Drury Inn's Room 416 is mute tribute to those who died in C-130 crash

The door to what would be Room 416 stands numberless in mute tribute to nine people who died 20 years ago Monday, when a fireball of searing hot aviation fuel roared through the windows afterwards a plane crashed into Jojos restaurant at once door. A maid at the North Side hotel said last week her master key will not open the room, which is used for storage.

The events of two decades ago

Looking back at the events of two decades ago, Jackson takes special pleasure in what she calls P and I Supply's robust recovery.

Company President Bruce Stallings, who lost a brother in the C-130B disaster, did not return a telephone message seeking comment. Jackson said she and Capodagli reconnected with him recently.

The impact created a crater eight feet deep

"The impact created a crater eight feet deep and 12 feet across ... and broke windows across the center portion of," the report stated.

Cook, at the time as now a bookkeeper at M&M Auto Service on North Heidelbach Avenue, recalls being jolted out of her morning routine by what she, too, thought was an earthquake.

"It went, 'Boom!', at the time the desk shook. The floor shook. The whole building shook," she said. "We lost all power - computer, phones, everything was down.

"When he ran, I ran nevertheless I was in sort of a classic traditional business suit as well with heels and nylons, in short I was blown out of the room because that split-second made all the difference in the world," she said. "I didn't run out of the room; I was blown out of the room."

"I don't recall seeing C-130s in here for years," said Doug Joest, the airport's manager. "I think about three or four years ago one came through, and it flew some practice approaches and left. I think we might have gotten one phone call because people recognized it."

The U.S. Fire Administration report found much to commend in the way local emergency responders made use of what was at the time a relatively new $2.8 million radio system that operated at 800 megahertz. The radio system had multiple talk groups that allowed dispatchers to send police, fire and sheriff's officers on separate daily calls while all in all responding to the tragedy.

Lynn Jackson, now 56, went on to write two successful business books with Capodagli, with whom she heads up Capodagli Jackson Consulting.

"Every day, I realize how fortunate I am to be with people who love and support me; have a thriving business; and enjoy all the beauty that life has to offer."