Ouachita Stories

It’s been 20 years since the Ouachita Singers, returning from a mission trip to Europe, crashed on the final leg of their trip in Little Rock on American Airlines Flight 1420. Survivors returned to Arkadelphia in June 2019 to mark the 20th anniversary of that night, June 1, 1999.

“The term ‘alma mater’ literally means nourishing mother,” said Ouachita President Ben Sells at the dinner opening the weekend’s events. “I hope this weekend will be nourishing and healing for each of you.”

Since the plane crashed, Ouachita faculty and staff have been caring for the group. From a retreat just one month after the crash to help students process and begin to heal to gatherings in the president’s home during the years that followed, the group continued to strengthen their bond. The university continued their care, even 20 years later, by hosting the June 2019 reunion, including a dinner on campus, photos in the Rachel Fuller and Ouachita Singers Memorial Amphitheater on campus and spending the anniversary day together at DeGray Lodge. The gathering was a time to share with each other through laughter and tears.

“Today I’m reminded that God’s strength is made perfect through weakness,” said survivor Tad Hardin (’99). “I didn’t always know what that meant. I didn’t always believe that people of faith were allowed to be broken. Twenty years after the crash, there’s still much more that I still don’t know. But I do know that I am blessed beyond measure to be alive … to be a husband, father, teacher, mentor … and to belong to a family of fellow survivors who are lifelong friends. Reconnecting with them this weekend fed my soul and reminded me that while our scars represent pain and sorrow, they also tell our story, and stories need to be shared.”

Attending survivors shared testimonies of how God had worked in their lives since the crash, the joy of marriages and children and thankfulness for the support of other survivors helping them make it through the crash and the years after.

“If the only reason I’m still here is to be a dad, then that is more than enough for me and the greatest privilege of my life,” shared Luke Hollingsworth (’02). “It’s amazing to look at the picture of our group and then a picture with our families. That is truly a picture of the blessing of these past 20 years and a reminder of the influence and impact each of us has had on the world around us.”

While the weekend was filled with fun memories of the mission trip the group was on before crashing on their return, there were also deep discussions of living with post-traumatic stress, struggling to get back on a plane and wrestling with their faith. They also honored the memories of friends who didn’t survive, fellow classmate James Harrison and Rachel Fuller, daughter of Singers director and accompanist Drs. Charles and Cindy Fuller.

“I have wrestled with the hard questions of faith,” shared Misha (Perkins ’01) Parker. “Even then, God kept His promise, ‘I will neither leave you nor forsake you.’ And after wading through disappointments and struggles, there have been many seasons when I finally experienced the peace that passes understanding.”

“This weekend has given me the wonderful opportunity to ponder all the many blessings God brought my way,” said Natalie (Putnam ’02) Jaggers. “It has given me pause to praise Him for teaching me through the storms I’ve been blessed to walk, crawl and trudge through these past 20 years. I am thankful for the lives of each person who survived and those who died on flight 1420. I pray that their lives will continue to bring light and hope to this world.”

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Photo by Lori Motl

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