Plane Crash Stories

About Plane Crash Stories

Every plane crash leaves a story, but some leave a mystery: how did someone survive when no one else did? Plane Crash Stories delves into the incredible true accounts of the sole survivors of aviation disasters. We meticulously reconstruct the events, the critical decisions, and the sheer luck or resilience that allowed one person to walk away from unimaginable devastation. From mechanical failures to pilot errors, each episode of Plane Crash Stories explores the chilling details of these incidents, focusing on the human element amidst the chaos. We examine the 'how' and 'why' of survival, offering a unique perspective on the aftermath of these catastrophic events. This podcast is a deep dive into the psychology of survival and the extraordinary circumstances that defy the odds. New episodes are published daily, Monday through Sunday, at 4:00 AM EST, ensuring a fresh story to captivate you every morning. Each episode is a standalone narrative, thoroughly researched to bring you compelling and accurate accounts. This podcast is for anyone fascinated by true survival stories, aviation history, and the indomitable human spirit. If you're drawn to narratives where one person miraculously escapes the impossible, Plane Crash Stories is your next listen. Subscribe now and uncover the untold tales of those who defied fate.

Publisher

OBOMEDIA ENTERTAINMENT

Category

history · leisure · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Sept 2026

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

83 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   The twin empty seats that arrived at his daughter’s party

   The twin empty seats that arrived at his daughter's party An eighty-year-old man waits for two sons who boarded a small plane to fly to their sister's fortieth birthday party. Behind that afternoon lies a life that had already survived a cockpit shot down over Tobruk, a fence at Stalag Luft III, and the floor of the House of Commons — but nothing in eighty years had prepared him for what didn't arrive. What does a man do with a life this full when the people who gave it meaning are taken from him one by one? In this episode, we trace Aidan Crawley's path from a record-breaking cricket career at Oxford and Lord's through wartime intelligence work, imprisonment, Parliament, and British television, asking how one man's extraordinary public life sat alongside private losses almost too heavy to name. Person: Aidan Merivale Crawley Location: Buckinghamshire and the skies over Tobruk, Silesia, and Britain Date: summer 1988 Case: the small plane carrying his two sons that never landed Status: both sons died; Crawley died in 1993, described as virtually penniless - In the 1926 Eton v Harrow match at Lord's, an 18-year-old Crawley scored 87 runs, which Wisden called the best innings in the match for many years - Shot down near Tobruk in July 1941, he was held at Stalag Luft III in Silesia and was inside the camp during the March 1944 mass escape, in which 50 of the 76 escapees were shot on Hitler's orders - He won Buckingham for Labour in the 1945 election, serving as Under-Secretary of State for Air, later crossed to the Conservatives and won West Derbyshire in a 1962 by-election - He became the first editor-in-chief of Independent Television News in 1955, introducing the American-style newscaster format to British screens - In summer 1988, his sons Andrew (41) and Randall (38) died when their small plane failed to arrive at sister Harriet's 40th birthday party; both men's wives were seven months pregnant at the time To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

2. 

   14 Oct 2026

   The ruptured fuel line that forced him down and lost his reconnaissance

   A naval aviator makes history with the first reconnaissance flight in a fleet engagement, but his reports never reach admirals. His country later locks him away. The ruptured fuel line that forced him down and lost his reconnaissance This episode explores the story of Frederick Joseph Rutland, a pioneering naval aviator whose early reconnaissance efforts and innovations in carrier aviation were unprecedented. It delves into the extraordinary events of his career and the mysterious circumstances that led to his later imprisonment without charge. Person: Frederick Joseph Rutland Date: May 30, 1916 Location: North Sea Aircraft: Short Type 184 Event: Battle of Jutland - Frederick Joseph Rutland joined the Royal Navy as a boy seaman at age fourteen in 1901. - At Jutland, he conducted the first heavier-than-air aircraft reconnaissance of an enemy fleet during active battle. - After his fuel line ruptured, Rutland repaired it himself in the North Sea and signaled he was ready to re-launch. - The day after Jutland, Rutland went against orders to rescue a man who fell between two ships, earning him the Albert Medal in Gold. - In 1917, Rutland performed the first successful aircraft launch from a flying-off platform mounted on a gun turret. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

3. 

   13 Oct 2026

   A Rain-Dampened Stall Speed Rose Fast Enough to Strangle Takeoff

   A seven-year-old pilots a Cessna into a rain-soaked takeoff at Cheyenne-will the pilot’s plan survive worsening weather and rising stall speed? A Rain-Dampened Stall Speed Rose Fast Enough to Strangle Takeoff In this episode, we follow the flight plan, decisions, and conditions that led a small single-engine Cessna to depart Cheyenne Regional Airport into heavy rain. The narrative traces who was aboard, how the trip was organized, and the technical and regulatory details that shaped those final minutes - and asks whether those choices made the takeoff survivable. Person: Jessica Whitney Dubroff, age seven Person: Lloyd Dubroff, age fifty-seven Person: Joe Reid, flight instructor and pilot Date: April 11, 1996; departure 08:24 Aircraft: 1975 Cessna 177B Cardinal, registration N35207 - The flight was publicized nationwide with media briefings, ABC providing a camera and souvenir apparel prepared for a coast-to-coast "Sea to Shining Sea" journey. - Jessica had logged 33+ hours of flight time and trained with dual controls, but held no FAA medical, student, or pilot certificate. - Joe Reid filed a VFR flight plan despite contacting a weather briefer who confirmed deteriorating conditions and an ATC declaration of IFR at Cheyenne. - The aircraft departed overweight by 96 pounds with four people's luggage aboard, and rain increased stall speed by about 1.5%. - Takeoff performance: a high nose attitude, slow climb, gradual right turn, then a near-vertical descent less than a mile from the runway threshold. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.

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