On The Colorado - Articles

Interviews about the modern history of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau

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THE AIRCRAFT COLLISION OF 1956 IN GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Near the confluence of the Colorado River and the Little Colorado River. This incident is why the Federal Aviation Administration was founded in 1958.

2023 - Grand Canyon Midair Collision TWA and United Air Lines, June 30, 1956. Spamer.
Read about this tragic incident at Wikipedia.
Visit this site on You Tube for additional history.

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Note: the files are listed alphabetically by first name.

Don Ranney interview on August 20, 2023. After serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1956, Don joined the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA) and was a trainee at the Los Angeles Airport control center. on July 1, 1956, the day following the TWA and United airlines collision over the Grand Canyon, the worst accident in U.S. civil aviation history at the time.

Audio - Don Ranney on 20 August 2023. mp3
Transcript - not available.
Release Form - Don Ranney. pdf

Ellen, Douglas and Karen Hudgin and 11 interviews in the spring of 2024. The Hudgin family operated Grand Canyon Airlines. Henry and Palen Hudgin (brothers) located the crash sites of the two missing aircraft.

Audio - March 7, 2024. mp3.
Audio - March 25, 2024. mp3.
Audio - April 8, 2024. mp3.
Audio - April 15, 2024. mp3.
Audio - April 23, 2024. mp3.
Audio - May 6, 2024. mp3.
Audio - May 7, 2024. mp3.
Audio - May 9, 2024. mp3.
Audio - May 13, 2024. mp3
Audio - May 14, 2024. mp3.
Audio - May 20, 2024. mp3.
Transcripts - not available.
Release Form - Douglas Hudgin. jpg.
Release Form - Ellen Hudgin. jpg.
Release Form - Karen Hudgin. jpg.

Ervin, David and Raymond Cook
Ervin Cook, brother of David Cook, and Ervin's nephew Raymond Cook, recall David Cook who perished in the 1956 TWA United Disaster.

Audio - Ervin and Raymond Cook on 18 February, 2016. mp3.
Transcript - Ervin and Raymond Cook. pdf.
Release Form - Cook Family. pdf.

Etta Jang and her children Dana and Deeana recall husband/father James Jang, who perished in the 1956 TWA United Air Disaster.

Audio - Etta, Dan and Deeana Jang interview of 29 June, 2016. mp3.
Transcript - Etta, Dana and Deeana Jang. pdf.
Release Form - Etta, Dana and Deeana Jang. pdf.

Janice McElroy recounts the loss of her mother and father, Mildred R. Crick Hatcher and William W. Hatcher, who perished in the 1956 TWA United Air Disaster. At Janice's request and direction, this transcript has been edited and there is no recording. We greatly appreciate Janice taking the time to do this.

Audio - not available.
Transcript - Janice McElroy Interview of 30 June, 2016. pdf.
Release Form - Janice McElroy. pdf.

Lisa Kaichen recalls her father, Noel Gottesman, who perished in the 1956 TWA United Air Disaster

Audio - Lisa Kaichen interview of 30 June, 2016. mp3.
Transcript - Lisa Kaichen interview. pdf.
Release Form - Lisa Kaichen. pdf.

Paul and Barbara Schnur Interviews of 2014 and 2019

Audio of 2014 - Paul and Barbara Schnur interview of 04 August 2014. mp3.
Audio of 2019 - Paul Schnur interview of 23 February 2019. mp3.
Transcript of 2014 -Paul and Barbara Schnur transcript of 04 August, 2014. pdf.
Transcript of 2019 - Paul Schnur transcript of 23 February, 2019. pdf.
Release Form of 2014 - Paul and Barbara Schnur in 2014. pdf.
Release Form of 2019 - Paul Schnur in 2019. pdf.

Ray Lasby Family
Cathy Natall and and Lea Garcia are daughters of Ray Lasby and recall their father who died in the 1956 TWA United air disaster.

Audio - Family of Ray Lasby interview on 30 June, 2014. mp3.
Transcript - Family of Ray Lasby. pdf.
Release Form -

Raymond and Christa Cook
Ray and Christa Cook recall Ray's father David Cook who perished in the 1956 TWA United mid-air collision over Grand Canyon.

Audio - Family of Raymond Cook interview on 30 June, 2014. mp3.
Transcript - Family of Raymond Cook. pdf.
Release Form - Family of Raymond Cook. pdf.

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THE FRIENDSHIP CRUISE
Founded in 1957 by the Canyon Country River Marathon Association and mostly by residents in the cities of Moab and Green River in eastern Utah. In 1964 the US Congress established Canyonlands National Park. This event is held over the Memorial Day weekend when the snowmelt from the Rocky Mountain Province is underway. The high water minimized navigation problems related to shallow water obstructions, such as sandbars, gravel bars, and driftwood snags. Since the advent of the "21st Century Drouight," this event has only occurred in the years of 2005 and 2010.

Paticipants begin the three day/two night event on the Green River at the boat ramp in the City of Green River (State Park campground) and ends on the Colorado River at the City of Moab boat ramp above the Colorado River Bridge. Total length of the trip is 184 miles. The distance going downriver from the the City of Green River to The Confluence with the Colorado River is 120 miles. The distance up the Colorado River from The Confluence to the City of Moab is 64 miles. Typically the boats are hard hull craft that plane at speeds of about 20 to 30 miles per hour and propelled by outboard motors, which can be tilted for more effective operations in shallow sections of the river.

Harry Thompson from City of Green River, Utah