Throwback Thursday: Frank Eugene Corder 1994
Thirty years ago, today, Frank Eugene Corder stole a Cessna 150 and crashed it on the South Lawn of White House. He did not survive.
Born in Perry Point, Maryland, he was the son of an aircraft mechanic. Dropping out of high school in the 11th grade, he enlisted in the Army in October 1974 and was stationed in Kentucky & Colorado, trained as a mechanic. Honorably discharged in 1975, he was a truck driver from 1976 until 1993. Arrested for theft & drug dealing in the same year, he spent 90 days in rehabilitation. His third wife left him, shortly thereafter.
Apparently, Corder wanted the attention of, then, President Bill Clinton. It was speculated that Corder was trying to emulate Mathias Rust. On September 11, Corder, severely intoxicated, stole the plane from Hartford County Airport and was picked up by radar at Reagan National Airport just minutes before he steered into the White House wall. He died on impact at 1:49am. This event brought procedures to the forefront, as Corder was in restricted airspace.
Clinton was not in the White House at the time, due to renovations. He was staying at the Blair House.
Additional:
♦ Frank Eugene Corder: Crashing His Cessna (History On The Net)
♦ Crash At The White House (NYTimes)
♦ Suicide Suspected In Plane Crash (Los Angeles Times).
Cosmic-Observation 
September 12, 2024 at 8:16 PM
While it’s rather tragic a man lost his life, it didn’t sound like a smart plan to attempt landing a plane in the yard of the White House. A helicopter may have been a better option. In fact, that’s what Kris Kristofferson did, except he landed a helicopter in Johnny Cash’s front yard since he wanted the Man in Black to cover “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” one of his songs. Cash ended up including it on his third live album from October 1970. It became the song’s most successful version!
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September 12, 2024 at 8:36 PM
I’m guessing he didn’t know how to fly a helicopter. Those things are so different from planes.
Why am I not surprised Kristofferson would do that. And, that is a great song. I am reminded of Sheb Wooley/Ben Colder.
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September 13, 2024 at 11:34 AM
What a poor messed up man
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September 13, 2024 at 1:41 PM
I agree. Sad.
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September 13, 2024 at 12:53 PM
I vaguely remember that incident. These days he wouldn’t have been able to make it nearly that far.
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September 13, 2024 at 1:44 PM
I didn’t recognize the name but, I remember the picture of the crumpled plane. I definitely didn’t remember Mathias Rust.
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September 13, 2024 at 9:20 PM
Lulu: “Our Dada says he forgot about this, but seeing this, he remembers now! Wow, I wonder what else Dada has forgotten. I hope he remembers to feed us …”
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September 14, 2024 at 12:04 AM
I’d forgotten about it, too. That is what happens when you get old. I doubt your Dada will forget to feed you. You are more important than old news from 1994. Don’t worry, Lulu.
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September 15, 2024 at 7:03 PM
What makes me weep is the loss of the Cessna 150. They don’t make them anymore. 😢
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September 15, 2024 at 10:23 PM
Oh, my. Good plane?
Glad to see you posting. I try to keep up.
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October 2, 2024 at 7:07 PM
Very small airplane with few instruments. Pilots bought them after flight instruction because they were so economical. They were classified as commuter planes.
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September 16, 2024 at 12:37 PM
Timely post based on the 2nd (technically 3rd) attempt on the political front. I had forgotten all about Frank’s attempt at recognition, attention, disturbution (if that is a word ha), but clearly alcohol is involved which tends to have a more dramatic affect on the unstable. Thanks for jogging a synapse long since in deep sleep.
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September 16, 2024 at 9:10 PM
I am a history nut and I like to dig for things like this. I think what you may be looking for is “perturb” or “perturbation?”
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