United Airlines is evil.
The judges were paid off.
The pilot made a scapegoat.
Absolutely disgraceful.

Nothing has changed.


Fantastic research and information, well narrated.

This book is top-notch in both writing and research. Whipple, with her journalist chops, serves up a delightful blend of investigation and storytelling. It's super easy to read, even for folks who aren't experts in the topic. Plus, she doesn't just cover the crash investigations, but also serves up some thrilling courtroom action. It's a total page-turner!

Thank you Netgalley for the Audiobook!!

"Crash Course" by Julie Whipple is a gripping and eye-opening exploration of the tragic events surrounding an ill-fated commercial flight. With meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Whipple takes readers on a harrowing journey through the events leading up to the crash and its aftermath.

Through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis, she delves deep into the factors that contributed to the disaster, from mechanical failures to human error. The book offers a comprehensive look at the complexities of air travel and the challenges faced by pilots, crew members, and passengers.

What sets "Crash Course" apart is its ability to recount the events of the crash and shed light on the broader implications for air travel safety.
While "Crash Course" offers a sobering look at the realities of air travel, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of safety protocols and measures. By sharing the stories of those affected by the crash, Whipple brings a human element to the narrative, making it informative and emotionally resonant.

Overall, "Crash Course" is an insightful and thought-provoking read that offers valuable lessons for aviation professionals and everyday travellers. I rate the book three out of five stars and highly recommend it to anyone interested in aviation history and safety.

A very interesting audiobook about what contributed to a tragic plane "accident". Very eye opening into the lengths these airlines went to cut corners in regard to maintenance. Also, captures the difficult legal battle the families faced to receive compensation for their injuries.

I was interested in this book so I requested it, but I did not think I would be so intrigued or invested in it as I was. Wow. You can really tell how much research went into this book and how much the author cared about getting the information correct. If you love nonfiction then run to get this. If you are not a big fan of nonfiction then try giving this a chance and see what you think.

This book reads like a true crime documentary, which is exactly why I requested it. It gives great detail of the crash, the technical failures and the experiences of all involved, even a follow up to present day. It is very well done.

What a book! You can tell the author felt very passionate about this story and did thorough research before writing it. She gave such great insight into the crash itself, but also everything leading up to it and the trial after. This entire story was entertaining (it feels morbid to say that) and held my attention. I highly recommend this one!

Thanks NetGalley and Post Hypnotic Press for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook.

This was a really fascinating story. I had never heard of this incident before because it happened before I was born but I find plane crashes like this one fascinating. I enjoyed the way the author formatted the book. It made the story very easy to understand and follow. The case itself was interesting and I think the discussion around the airlines liability was extremely fascinating. I enjoyed hearing about Whipple’s personal connection to the story as well. This would be a great read for anyone who has interest in aviation accidents.

This well researched and gripping account of United Flight 173 explores what happened on that fateful flight that crash landed in 1978, the immediate aftermath and unprecedented legal battles that ensued, as well as the long term personal impacts and traumas of all involved.

This book was structured in a really interesting way, walking the reader through the timeline and themes very clearly and deliberately. The play-by-play from the pilots and crew members during the flight before the crash was both fascinating and horrifying knowing what’s to come. The author handled the facts of the incident and subsequent investigations with respect. My only drawback is that the account of the legal proceedings ran a little long and technical.

Excellent narrator!

Thanks to NetGalley and Post Hypnotic Press for the ALC!

This is like sitting down to watch a really compelling documentary. I do find that this type of book - investigative can generally lean a little boring and too detailed. That wasn't the case here. The writer really struck a balance between good story telling and ensuring that all information details are conveyed in a way that makes sense to the reader/listener.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Excellent and heartbreaking account of United Flight 173 crash and the legal proceedings that resulted. This is one of those books that's hard to pick up because you don't actually want to know "how the meat is made," so to speak, but it's a truly an important read.

Ultimately, by the end, I'm not terrified to get on a plane (I've never had a fear of flying), but I will certainly bring a car seat instead of letting my babies fly as 'lap children.'

It's well written, surprisingly concise for a nonfiction such as this, and the audiobook narration is great too. Heather Henderson is clear and lends a gravity to the text while still sounding human. I was able to listen at a quick speed because she's so clear and crisp.

This book reminded me of reading Radium Girls by Kate Moore and Fire Underground by David DeKok. All 3 nonfiction books made me cry and rage and want to take care what goes on around me. Always treasure people over corporations!

Thank you to NetGalley and Post Hypnotic Press.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I had never heard of this 1978 crash in Portland, Oregon. Luckily, most of the passengers survived, but many suffered lifelong effects such as PTSD. The book discusses what happened and dives into the legal battles that followed. Whipple, the daughter of the lawyer who handled one such lawsuit, focuses mainly on her father's case, which involved the personal injury lawsuit of a small child injured in the crash. She lost her entire family (parents and two sisters) and was suffering from not only physical injuries but emotional and mental as well.

I thought the book was well-researched and well-written. Although it describes a horrific event, the author doesn't spend too much time on gory details, which is nice. Even though it was a nonfiction book, I was utterly invested in the outcome of little Lisa's trial. She suffered so much, and I wanted a good outcome for her. I rejoiced when the jury gave her compensation and was morally outraged by the airline's callous, reckless behavior.

Overall, this book seems like a good pick for readers who enjoy a mix of true crime, legal drama, and human interest stories, all presented in a well-written and informative way.

"Crash Course" by Julie Whipple delivers an impeccably researched and vivid account of the United Airlines flight 173 crash near Portland, Oregon, in December 1978. The level of detail in the book is so impressive that I found myself listening to the first half twice to absorb it all. As a criminal justice major, I was particularly fascinated by the case's development and its significant impact on aviation safety standards. Whether you're a history aficionado, legal enthusiast, or aviation buff, this book is sure to become a treasured addition to your library. #CrashCourse #NetGalley

My review of Crash Course by Julie Whipple. #CrashCourse #NetGalley on netgalley.com

The crash of United Airlines Flight 173 in Portland Oregon is investigated and retold in this interesting book written by the daughter of Stewart M. Whipple - the lawyer of one of the survivors' onboard.
I didn't know anything about the incident beforehand but was really pulled into the story while listening to the audiobook.
The level of detail was appreciated, as my interest in aviation history is taking off and just learning about planes in general is really fun for me. I enjoyed spending time in this book and can't really put my finger on why it isn't a five-star, maybe it's the fact that while reading a physical copy I'm forced (for better or worse) to actively read through every part of the book - whereas it's easier to glide past the less interesting parts while listening and I might have done that a few times with this, only that I don't remember what I missed.
I really enjoyed everything I learned about airline safety, and was outraged by how unethical airlines were/are willing to get to serve themselves financially. A really great piece of work! It gets 4 stars⭐️

A big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

An awesome account of the United 173 disaster told by the daughter of the lead prosecutor who fought to have the rights of passengers defended and the voices of victims heard. In recounting the events, Julie Whipple also sheds light on the perversions of justice that have occurred since the disaster with respects to judges ruling in favor of corporate interests over customer rights. A great read with connections to sociology, law, psychology, and engineering. Well-written and engaging throughout with great re-read value as a reference. Narration is clear and easy to follow.

Narrated by Heather Henderson.

Wow. This was far more captivating than I was expecting it to be!

It was a 'listen now' on Netgalley that I opted for mostly for lack of audio options. I was curious, but this gripped me immediately and I ended up really enjoying it.

It tells of United Flight 173, bound for Portland, Oregon, on December 28th, 1978. The plane crash-landed in a Portland neighbourhood, killing ten of the 189 on board. The crash had massive repercussions, not just for those involved directly but for aviation safety and cases of corporate vs consumer, among other things.

I do love my true crime, so the first part detailing the crash was fascinating. It was interesting to hear motivations behind decisions and what some of the thought processes were. This book does a great job of blending fact with storytelling, so it's never dry in delivery. The narrator helps bring the story alive with real people in the spotlight, and I did get quite invested in what happened to these people.

What follows the incident is a whole lot of finger-pointing and bureaucratic BS, and it's quite awful to listen to. There was negligence on the part of United Airlines, but as a large corporate entity they were more concerned in throwing money at making the problem go away. It never fails to distress me when I hear these stories of the justice system failing the people it's supposed to protect.

The layout of the book is fantastic - we get the incident, the practical consequences then finish with the personal impacts. It addresses the incident with respect to those involved, but doesn't shy away from calling out the wrongdoing either. It's a well-rounded, carefully researched account.

The narration was fantastic - a lively, easy to listen to voice that communicated the story brilliantly. It was essentially like listening to a crime podcast.

An intriguing, well told account that I'd easily recommend to true crime fans and those who enjoy similar podcasts.

With thanks to Netgalley for an audio ARC

After the crash landing of United flight 173, there were many questions, and one of the first was who was at fault. The captain, unfortunately, lost his career over the crash. With 189 people on board, and ten deaths, there were numerous inquiries as to what went wrong.
As time passed, there were some that settled out of court, but one, a young girl named Lisa, brought her case before the court - and it was set to be an explosive finding.
Given that there were several maintenance issues that had not been corrected, lax practices, and much more - it was only a matter of time before someone challenged the giant. United was posting record sales, sharing numbers with their investors, but why were they not putting this money back into planes? Why were they allowing issues to remain, instead of fixing them?
This and other questions would be ones that would have to be answered to in a court of law, and of course, would change the way that plane crash investigations would occur in the future.

I could not put this book down! I was hooked from the start. I enjoy the science behind the investigations into the crashes, what and why they happened. When crashes take lives, it is a horrific aftermath. The case of young Lisa and the practices of United Airlines was compelling and horrible all at the same time. Having lost her entire family in the crash, there were mental and physical issues that she would have to endure for many years.

Highly recommend this book!

I really enjoyed Crash Course by Julie Whipple, which tells the story of United Flight 173 crash landing into Portland, OR neighborhood. This booked hooked me on several levels, being the wife of a pilot who is heavily involved in training other pilots. I appreciated how Julie was able to convey complex details around flight training, flight procedure, airplane maintenance- to name just a few factors contributing to this crash. She also provided a thoughtful look at the widespread legal ramifications of the lawsuits following the crash. (I learned I am more pro tort law than I ever knew!) Finally, Crash Course provides a look at the human factors and responses of those in and impacted by the crash.

I was able to review this book in audio book format, it was easy to follow and informative. Thank you to Julie Whipple and Post Hypnotic Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was drawn in by the cover of this book. So when I read the description, it made me think that I was going to be reading, a suspenseful, gripping novel based on a true story. However, I was disappointed. I struggled to complete this book because it read like an article or documentary. It was very informative, but I felt like I was doing homework. It was not exciting to me at all. If it was marketed better, it would not have been disappointing. The cover and description are misleading in my opinion.

Review of “Crash Course: Accidents Don’t Just Happen” by Julie Whipple. Narrated by Heather Henderson.

Disclaimer: Please note that I received an ARC Audio version of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Crash Course: Accidents Don’t Just Happen” by Julie Whipple takes readers on a gripping journey into the heart of the United Flight 173 crash, revealing the untold stories of those affected and the legal battles that followed. Whipple’s engaging narrative, coupled with Heather Henderson’s skilled narration in the audiobook version, brings the harrowing events to life, making it accessible and captivating for all listeners.

Through meticulous research and interesting storytelling, Whipple unveils the layers of corporate negligence and the pursuit of justice, offering readers a deeper understanding of the tragedy’s impact. This book not only entertains but also educates, shedding light on the importance of safety regulations in the airline industry and the resilience of those seeking accountability.

“Crash Course” is a must-read for anyone interested in aviation history and legal dramas, offering a poignant reminder of the human stories behind catastrophic events and the quest for truth and justice. Whipple’s narrative resonates long after the last page, leaving readers with a newfound appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit.