Investigation Summary
The flight was cruising at 39,000 feet and had recently deviated north to avoid thunderstorms when the explosion occurred at approximately 21:17. The blast, originating from a used towel bin in the right rear lavatory, caused an explosive decompression and immediate structural failure of the aft fuselage. The tail section separated, causing the remaining airframe to pitch down so violently that all four engines were torn from their mounts. The fuselage fell in uncontrolled gyrations, eventually striking an alfalfa field near Unionville, Missouri. Investigators found that the perpetrator, Thomas G. Doty, had purchased $300,000 in life insurance policies shortly before the flight. He had also purchased six sticks of dynamite and brought them onto the aircraft in a briefcase. One passenger initially survived the impact but died of internal injuries 90 minutes later.
Final Conclusions
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) determined the probable cause was the disintegrating force of a dynamite explosion in the right rear lavatory, which resulted in the destruction of the aircraft. The FBI investigation confirmed the event was a deliberate act of sabotage for the purpose of insurance fraud.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
The First Jetliner Bombing | Continental Airlines Flight 11 — A detailed look at the 1962 bombing of Continental Flight 11, the first time a commercial jetliner was destroyed by sabotage in the United States.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Fred R. Gray, age 50
First Officer
Edward J. Sullivan, age 41
Systems & Failure Modes
Rear Lavatory
The site of the bomb placement, specifically the used towel bin where the dynamite was detonated.
Empennage
The tail section of the aircraft which separated from the fuselage due to the force of the explosion.
Interesting Facts
- 01The perpetrator, Thomas G. Doty, was facing a preliminary hearing for armed robbery at the time of the crash.
- 02Doty purchased $150,000 in life insurance from Mutual of Omaha, plus additional airport-purchased policies, totaling $300,000.
- 03The aircraft was the first commercial jetliner to be destroyed by a bomb in the United States.
- 04Debris, including the engines and tail section, was found up to six miles away from the main fuselage impact site.
- 05The insurance policies were eventually voided after the death was ruled a suicide.
- 06The aircraft involved (N70775) had been the subject of a hijacking attempt to El Paso and Cuba on August 3, 1961, less than a year before the bombing.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Airport Security Screening
The accident highlighted the lack of security screening for passengers and luggage, eventually contributing to the implementation of stricter airport security measures in later decades.
FBI Jurisdiction and Investigation
Following this and other early 1960s bombings, the FBI increased its focus on insurance-related sabotage, leading to more rigorous background checks for high-value life insurance policies purchased at airports.