Violent F5 tornado struck the Smithfield area in northern Birmingham , Alabama , sweeping away many homes and killing 22 people . Outbreak extended from Mississippi to North Carolina , with several strong tornadoes documented . The storm system also caused the crash of Southern Airways Flight 242 , which happened on the same day , in the same area . Not only an F5 tornado occurred , but an F3 tornado struck the Lindale , Georgia area , where 12 trailers were completely swept away off their foundations killing 1 person . Many people do n't know that Ted Fujita flew over the damage and toyed with rating the tornado an F6
Southern Airways Flight 242
Southern Airways Flight 242
Tornadoes of 1977