On April 27, 1993, Continental Airlines Flight 588, a  McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82, experienced an extremely rough landing at Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado, resulting in two injuries and substantial aircraft damage.  It was a scheduled flight from San Francisco, California.  As it approached the runway, the aircraft landed on a steep angle then leveled and hit the runway, sliding to a stop on its right belly and right wing.

After a detailed investigation of the accident, the National Transportation Safety Board determined that immediately following touchdown, a landing gear vibration occurred which led to a collapse of the right main landing gear.  The right wing on the aircraft then hit the runway and the airplane skidded to a stop.  During the following emergency evacuation, two passengers were injured. 

The NTSB was unable to explain the vibration that led to the collapse of the right gear but did determine that threads on the right gear apex bolt failed.  The NTSB also stated that a factor that lead to the crash was the failure of the pilot in command to ensure deployment of the ground spoilers.

Baum Hedlund represented one of the passengers who suffered emotional and physical injuries during this frightening accident.