1961 JETLINER CRASH LED TO DENVER FIRE DEPARTMENT REFORMS

The fiery crash of a United Air Lines DC-8 jetliner at old Stapleton Airport led to reforms in the Denver Fire Department - including modern emergency vehicles, more personnel and a larger airport fire station.

The date was July 11, 1961 - the dawn of the jet age.

"The size and fuels of our airplanes has changed," Denver Fire Chief Allie Feldman said. "Our firefighting equipment has not."

At about 11:35 a.m., Flight 859, inbound from Omaha, spun, scraped and skidded off Runway 26 Left - after a seemingly normal touchdown - and exploded in flames. The four-engine DC-8 also crushed a truck killing its driver.

In all, 18 adults and children died in the mayhem and another 84 people were injured.

"When I went out the door, my hat was on fire," passenger Eva Hershel, 64, of Cedar Rapids, told the Associated Press

Ten minutes before touching down, the pilot reported a minor hydraulic problem and firefighters were placed on "stand-by" at the east end of the runway, standard procedure in such situations.

They chased the skidding DC-8 until it stopped.

Investigators blamed the crash on the failure of two engines to generate reverse thrust upon landing.

Today, the old airport is long gone, and the site of the runway is a pleasant residential neighborhood.

[Photos: Wikipedia]