Tragedy in Penndel
Bucks Co., Pa.
Sept. 20, 1968

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Penndel is a quiet little borough in Lower Bucks Co. While most traffic passes by it on the two main highways in the area, I-95 to the east or Rte. 1 to the north, Business Route 1 (Lincoln Highway) still passes right through it.

Back in the 1960's, before the other two highways were built, the Lincoln Highway was the main road through the area.

One of the best places back then to get a good meal was at Jim Flannery's restaurant at Lincoln Highway and Durham Road.

Flannery's had been open for many years. They always served a good meal and drink. And due partly to their location (right in the center of town), they always had a thriving business.

Lockheed Constellation
Then, in 1968, Jim Flannery got an idea. That was when he purchased a real, full-size, Lockheed Constellation airliner and had it trucked to his restaurant. The Constellation is a 40-passenger, 4-engine, propeller-driven airplane.

He then had the plane placed on columns directly overtop of the restaurant and had a staircase built to it. Keeping the cockpit and interior of the plane intact, he turned it into a lounge with comfortable seats and small tables.

He re-opened the restaurant as Flannery's Constellation Lounge, complete with "stewardesses" (waitresses). Patrons could sit in the restaurant or climb the staircase to the lounge inside the airplane.

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Jim Flannery's Constellation Lounge
The airplane was low on the Penndel horizon, only about 20 feet off the ground over the one-story restaurant, but it still dominated the skyline.

Because of a turn in the road, the airplane seemed to be landing on Lincoln Highway.

Driving towards the intersection from the west, it was an un-nerving sight for the uninitiated. It seemed to be heading straight for you.

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The Grand Opening of Flannery's Constellation Lounge was scheduled for Fri., Sept 20, 1968. The restaurant was actually open for business a few weeks before, but Jim planned an extravaganza this Friday, to celebrate.

Suzanne Flannery
Four hundred people attended the party. One of the events planned was a hot-air balloon ascension.

Robert Trauger, 29, of Keller's Church, near Lake Nockamixon, was an expert stunt pilot. He also was an accomplished hot-air balloonist.

He set up his balloon in the parking lot of Flannery's restaurant that morning.

One of Flannery's "stewardesses", 23-year-old Suzanne Flannery (no relation to Jim) was chosen to join Trauger in the balloon's ascension. Suzanne was a resident of Levittown and mother of two children. She was "thrilled" about her upcoming flight and anxious to enjoy it.

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Suzanne with Jim Flannery
in the Foreground
Shortly after 10am that morning, the balloon was ready.

With a crowd of 400 onlookers and all of the local newspeople watching, Suzanne Flannery donned a helmet. She was assisted into the balloon's basket by Jim Flannery and Robert Trauger who was already inside.

With cheers from the crowd, the balloon lifted its two passengers skyward. Suzanne waved to the crowd below as the balloon lifted 20...30...40 feet off the ground.

Then....!

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In front of 400 horrified onlookers, the balloon touched a high-tension line along Durham Rd.

Within a second, the line shorted out on the balloon's cables! It created a great flash and a loud "BOOM"!

It knocked out power in neighboring homes and businesses!

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And, while 400 people watched helplessly, it electrocuted the balloon's two passengers.

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To add to the horror, the arcing from the shorted power line cut through two of the four cables holding the basket to the balloon.

In front of the 400 horrified onlookers, the basket overturned, dumping it's two passengers to the street ... 40 feet below.

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Rescue workers ran to the two victims.

Robert Trauger took a few breaths, then stopped.

Suzanne....

They were both pronounced dead at Lower Bucks Hospital minutes later.

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The crippled balloon drifted off about two miles west before coming to earth in a field.

The police retrieved it and took it back to the Penndel Police station. There they inspected it for whatever knowledge they could gain.

No fault was found for the accident. Robert Trauger had cleared the flight with the proper authorities at the FAA. Both he and the balloon were certified for the flight.

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Flannery's Constellation Lounge closed for business, but re-opened a week later.

Eventually, the tragedy was forgotten, and the restaurant regained it's reputation as a great place to eat.

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Jim Flannery eventually sold the restaurant.

In the years to come, it re-opened a few times under different names, but never regained the reputation it once had.

The airplane continued to sit atop the restaurant, but was no longer open for business. It eventually became nothing more than an odd-looking attic to store supplies. It slowly deteriorated through non-use.

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In the 1990s, the restaurant went out of business for the last time.

In 1997, the building was razed and the airplane was dismantled and taken to Dover Air Force Base to be restored.

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Now, an Amoco gas station and 'Split Second' shop sit on the site that once held one of the Lincoln Highway's most famous sights.

Atop the Amoco sign on the corner of the Lincoln Highway and Durham Rd. is a five-foot-long replica of a Lockheed Constellation.

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Suzanne Flannery is survived by her two children. Catherine Flannery Fitzgerald was 2 years old at the time of this incident. Shane Flannery was 5 years old.

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Lift-Off A Moment Before...

Empty Balloon Drifting West

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Created - Tues. Sept 23, 2003
Revised - Sun, July 22, 2007

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