Escaping the Flames

Todd Overgard was 21, in 1972, when the North Central Airlines DC9 jet that he had just boarded was rolling down a fog shrouded runway toward its 160-mph takeoff speed. Suddenly, the pilots saw a plane dead ahead and attempted to fly over it, but the collision was unavoidable. Todd's heavily damaged plane crashed back down to the runway, skidded on its fuselage, and burned profusely. With flames inside and outside the plane, Todd scrambled to escape.

Todd is no stranger to living through dangerous events. He has survived tornados, earthquakes, lightning storms, freezing temperatures, a gang murder trial, and more. He was also a tennis professional who earned three martial arts black belts, pursued the love of his life, and vanquished his demons.

Escaping the Flames is the stunning story of a narrow escape from death, the trauma that such a disaster brings in its aftermath, and the very unusual events that occurred both before and after the crash.

This book is an account of pilots' and passengers' worst nightmare... an aircraft incursion on the runway during takeoff. The author lived through this nightmare and tells his life altering story, and how this accident led to improved commercial aviation safety. This is a gripping autobiography you won't want to put down.

      Marty Gunther, former U.S. Navy Attack Pilot

ESCAPING THE FLAMES is a well-researched and shared story about a dramatic fatal aircraft accident, which the author survived. Todd skillfully puts the reader onboard the doomed aircraft with him. He weaves the exciting story of his life into the narrative. Aviation fans, sports fans, auto-biography aficionados - this book is not to be missed!

      Dan Jacobson, 27-year airline pilot and current Boeing 737 Captain