Steve Eller Creative – Worship, Web Design – San Diego, CA

30 Years Ago Today – PSA 182

// September 25th, 2008 // misc

It was on this day in 1978 that PSA flight 182 crashed after colliding with a Cessna aircraft over San Diego killing all on board the two aircraft, as well as 8 on the ground. The worst U.S. air disaster at that point in time.

This is something I will never forget. It was a hot September day, and I was home sick from school. It was so hot, San Diego City Schools were actually let out half day because of the heat. I remember the news of the crash spread quickly, and we could see the huge plume of smoke from our house about 9 miles away. I also recall my cousin, who had recently moved to San Diego, calling my mom from her house a couple of blocks away from the crash scene, and being totally hysterical. It was also rumored that a teacher at our school had part of the Cessna fall through his house.

Today on my way home from our kid’s camp in Chula Vista I had to stop and get gas on University Ave., off the 805 which is close to where the plane crashed. I heard that they were having memorials today, so I decided to drive over and see what was going on. It was really strange. There were about 10-15 people standing in the street at Dwight and Nile just looking around.

Even after 30 years, people are still trying to come to grips with what happened that day.

Here is a story about the 30 year anniversary.

Please share your comments if you were here.