Andrew Warde High School Film Students Witnessed Deadly New York Helicopter Accident Atop Pan Am Building 32 Years Ago Today

Fifteen Andrew Warde High School students who visited New York City 32 years ago today for a documentary film workshop were thrust into a "crash course" by recording a real-life tragedy first-hand. The seniors were on a field trip as part of their study of "Understanding Film."

After a day of filming tranquil scenes and landmarks throughout New York City, including the Statue of Liberty, the 19-member group found itself directing movie cameras at the horror of the aftermath of a tragic helicopter accident atop the Pan Am building, Monday, May 16, 1977.

"It had a sobering effect on the day, but an interesting one," recalled teacher Sheila Fenerty of Westport. Mrs. Fenerty, the 15 seniors in the class, and three chaperones had just finished a meal at a 42nd street restaurant when they were attracted by a commotion of people running toward the nearby accident scene.

"We looked up toward the Pan Am building and saw part of a propeller sticking out of a window about a third of the way up the building," she said. Mrs. Fenerty said the students had exhausted their supply of super eight movie film at that point in the day, but they purchased more and recorded the action around the building.

The helicopter passengers had paid $25 to ride a 30-seat Sikorsky S-61 from midtown Manhattan to Kennedy International Airport. The flight was to last 10 minutes. Several passengers had already boarded the aircraft and a dozen stood waiting when a landing-gear attachment malfunctioned.

The helicopter began to tilt, its blades cutting into some of the passengers in line. Four people waiting in line to board were killed. Parts of the helicopter rotors ricocheted from the roof of the building, soaring nearly two blocks and killing a pedestrian on the corner of 43rd street and Madison Avenue 59 stories below. An additional 13 people were injured.

A witness described the terrible scene in a New York Times article: “There was nothing but screaming and metal glass flying.” Another bystander reported, “Everyone threw themselves on the floor. There was blood all over everyone.”

I'm sure Sheila Fenerty and her fifteen students from Andrew Warde High School will never forget their field trip to New York City on Monday, May 16, 1977.

Paul

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