Collins died on December 8 , 1972 when United Airlines Flight 553 crashed on approach to Chicago Midway International Airport . Collins was a passenger on the flight . His wife Cardiss Collins was elected to his seat ( which had been redistricted to the 7th district ) shortly thereafter . Cardiss Collins was the first African American woman to represent a midwestern district in Congress , and served in the House of Representatives from 1973 until her retirement in 1997 , a tenure of over 23 years . In April 1976 , The Chicago Public Schools opened Collins Academy High School , a public neighborhood high school in Chicago 's Lawndale neighborhood in his honor
United Airlines Flight 553
United Airlines Flight 553
George W. Collins