Piedmont Airlines Flight 349 was scheduled to operate a passenger flight from New York City to Charlottesville, Virginia, on the evening of October 30, 1959. The aircraft, a Lockheed L-188 Electra, was carrying 24 passengers and 3 crew members when it approached Charlottesville–Albemarle Airport. As it neared its destination, the flight experienced difficulties due to turbulence and elevation changes associated with the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains. Despite the pilots' efforts to stabilize the flight, the aircraft crashed approximately 3 miles from the airport in a wooded area. Authorities were quick to respond, but only one passenger, a flight attendant, survived the impact, while 26 others tragically lost their lives.The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) launched an investigation following the incident, which revealed that the aircraft had encountered both severe weather conditions and issues related to pilot response during the unstable approach. The findings pointed to a need for enhanced training for pilots regarding poor visibility and mountain flying. Moreover, this accident underscored the importance of improving safety protocols within the airline industry, leading to scrutiny of existing aviation regulations and practices. The event marked a turning point in how airlines prioritized passenger safety through training and technological advancements in navigation and weather forecasting.