A United Airlines Douglas DC-8-71

The Douglas DC-8 of United Airlines Flight 173, similar to above, was en route from Denver to Portland International Airport on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 1978. An alarm indicating a landing gear malfunction forced the plane to circle the Portland area 
while the problem was investigated by the crew. The big jet ran out fuel within an
hour and crash landed in a sparsely populated area near 157th and East Burnside, 
killing 10 and seriously injuring 24 of the 189 passengers who were aboard the jet..

  
Ross Simpson

Ed Danahue

The former Winecoff Hotel, now the Ellis Hotel

The Winecoff Hotel Fire was the deadliest hotel fire in United States history,
killing 119 hotel occupants, including the hotel’s owners. Located in downtown
Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the hotel was advertised as "absolutely fireproof." While
the hotel’s steel structure was indeed protected against the effects of fire, the
interior finishes were combustible, and the building’s exit consisted of a single
stairway serving all fifteen floors. All of the hotel’s occupants above the fire’s
origin on the third floor were trapped, and the fire’s survivors either were
rescued from upper-story windows or jumped into nets held by firemen.

The Winecoff Hotel fire was notable for the number of victims who jumped
to their deaths.