawaii ( 3)
Honolulu. Edward Bolles. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2.
“ Jeanette Bolles. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
Lahaina Maui. Katherine Seacrest. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77

Illinois ( 1)
Peoria. Francis Hammond. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3

Minnesota ( 1)
St. Paul. Emily Culver. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3

Nevada ( 5)
Ely. Mrs. Ann Beards. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2.
Incline Village. Marge Robinson. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
Las Vegas Lucille Gardner. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Jeanne Harlow. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Reno. Charlotte Waltz. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77

New York ( 7)
Incline Village. John Hoyt. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
New York. David Waldorf. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ David White. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Rochester. Mr. Don Gillis. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Hundreds Dead…” 3-28-‘77, 2.
“ Mrs. Don Gillis. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Hundreds Dead…” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Mrs. Terry Twist. Star-News, Pasadena CA. “Hundreds Dead…” 3-28-1977
“ Melissa Twist, 18-months. Star-News, Pasadena. “Hundreds Dead…” 3-28-‘77, 2.

Pan Am Crew: ( 9)
Mari Asia, flight attendant. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Christine Ekelund, flight attendant. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Luisa Garcia Flood, flight attendant. Project-Tenerife.com. “Passenger…PanAm.”
Francoise Colbert De Beaulieu Greenbaum, purser. Project-Tenerife.com. “Passenger…PanAm.”
Sachiko Hirano, flight attendant. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Marilyn Luker, flight attendant. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Aysei Sarp, flight attendant. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Carol Thomas, flight attendant. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Miguel Torrech-Pere, flight attendant. Project-Tenerife.com. “Passenger…PanAm.”

Ohio ( 2)
Moreland. Mr. William Bailey. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
“ Mrs. Naomi Bailey. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2

Oregon ( 6)
Eugene. Helen Retling. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Grants Pass. Bev Johnson. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Medford. Judy South. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ William South. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Stephen Sparacino. Project-Tenerife.com. “Passenger list of the PanAm.”
“ Mrs. S. Sparacino. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77

Texas ( 3)
Dallas. Marty McPartland. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
El Paso. Robert Fyr. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Mrs. Francis Fyr. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3

Utah ( 4)
Ogden. Mildred Garner. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Idalee Keller. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Audrey Reed. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Mrs. Le Von Smith. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77

Washington ( 12)
Bellvue. F. Daily Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Chimacun. Anita Bock. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2
Langley. Hans Henning. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Elly Henning. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Leif Larsen. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Elizabeth Larsen. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Longview. Teresa Brusco. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Mildred Craig. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Oliver Craig. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Seattle. Dr. Robert Efird. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
Vancouver. Carlyle Brown. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3
“ Elizabeth Brown. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 3

Washington DC ( 2)
Mrs. Wilma Achatz. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2.
Mrs. Charlotte Baldwin. Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four…on…plane.” 3-28-‘77, 2

Hometown Not Known (2)
Clara Hicks Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Simon Meyer Project-Tenerife.com. “Passenger list of the PanAm.”

Royal Cruise SFO ( 2)
Tony Deliyantis Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Beau Moss. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77

British Columbia ( 4)
Kelowna. Walter Mitchell. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Evonnee Mitchell. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
“ Aya Tanemura. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77
Windsor Elizabeth Caza. Orange Co. Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am…” 3-29-‘77

Newspapers – Chronological

March 27: “Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands (AP) — Officials of the Spanish air ministry said today that at least 559 persons died in the fiery runway collision of two Pan American and KLM jumbo jets preparing to take off from this Atlantic island. It was the worst aviation disaster in history.

“Ministry officials working at the Santa Cruz airport said there were 60 survivors from the collision of the two Boeing 707’s Sunday afternoon minutes after a heavy fog descended. But these officials said there were a total of 639 passengers and crew members aboard the two planes, while the airlines reported a total of 645 aboard.

“All the survivors were aboard the American plane. Most of its passengers were from the West Coast of the United States.

“Both planes were on charter flights, loaded with vacationers.

“Hospital officials said most of the victims died of burns.

“Capt. Victor Grubb, the pilot of the Pan American plane, reported from his bed in Santa Cruz General Hospital that he was taxiing slowly down the main runway at the time of the collision. ‘The crew saw nothing right up to the moment of impact,’ Grubb said.

“The Dutch pilot died in the fiery collision, along with the 238 other persons aboard, KLM said. Most of them were Dutch.

“Investigators were en route to Tenerife from the United States, the Spanish mainland and the Netherlands to try to determine the cause of the collision. The U.S. Embassy in Madrid sent an eight-man delegation including a doctor, and three U.S. Air Force C130 transports were ordered from bases in Spain and West Germany to the Canaries to help move the dead and injured.

“However, the airport at Santa Cruz was closed by stormy weather today. All flights were landing at Las Palmas, on Grand Canary island, and those who could not wait were taking a 50-mile ferry ride to get to Tenerife.

“Police and medical workers worked through the storm recovering the shattered remains and trying to identify them. Bodies were being piled in an airport hangar.

“Pan American said its flight carried 396 persons, including 364 passengers who boarded in Los Angeles, 14 who boarded in New York, a crew of 16 and two other Pan Am employes. The airline said six crew members in addition to Capt. Grubbs were among the survivors….

“Both planes were bound for Las Palmas, on Grand Canary island….” (Gastonia Gazette, NC. “Plane Collision Kills Record 559.” 3-27-1977, p. 1.)

Mar 28: “Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands (AP) — The death toll from the fiery runway collision here of Pan American and KLM jumbo jets climbed to 580 in history’s worst aviation disaster, airline spokesmen said today.

“Most of the dead were believed to be Americans.

“A spokesman for Pan American in New York said 330 of the 396 persons aboard its Boeing 747 perished. A KLM spokesman at the airline’s headquarters in Amsterdam, said all 250 persons aboard its Boeing 747 died, including four Americans.

“Despite the airlines’ figures, Spanish officials on the island placed the death toll at 562. with 72 survivors, including 11 in very serious or grave condition. Pan American said there were 66 survivors aboard its aircraft.

“Most of those aboard the Pan American plane boarded in Los Angeles, officials said.

“There were conflicting reports on the cause of Sunday’s collision on the fog-shrouded runway. The Spanish news agency Cifra quoted airport sources as saying a misunderstanding of control tower directions by the American Pan Am pilot may have been a factor. But Spanish officials told a news conference the “key point of the investigation” was whether the KLM jet had permission to take off.

“KLM identified the four on the Dutch plane as Mr. and Mrs. Don Gillis, Mrs. Terry Twist and her 18-month old daughter Melissa, all from Rochester, N.Y. It said Gillis was production control manager for a Xerox plant in eastern Holland.

“The whole (American) plane was on fire and people were crying and screaming trying to get out,” said James Naik, 37, of Cupertino, Calif. “Within just a few seconds the metal started to come apart.”

“The Spanish news agency Cifra quoted airport sources as saying the flight recorder from the American plane showed the airport control tower had ordered Pan American pilot. Capt. Victor Grubbs of Centerport, N.Y., to move onto the main runway. The sources said the U.S. plane apparently misunderstood the order and taxied onto another runway where the KLM plane was taking off, Cifra said.

“But Manuel de Prado, president of the Spanish national airline Iberia, said the KLM plane had been ordered to taxi to the end of the main runway, turn 180 degrees and prepare for takeoff. The Pan Am plane was told to follow down the runway and turn off onto a taxiway. De Prado said he did not know whether the KLM plane had permission to take off. “This is the key point of the investigation,” said Tenerife Gov. Antonio Oyarzabal.

“Asked about a possible language problem, a spokesman for the control tower said the controllers talk to air crews exclusively in English.

“In New York, a Pan American spokesman said the airline expected “anything substantive” concerning the cause of the collision to come from a U.S. government investigating team sent to the crash site “and anything else we view with concern.”….

“[A] survivor, Roland Brusco Jr. of Longview, Wash., said the passengers were told the KLM jet
was to hold its departure while the Pan American plane taxied across the runway to await its turn for takeoff. “According to our pilot, the other plane was to hold at the other end of the runway.” Brusco told the Portland Oregonian newspaper by telephone. “We pulled out and followed them. Just as we got to the off ramp, where we would get out of the way, well, communications must have gotten mixed up.”

“He said the Pan American plane was taxiing when “all of a sudden we were turning and someone was screaming that KLM was taking off. Everyone was screaming.”

“John Hackette of Nashville, Tenn., said his fiancée, stewardess Joan Jackson, told him the Pan Am pilot saw the other jet “and tried to get out of his way but it was too late.”

“Those who survived the holocaust of fire and explosions were thrown from the plane on impact or managed to scramble to safely

“Investigators were en route to Tenerife from the United States, the Spanish mainland and the Netherlands to try to determine the cause of the collision. The U.S. Embassy in Madrid sent an eight-man delegation including a doctor, and three U.S. Air Force C130 transports were ordered from bases in the Canaries and West Germany to move the dead and injured.” (Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Hundreds Dead in Jet Collision.” 3-28-1977, p. 2.)

March 3, UPI: “Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Spain (UPI) — A Dutch investigator says a KLM pilot did not have permission to take off from a foggy runway that ended in the fatal collision with a Pan American jetliner. But KLM questioned the report. “There was no take-off clearance, which is not in accordance with normal procedures,” said F.A. Van Rysen, chief of the Dutch team investigating the fiery crash Sunday that killed 575 persons. Van Rysen said yesterday the Dutch captain merely said, “We are taking off,” and started the fatal run.

“He said the Pan Am captain, Victor S. Grubbs, apparently saw the disaster descending upon his craft and shouted a radio warning that “we are still on the runway.”

“In Madrid, the newspaper Pueblo said Grubbs’ words were: “This man is crazy. What is he doing? He is going to kill us all.”

“At the time of the crash, the Pan Am plane was on the runway taxiing to an access ramp. The KLM plane was to have waited at the end of the runway until the Pan Am plane was out of the way.

“In the Netherlands, KLM said in a statement, “It is unthinkable that the KLM pilot would have taken off without permission.” The airline demanded confirmation of the report from the tapes in the two planes’ flight recorders, which have not yet been analyzed.

“The latest casualty figures show 575 people died in the crash of the two Boeing 747 jetliners – the worst in aviation history. Both planes were filled with tourists heading either for the warm beaches of the Canaries or a shipboard cruise in the Mediterranean.

“Van Rysen’s statement came in a news briefing after he had joined U.S. and Spanish officials in the Canary Islands for a private review of tape recordings of the final moments of the tragedy. “We presume there was a misunderstanding in the KLM cockpit regarding the Pan American (plane’s) position on the runway,” he said.

“A Pan Am spokesman said the pilot of the American plane had radioed that he was still on the runway before the impact and “was using correct procedures given by the control tower.”

“As the 400-ton Dutch jetliner roared toward liftoff at 186 mph, it slammed into the Pan Am plane in a mushroom of explosions, flames and black smoke.

“About 70 people — all Americans — survived. Fifty-four of them left yesterday aboard a U.S. Air Force C141 Starlifter “flying hospital” for a flight to various medical facilities in the United States….” (Valley News, Van Nuys, CA. “Dutch prober says KLM pilot at fault.” 3-3-1977, 1-3)

Other Published Sources:

“The Tenerife airport disaster in 1977 was a collision involving two Boeing 747 passenger aircraft on the runway of Los Rodeos Airport (now known as Tenerife North Airport) on the Spanish island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. With 583 fatalities, the crash remains the deadliest accident in aviation history. All 248 aboard the fully-fuelled KLM Flight 4805 were killed. There were also 335 fatalities and 61 survivors from Pan Am Flight 1736, which was struck along its spine by the KLM’s landing gear, under-belly and four engines. Rescue crews were unaware for over 20 minutes that the Pan Am aircraft was also involved in the accident, because of the heavy fog and the separation of the crippled aircraft following the collision.

“The collision took place on March 27, 1977, at 17:06:56 local time. The aircraft were operating as Pan Am Flight 1736 (the Clipper Victor) under the command of Captain Victor Grubbs, and KLM Flight 4805 (the Rijn) under the command of Captain Jacob Veldhuyzen van Zanten. Taking off in heavy fog on the airport’s only runway, the KLM flight crashed into the top of the Pan Am aircraft backtaxiing in the opposite direction. The Pan Am had followed the backtaxiing of the KLM aircraft, under the direction of air traffic control, and the KLM’s flight crew had been aware of Pan Am backtaxiing behind them on the same runway. Despite lack of visual confirmation due to the fog the KLM captain thought that Pan Am had cleared the runway and so attempted to take off without further clearance to do so. Several other key factors contributed to the accident.

“For both planes, Tenerife was an unscheduled stop. Their destination was Gran Canaria International Airport (also known as Las Palmas Airport), serving Las Palmas on the nearby island of Gran Canaria. Both are in the Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain located in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Morocco.

“Pan Am Flight 1736 had taken off from Los Angeles International Airport with an intermediate stop at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. The aircraft was a Boeing 747–121, registration N736PA. Of the 380 passengers, 14 had boarded in New York, where the crew was also changed. The new crew consisted of Captain Victor Grubbs, First Officer Robert Bragg, and Flight Engineer George Warns; there were 14 other crew members. The same aircraft had operated the inaugural 747 commercial flight on January 22, 1970.

“KLM Flight 4805, a charter flight for Holland International Travel Group from the Netherlands, had taken off four hours before from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol….The aircraft was a Boeing 747-206B, registration PH-BUF. The KLM jet had 235 passengers and 14 crew members, including 48 children and three infants. Most of the KLM passengers were Dutch; four Germans, two Austrians, and two Americans were also on the plane. After the aircraft landed at Tenerife, a Dutch tour guide named Robina van Lanschot, who lived on the island in Puerto de la Cruz and wanted to see her boyfriend that night, chose not to re-board the 747, leaving 234 passengers on board.” (eNotes.com “Tenerife airport disaster.”)

Sources
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Database 1977. “Sunday 27 March 1977.” Accessed 7-7-2020 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19770327-0

Cornell, James. The Great International Disaster Book (Third Edition). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1982.

eNotes.com. “Tenerife airport disaster.”

Ferrara, Grace M. The Disaster File: The 1970’s. New York: Facts on File, 1979.

Gastonia Gazette, NC. “Plane Collision Kills Record 559.” 3-27-1977, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=77848076

Orange County Register, Santa Ana, CA. “County Suffers 53 Deaths in Canary Islands Crash.” 3-29-1977, p. 55. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=166298589

Orange County Register, Santa Ana, CA. “Pan Am Lists crash Victims.” 3-29-1977, p. C11. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=168140702

Project-Tenerife.com. “Passenger list of the Pan Am.” Accessed 11-25-2011 at: http://www.project-tenerife.com/engels/panampas.htm

Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “6 Star-News area residents among dead in crash of jets.” 3-29-1977, 57. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=48591330

Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Four from area on wrecked plane.” 3-28-1977, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=48591289

Star-News, Pasadena, CA. “Hundreds Dead in Jet Collision.” 3-28-1977, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=48591289

Valley News, Van Nuys, CA. “Dutch prober says KLM pilot at fault.” 3-3-1977, sec 1, p. 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=20483975