Ouachita Stories

A prayer service will be held Monday, June 1, to commemorate the 10^th anniversary of the crash of American Airlines Flight 1420. The service will take place at 12 noon in Berry Chapel on the campus of Ouachita Baptist University.

The service will be patterned after the season of prayer conducted by Ouachita faculty and staff following the crash in June of 1999.  It will include prayer, vocal music and reflections by Charlie Fuller, Cindy Fuller, Dave Ozmun and Amy Gaden Taylor, all members of the 1999 Ouachita Singers travel group who were involved in the crash. Also participating will be Ouachita faculty and staff members Jeff Root, George Keck, Rob Hewell and Phil Hardin.

On Tuesday, June 1, 1999, at 11:51 p.m., American Airlines Flight 1420 crashed when the pilot attempted to land at Little Rock National Airport during a thunderstorm. Twenty-five members of the Ouachita Singers travel group were on board returning from a trip to Europe. The group, led by Dr. Charlie Fuller, also included area residents Cindy Fuller, Becky Fuller, Rachel Fuller, Sarah Fuller, Tad Hardin and Kristen Clark Hutchins. Also on the flight was Arkadelphia resident District Judge Randy Hill.

Ouachita senior James Harrison died in the fire that resulted from the crash. Rachel Fuller, 14-year-old daughter of Ouachita faculty members Cindy and Charlie Fuller and Ouachita senior Kristin Maddox Cheng were admitted to Arkansas Children's Hospital with severe burns. The others in the Ouachita group were treated for smoke inhalation or minor injuries and released. Rachel Fuller died two weeks later on June 16 as a result of her injuries.

Monday's 30-minute service will be a time for prayer and remembrance. All members of the community are invited to attend.