Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio: Dan Rather) Report introduced.

(Denver, Colorado: Peter Van Sant) Ice on Continental Airline flight 1713 being determined as most likely cause of crash reported; details given, scenes shown. [Aeronautical engineer Richard SHEVELL - says it was very likely an ice-related accident.] [Aviation attorney Arthur WOLK - says plane was doomed because of the ice on the wings.] DC-9 being an older model called Series 10 and more sensitive to ice accumulation discussed. [National Trans. Safety Bd. James BURNETT - cites past accidents involving DC-9 Series 10 jets and ice.] 1985 crash in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, reviewed; scenes shown. NTSB report quoted on screen. Surviving passengers' comments regarding ice on wings of plane prior to takeoff quoted. [Survivor Robert LINCK - says he saw the ice forming again on the wings.] [Continental Airlines Bruce HICKS - says a passenger could not tell the difference between ice and snow on the wings.] Plane crash theory graphically depicted. Memorial service reported held for 27 killed in crash; scenes shown.

(Studio: Dan Rather) Report introduced.

(Denver, Colorado: Bob McNamara) Vulnerability of families grieving from loss of a loved one to charlatans reported Con-man John Irish posing as Denver, Colorado, priest featured; details given, scenes shown. [Denver police department detective Robert RATHBURN - describes John Irish.] August 1987 Detroit plane crash and Irish being photographed with police reviewed; scenes shown. Irish reported seen at Denver Airport Hospital looking for victims' families. [RATHBURN - explains Irish's scam.] Irish reported working for Deerfield Beach, Florida, lawyer Robert Brimmel; scenes of Florida offices shown. Irish being ordained by San Diego, California, Emmanuel Church Home Min. of Salvation mail- order church discussed. Irish's comments that he worked at the Denver Church of the Good Shepherd quoted. [Good Shepherd Church Reverend John ANDERSON - says he does not know John Irish and it is tragic that charlatans prey on suffering people.] Multimillion dollar settlements after air tragedies noted. Washington, DC advice kit for victims' families discussed. [Help Abolish Legal Tyranny George MILKO - says lawyers try to scare people into filing lawsuits immediately.] Denver, Colorado, detectives reported searching unsuccessfully for John Irish among mourners at memorial service.