Permit me to take just one moment to introduce myself, and this page. I was recently told that there are no web pages or sites for the ghosts, the stories, the survivors, or just for those interested in Eastern Airlines Flight Number 401. Let me change all that -- there is now. (update: there is another site you can also visit to learn specifics about mechanical failures and events ... visit our Forum to find out more).

Here's some background: I run a ragtag Ghostories page -- now, now -- before you pass judgment, let me say that is how I was alerted to the fact that no pages for Eastern Airlines Flight 401 exist. It was in that Flight 401 Forum this became clear when it began to fill up with messages regarding everything from sightings to speculation to those who are seeking to find a Survivors page. And, when I realized there was a need for a Flight 401 web site, and since I design them for a living, I put up this page.

I have a sense of wonder, but also a feeling of sadness about this. If you have something to share, simply click on the Flight 401 Forum and post what you wish. It is very easy to do, but remember to hit refresh each time to see your new addition to our Forum.

As in any new endeavor this site won't happen overnight, but if any of you are familiar with my work on the Web, you will know that I pretty much "listen" to what a page tells me and follow its lead. I intend to do the same here. If you would like to send in suggestions simply use the email address above. And, if you like what I do, tell others....

Until we meet again,

Your Host,

~~ Keno

CVR transcript of the December 29, 1972
Accident of Eastern Flight 401,
a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar in the
Everglades near Miami, FL, USA.

23.32:35 RDO-1 Miami Tower, Eastern 401 just turned on final

23.32:45 TWR Who else called?

23.32:48 CAM-1 Go ahead and throw 'em out

23.32:52 RDO-1 Miami Tower, do you read, Eastern 401? Just turned on final

23.32:56 TWR Eastern 401 Heavy, continue approach to 9 left

23.33:00 RDO-1 Coninue approach, roger

23.33:00 CAM-3 Continuous ignition. No smoke CAM-1 Coming on CAM-3 Brake system CAM-1 Okay CAM-3 Radar CAM-1 Up, off CAM-3 Hydraulic panels checked CAM-2 Thirty-five, thirty three CAM-1 Bert, is that handle in? CAM-? * * * CAM-3 Engine crossbleeds are open

23.33:22 CAM-? Gear down CAM-? * * * CAM-1 I gotta CAM-? .....

23.33:25 CAM-1 I gotta raise it back up

23.33:47 CAM-1 Now I'm gonna try it down one more time CAM-2 All right

23.33:58 CAM [sound of altitude alert horn] CAM-2 (Right) gear. CAM-2 Well, want to tell 'em we'll take it around and circle around and # around?

23.34:05 RDO-1 Well ah, tower, this is Eastern, ah, 401. It looks like we're gonna have to circle, we don't have a light on our nose gear yet

23.34:14 TWR Eastern 401 heavy, roger, pull up, climb straight ahead to two thousand, go back to approach control, one twenty eight six

23.34:19 CAM-2 Twenty-two degrees. CAM-2 Twenty-two degrees, gear up CAM-1 Put power on it first, Bert. Thata boy. CAM-1 Leave the # # gear down tll we fid out what we got CAM-2 Allright CAM-3 You want me to test the lights or not? CAM-1 Yeah. CAM-? * * seat back CAM-1 Check it CAM-2 Uh, Bob, it might be the light. Could you jiggle tha, the light? CAM-3 It's gotta, gotta come out a little bit and then snap in CAM-? * * CAM-? I'll put 'em on

23.34:21 RDO-1 Okay, going up to two thousand, one twenty-eight six

23.34:58 CAM-2 We're up to two thousand CAM-2 You want me to fly it, Bob? CAM-1 What frequency did he want us on, Bert? CAM-2 One twenty-eight six CAM-1 I'll talk to 'em CAM-3 It''s right ........... CAM-1 Yeah, ............ CAM-3 I can't make it pull out, either CAM-1 We got pressure CAM-3 Yes sir, all systems CAM-1 # #

23.35:09 RDO-1 All right ahh, Approach Control, Eastern 401, we're right over the airport here and climbing to two thousand feet. in fact, we've just

23.35:20 APP Eastern 401, roger. Turn left heading three six zero and maintain two thousand, vectors to 9 Left final

23.35:28 RDO-1 Left three six zero

23.36:04 CAM-1 Put the ... on autopilot here CAM-2 Allright CAM-1 See if you can get that light out CAM-2 Allright CAM-1 Now push the switches just a ... forward. CAM-1 Okay. CAM-1 You got it sideways, then. CAM-? Naw, I don't think it'll fit. CAM-1 You gotta turn it one quarter turn to the left.

23.36:27 APP Eastern 401, turn left heading three zero zero RDO-1 Okay.

23.36:37 RDO-1 Three zero zero, Eastern 401

23.37:08 CAM-1 Hey, hey, get down there and see if that damn nose wheel's down. You better do that. CAM-2 You got a handkerchief or something so I can get a little better grip on this? Anything I can do with it? CAM-1 Get down there and see if that, see if that # thing ... CAM-2 This won't come out, Bob. If I had a pair of pliers, I could cushion it with that Kleenex CAM-3 I can give you pliers but if you force it, you'll break it, just believe me CAM-2 Yeah, I'll cushion it with Kleenex CAM-3 Oh, we can give you pliers

23.37:48 APP Eastern, uh, 401 turn left heading two seven zero

23.37:53 RDO-1 Left two seven zero, roger

23.38:34 CAM-1 To # with it, to # with this. Go down ans see if it's lined up with the red line. That's all we care. # around with that # twenty-cent piec CAM * * *

23.38:46 RDO-1 Eastern 401 'll go ah, out west just a little further if we can here and, ah, see if we can get this light to come on here

23.38:54 APP Allright, ah, we got you headed westbound there now, Eastern 401

23.38:56 RDO-1 Allright CAM-1 How much fuel we got left on this # # # # CAM-? Fifty two five CAM-2 (It won't come out) no way

23.39:37 CAM-1 Did you ever take it out of there? CAM-2 Huh? CAM-1 Have you evre taken it out of there? CAM-2 Hadn't till now CAM-1 Put it in the wrong way, huh? CAM-2 In there looks * square to me CAM-? Can't you get the hole lined up? CAM-? * * * CAM-? Whatever's wrong? CAM-1 (What's that?)

23.40:05 CAM-2 I think that's over the training field CAM-? West heading you wanna go left or * CAM-2 Naw that's right, we're about to cross Krome Avenue right now

23.40:17 CAM [Sound of click] CAM-2 I don't know what the # holding that # # # # in CAM-2 Always something, we coulda make schedule

23.40:38 CAM [Sound of altitude alert] CAM-1 We can tell if that # # # # is down by looking down at our indices CAM-1 I'm sure it's down, there's no way it couldnt help but be CAM-2 I'm sure it is CAM-1 It freefalls down CAM-2 The tests didn't show that the lights worked anyway CAM-1 That 's right CAM-2 It's a faulty light

23.41:05 CAM-2 Bob, this # # # # just won't come out CAM-1 Allright leave it there CAM-3 I don't see it down there CAM-1 Huh? CAM-3 I don't see it CAM-1 You can't see that indis ... for the nosewheel ah, there's a place in there you can look and see if they're lined up CAM-3 I know, a little like a telescope CAM-1 Yeah CAM-3 Well... CAM-1 It's not lined up? CAM-3 I can't see it, it's pitch dark and I throw the little light I get ah nothing

23.41:31 CAM-4 Wheel-well lights on? CAM-3 Pardon? CAM-4 Wheel-well lights on? CAM-3 Yeah wheel well lights always on if the gear's down CAM-1 Now try it

23.41:40 APP Eastern, ah 401 how are things comin' along out there?

23.41:44 RDO-1 Okay, we'd like to turn around and come, come back in CAM-1 Clear on left? CAM-2 Okay 23.41:47 APP Eastern 401 turn left heading one eight zero

23.41:50 CAM-1 Huh?

23.41:51 RDO-1 One eighty 23.42:05 CAM-2 We did something to the altitude CAM-1 What?

23.42:07 CAM-2 We're still at two thousand right?

23.42:09 CAM-1 Hey, what's happening here? CAM [Sound of click]

23.42:10 CAM [Sound of six beeps similar to radio altimeter increasing in rate]

23.42:12 .... [Sound of impact]

Anthony Pence Writes:
I just finished reading the flight log for flight 401 and I found it to be interesting. I'm wondering, though, if you are planning on including some stories (ghost stories, of course) regarding the crash. Years ago, I read the book about flight 401's ghosts and for the life of me, I can't really remember how the story went-- I can't even remember the correct title of the book or the author. But I am intrigued, and I would love to see some stories soon!!! Thanks!

Anthony: Yes, you're right! The time has come to invite folks to submit their Ghost Stories dealing with the subject of Flight 401! So for those of you who wish to submit a story for editing and review, just click the Submit Button Below and your story will be included for review as it is received! Thanks again, Anthony -- you are aces!

Submit Your Flight 401 Ghost Story
(Remember, we are looking for True Accounts and First Hand Encounters)