Montoursville Area High School – 700 Mulberry St – Montoursville, PA 17754
A New High School with a beautiful auditorium.
A history to share:
On July 17, 1996, TWA Flight 800 exploded over the Atlantic Ocean shortly after taking off from New York, killing all 230 people on board. The tragedy deeply impacted the small town of Montoursville, Pennsylvania, as 16 students and 5 chaperones from the local high school French club were on the flight.
The Tragedy and Local Impact
- The Flight: The Montoursville Area High School French Club students were headed to Paris, France, for a summer trip. All 21 Montoursville residents on the plane perished.
- Community Mourning: The loss of 21 people devastated the close-knit community. The town received national attention and global outpourings of sympathy following the sudden disaster.
- The Investigation:
Following the most extensive aviation investigation in U.S. history up to that time, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined the explosion was caused by flammable fuel vapors in the center fuel tank, likely ignited by a short circuit.
Montoursville Memorial: A dedicated monument and angel statue sit behind Montoursville Area High School to honor the 21 victims from the town. Another major memorial is located at Smith Point State Park on Long Island, New York, closer to the crash site.
- Ongoing Traditions: The community continues to honor the lives lost through local scholarships, random acts of kindness on the crash anniversary, and periodic memorial runs and walks hosted by the school’s cross-country team.
On a personal side note from Judy: – My niece, Krista Shellenberger, was President of the French Club that took that trip. Because she could not afford the trip, her life was spared because she was NOT on that plane.