Dennis E. Fitch
Dennis E. Fitch, Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 19, 1942 |
| Died | May 7, 2012 (aged 69) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Duquesne University |
| Occupation | Pilot |
| Employer | United Airlines |
| Known for | United Airlines Flight 232 incident, Motivational speaking |
| Spouse | Rosa Fitch |
Dennis Edward "Denny" Fitch, Sr. BS (December 19, 1942 – May 7, 2012) was an American commercial airline pilot. He was best known for his critical actions as an off-duty McDonnell Douglas DC-10 training captain who helped captain Alfred Haynes minimize loss of life on United Airlines Flight 232, when all flight controls were lost, on July 19, 1989. Fitch used differential throttle adjustment to steer the airliner to an oblique crash-landing at Sioux Gateway Airport, in Sioux City, Iowa, resulting in the survival of 184 out of 296 on-board.[1][2] After the crash, in which he was injured, he returned to flying duties with United Airlines.[3]
He was commended by then-President George H. W. Bush and in Senate Resolution 174 of the 101st United States Congress, as a result of his feat.[4]
A safety consultant to NASA as a member of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, he was also president of his own aviation consulting firm, specializing in Cockpit Resource Management and human factors, and gave motivational presentations to corporate groups and associations on teamwork, drawing on his experience on Flight 232.[4]
He was formerly a pilot in the Air National Guard, and attended Duquesne University and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree.
Fitch was interviewed by Errol Morris about United Airlines Flight 232 for the documentary series First Person.[5] He also appeared on episodes of Mayday and Seconds from Disaster that featured United Airlines Flight 232.
Fitch was diagnosed with brain cancer in January 2010,[6] and succumbed to it on May 7, 2012 at his home in St. Charles, Illinois.[7][8]
References
- ^ http://www.airdisaster.com/eyewitness/ua232.shtml
- ^ http://www.transportationheroes.org/heroDetail.aspx?id=550
- ^ http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6733394440052230032#
- ^ a b http://www.agaviation.org/2009%20convention%20kickoff%20speaker.htm
- ^ Errol Morris' First Person: Leaving the Earth Retrieved 10 February 2011.
- ^ CBS News: Hero Pilot Faces Life's Turbulence
- ^ http://web.me.com/brianfitch/Denny_Fitch_Sr/Blog/Entries/2012/5/7_The_End_of_the_Journey.html
- ^ Babwin, Don. "Pilot who helped fly crippled jet in 1989 dies". The Associated Press. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
External links
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