United Airlines Flight 553 crashed into a row of bungalows on West 70th Place, in Chicago, while approaching Midway Airport on Dec. 8, 1972, killing 43 of the 61 persons aboard, and two in a home. The plane left Washington, D.C., for Omaha and was about to make a planned stop in Chicago when the pilot was instructed by the control tower to execute a "missed approach" pattern. As he went around for another landing attempt, the plane struck tree branches and then some bungalows before plowing into the home of Veronica Kuculich. She and her daughter, Theresa, died.
Also killed in the crash was U.S. Rep. George Collins, who represented a West Side Chicago district. His death set the scene for his wife, Cardiss Collins, to take his seat in Congress. The wife of Watergate conspirator Howard Hunt was also one of the victims, and she was carrying $10,000 in cash in a briefcase. After the money was found in the debris, there was concern that it might have been linked to the financial dealings surrounding the President Richard Nixon slush fund to which defendants in the Watergate case had access. That gave rise to speculation that the crash might have been sabotage. But the NTSB ultimately ruled the crash was due to pilot error.
Firefighters work at the scene where United Airlines Flight 533 crashed into a row of bungalows on West 70th Place while approaching Midway Airport. — David Nystrom, Chicago Tribune
Firefighters work at the scene where United Airlines Flight 553 crashed into a row of bungalows on West 70th Place while approaching Midway Airport in Chicago. — Walter Neal, Chicago Tribune
Firefighters work at nose section of United Airlines Flight 553 to rescue crash victims. — David Nystrom, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 8, 1972
Surviving stewardess Marguerite McCausland is carried from the wreckage of the United Airlines jet crash in Chicago on Dec. 8, 1972. She was rescued from the front end of the aircraft. Her rescuer, John "Duke" O'Malley, a Chicago firefighter, who's face is visible in the top right part of the photograph, helps to carry her to safety. — Don Casper, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 8, 1972
Firefighters work at the scene where United Airlines Flight 553 crashed into a row of bungalows on West 70th Place while approaching Chicago Midway Airport. — David Nystrom, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 8, 1972
Dorothy Cuculich, of 3724 70th Pl., walks with police officers at the scene of the United Flight 553 crash. Cuculich's mother, Veronica, and sister, Theresa, were killed when the jetliner crashed into their house. — Don Casper, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 8, 1972
Firemen work to free a stewardess whose screams they can hear from the cockpit of United Airlines Flight 553 that crashed into a row of bungalows while approaching Midway Airport in Chicago. — Don Casper, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 8, 1972
Doctors in the area of the United Airlines plane crash respond immediately in a desperate attempt to save lives. At Holy Cross Hospital a team of emergency workers hurried to aid victims brought from the scene of the tragedy. — Roy Hall, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 8, 1972
Somber, stunned relatives of passengers of United Airlines Flight 553 maintain a vigil at the Cook County morgue, awaiting word of the fate of their loved ones. The jetliner crashed approaching Midway Airport, killing 43 of the 61 persons aboard and two in a home. — Jack Mulcahy, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 8, 1972
Firefighters work at the scene where United Airlines Flight 553 crashed into a row of bungalows on West 70th Place. — Ovie Carter, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 8, 1972
Officials, rescue teams and investigators work at the scene where United Airlines Flight 553 crashed into a row of bungalows on West 70th Place. — John Bartley, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 8, 1972
Firemen unload the body of one of the United Airlines crash victims at the Cook County morgue. — Jack Mulcahy, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 8, 1972
The wreckage of United Airlines Flight 553 smolders in the neighborhood of West 70th Place after crashing into a row of bungalows while approaching Midway Airport. — Ovie Carter, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 8, 1972
A photograph taken the day after the crash of United Airlines Flight 553 shows where the jetliner crashed into a row of bungalows on West 70th Place while approaching Midway Airport. 43 of the 61 persons aboard, and two in a home, were killed. — William Kelly, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 9, 1972
The interior of the United Airlines Flight 553, near the tail, is studied by fire officials after the crash. — David Nystrom, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 9, 1972
Members of the National Transportation Safety Board arrive on the scene of United Airlines crash. The instrument panel, with speed gauge stopped at 140 knots. — David Nystrom, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 9, 1972
A postal inspector finds a piece of mail at the United Airlines crash site, two days after the crash. — Quentin Dodt, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 10, 1972
Investigators continue to work at the scene where United Airlines Flight 553 crashed into a row of bungalows on West 70th Place while approaching Midway Airport two days before. — James Mayo, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 10, 1972
Wreckage of United Airlines Flight 553 sits in the 3700 block of West 70th Place, two days after the jetliner crashed into a row of bungalows near Midway Airport. — Quentin C. Dodt, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 10, 1972
Workmen load parts of wreckage of United Airlines Flight 553 onto truck for removal to a hangar where federal investigators will try to determine the cause of the Dec. 8 crash. — Hardy Wieting, Chicago Tribune, Dec. 11, 1972
The home of Joseph Tworzydlos, 3716 W. 70th Pl., seen on Dec. 10, 1972, sits next to where the United Airlines Flight 553 crashed two days before while approaching Midway Airport. The Tworzydlos were the only family to remain in their damaged home. — Quentin Dodt, Chicago Tribune
