On this date: 1864 - Canadian Rail Disaster

On this date in 1864, a rail disaster claimed the lives of 99 people in Mont. St. Hilaire, QC, Canada.  The incident known as the Grand Trunk Railway Disaster occurred at approximately 1:00 am when a train carrying between 350 and 475 passengers, operating between Montreal and Levis failed to yield to a red signal. The train entered a bridge which had been raised to allow river traffic to pass.  The engine and 11 coaches fell into the river crushing a barge. The train settled in 10 feet of water.

Source: http://goo.gl/hhYF3

Sources
http://goo.gl/cXTk0
http://goo.gl/SGJkm

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Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History

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On this day: 1955 - Motorsport Disaster

On this day in disaster history, 83 were killed and more than 100 were injured at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in  Le Mans, France. On June 11, 1955, ~250,000 spectators lined the nine (9) mile route where cars reached or exceeded speeds of ~190 miles per hour. A collision of a number of race cars said to be traveling ~150 MPH occurred sending debris into the crowd as the cars disintegrated. A fire ensued fed by both fuel and magnesium alloy. The fire was exacerbated when water was applied causing the magnesium fire to increase. 

 Source: http://goo.gl/e5UTY

The accident was captured on an incredible video in which the collision as well as elements of the response can be seen. The race continued during and after the accident reportedly to contain the crowd in an effort to avoid blocking access for emergency vehicles. 

Sources
http://goo.gl/e5UTY
http://goo.gl/i4xLr

--

Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History

skuhr.blogspot.com

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On this date: 1990 - Unusual Aviation Incident

On this date in 1990, the captain of British Airways Flight 5390 was partially sucked out of the aircraft when the windshield of the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) One-Eleven 528FL blew out  as the aircraft was climbing through ~17,000 feet while en route to Málaga, Spain out of Birmingham, England. The aircraft was carrying 87 passengers and crew. The wind shield had been replaced after the prior flight however the securing bolts failed under the cabin pressure. 

Capt. Tim Lancaster and his crew - Source: http://goo.gl/hXQot

Coming to rest on the nose cone, Captain Tim Lancaster, severely injured, was restrained by crew members who held on to his ankles until the first officer landed aircraft ~15 minutes later. The captain and crew members who rescued him suffered frost bite, and various traumatic injuries. Captain Lancaster returned to service, retired from British Airways, and was flying for EastJet as of 2005. 

The shift manager of the maintenance facility was held accountable for failure to use proper and standard practices in installing the new wind shield. 

Sources
http://goo.gl/A0v7n
http://goo.gl/K5zz8

--

Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History

skuhr.blogspot.com

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On this date: 1995 - Aircraft Crash

On this date in Disaster History, Ansett New Zealand Flight 703 crashed in the area of the Tararua Mountain Range approximately 10 miles east of Palmerston North, its destination airport. The aircraft was a de Havviland Canada DHC-8-102, commonly known as a Dash-8, which was powered by two Pratt and Whitney Canada PW120A turboprop engines. The aircraft was carrying a total of 21 occupants which included three (3) crew and 18 passengers. One (1) crew member and three (3) passengers were killed.

Source: http://goo.gl/FRKrS

The cause of the crash is a bit complicated. In short, while on approach to Palmerston North, the crew received a landing gear malfunction indicator. The captain and first officer engaged in conversation regarding the gear failure situation, a gear failure check list, and the use of the alternate (hydraulic) gear mechanism to lower the gear. At some point during the exchange the aircraft collided with the slope of a low range of hills. While the collision alarm sounded, accident occurred a mere five (5) seconds later. One report suggest that there nay have been an altimeter malfunction. Pilot distraction with the landing gear problem may also have been a contributing factor. 

Sources
http://goo.gl/yQ3rR
http://goo.gl/MFqVK

--

Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History

skuhr.blogspot.com

disasterhx.blogspot.com

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On this day: 2002 - Asteroid Explosion

On this day in 2002, an asteroid entered the earth's atmosphere and exploded over the Mediterranean Sea near the nations of Greece and Lybia.  The event is known as the Eastern Mediterranean Event. The object, said to be ~10 meters in diameter, exploded in mid-air with the explosive equivalent of 26 kilotons of TNT which is similar to a small nuclear weapon. The object approached and entered the atmosphere undetected. The object completely disintegrated therefore no debris was recovered and no crater was formed as it exploded above the surface. There were no apparent injuries, social impact, or impact in critical infrastructure. 

Note: Limited information is available on this event. Comments and input are greatly encouraged.

Sources
http://goo.gl/S5Hrv
http://goo.gl/xvruc

--
Steven Kuhr
Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History
skuhr.blogspot.com
disasterhx.blogspot.com
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On this date: 1967 - Aviation Disaster

On this date in 1967, a British Midland flight, carrying 84, crashed on approach to Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom. The aircraft, a Canadair C-4 Argonaut propeller driven aircraft, reportedly crashed due to an engine failure (another source indicates that the aircraft ran out of fuel). While there were no injuries or fatalities on the ground, the 12 survivors are said to have suffered critical injuries. The crash is also said to have been very traumatic for emergency responders who were confronted with victims who were trapped, still alive, and dying in the wreckage. A news video of the accident captures the incident scene including the damage which occurred to the community in which the accident occurred.   

Source: http://goo.gl/xu6CA

A book on this incident, entitled "The Day the Sky Fell Down: Story of the Stockport Air Disaster", was authored by Steve Morrin who is said to have made great attempts to recognize the efforts of emergency service personnel.


Sources
http://goo.gl/x0b1B
http://goo.gl/wYbGQ

--

Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus
Disaster History

skuhr.blogspot.com
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On this day: 1973 - Ship Collision/Fire NY Harbor

On this day in 1973, two merchant vessels collided in New York Harbor. Vessel one was the SS CV Sea Witch, a 610 foot long container vessel with a reinforced ice bow, loaded with 730 containers. The Sea Witch put to sea from Howland Hook Terminal in Staten Island, NY. Vessel two was the SS Esso Brussels, a 698 foot oil tanker which was anchored in the part of New York Harbor known as the Narrows (between Brooklyn and Staten Island), just north of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.  Headed for a refinery in Bayway, NJ, the Brussels was fully loaded with ~320,000 barrels of light Nigerian crude.

At approximately 00:30 hours the Sea Witch, under the command of the Harbor Pilot, was traveling at the authorized harbor speed of almost 14 knots. Passing through the Narrows, the pilot ordered a number of routine course corrections. A routine turn failed to occur as a result of a mechanical failure of the ship's steering mechanism. The crew of the Sea Witch sounded the whistle which was heard by the crew of the Brussels as the Sea Witch headed directly for her on a collision course. The general alarm was sounded on the Brussels but within minutes the container vessel, with engines in full reverse but still traveling at ~13 knots, collided with the tanker on the starboard side between the midships and aft deck area. The collision resulted in the penetration of a number of oil tanks. Within minutes both ships were interlocked and aflame. The flames were of a height and intensity to scorch the bottom of the bridge but because the anchor had given way on the Brussels, both ships passed under the bridge fast enough to avoid any permanent damage. The ships continued their path until coming to rest in Gravesend Bay, an area of the harbor between Bensonhurst and Coney Island, Brooklyn.

 View from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, most likely Shore Road or Owls Head 

View from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, Belt Parkway Bicycle Path - AP Photo via goo.gl/Wd6Po

The FDNY Fireboat The Fire Fighter was on the scene quickly having responded from it's station in Staten Island and was soon joined by three other FDNY Marine Companies and the United Stated Coast Guard. Firefighters aboard The Fire Fighter reported a 3,000 foot sea of flame. The crew of The Fire Fighter (retired in 2010) is credited with making a number of rescues and suppressing the fire. Employing all deck guns the Fire Fighter was able to disperse flames for a period long enough to allow ~30 people to be safely rescued. Fire suppression operations continued until June 14. Two crew of the Sea Witch were killed. Tug boats and other craft successfully rescued many of the Brussels crew however 13 were lost and never recovered.

Note: Some accounts have this event occurring on May 30, 1973. Having lived nearby I recall this incident occurring on a weekend night.  If the incident occurred on June 2, as I believe is the proper date, it occurred Saturday morning, just after midnight.

Sources:

http://goo.gl/Wd6Po

http://goo.gl/Hh36I

--

Steven Kuhr

Emergency Management Nexus

Disaster History

skuhr.blogspot.com

disasterhx.blogspot.com

facebook.com/emnexus

twitter.com/steven_kuhr

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