-
Please read the new forum rules! REQUIRED!
Click Here: https://www.gulfcoastgunforum.com/threads/general-forum-rules-code-of-conduct.70770/
-
New Reloading Sticky Thread for Trading, Swapping Gear, etc.
https://www.gulfcoastgunforum.com/threads/reloading-components-for-trade-item-value-and-photo.104847/
1978 plane crash in escambia bay
- Thread starter FrommerStop
- Start date
The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Gulf Coast States
Member Benefits:
Fewer Ads! Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership Discuss anti-gun legislation Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses Discover free outdoor shooting areas View up to date on firearm-related events Share photos & video with other members ...and so much more!
Member Benefits:
pcolagunner
Master
I was born in 1970 and remember vividly my mom taking me to the Bluffs when I was eight years old to see the plane sticking up out of the waters of the bay. Coincidently, the barge that rescued the passengers when it crashed was a family friend of our families.
More died on an am track that went off of a damaged bridge middle of the night not too far from mobile. The wrecked Sunset Limited at Big Bayout Canot September 22, 1993.
Immediately prior to the accident, a barge being pushed by the towboat Mauvilla (owned and operated by Warrior and Gulf Navigation of Chickasaw, Alabama) had made a wrong turn on the Mobile River and entered the Big Bayou Canot, an un-navigable channel of water crossed by a CSX Transportation rail bridge.
The towboat's pilot, Willie Odom, was not properly trained on how to read his radar and so, due to very poor visibility in heavy fog and his lack of experience, did not realize he was off course. The boat also lacked a compass and a chart of the waters.[2] Odom believed that he was still on the Mobile River and had identified the bridge in the radar as another tug boat.[3] After the investigation, he was not found to be criminally liable for the accident.[3]
The bridge was struck by the Mauvilla at about 2:45 am. The span had been designed to rotate so it could be converted to a swing bridge by adding suitable equipment. No such conversion had ever been performed but the span had not been adequately secured against unintended movement. The collision forced the unsecured end of the bridge span approximately three feet out of alignment and severely kinked the track.[4][5]
At 2:53 a.m.,[1] Amtrak's Sunset Limited train, powered by three locomotives (one GE Genesis P40DC number 819 in the front and two EMD F40PHs, numbers 262 and 312) en route from Los Angeles, California, to Miami, Florida, with 220 passengers and crew aboard, crossed the bridge at around 70 miles per hour (113 km/h) and derailed at the kink. The first of its three locomotives slammed into the displaced span, causing that part of the bridge to collapse into the water beneath. The lead locomotive embedded itself nose-first into the canal bank and the other two locomotives, together with the baggage car, sleeping car and two of the six passenger cars, plunged into the water. The locomotives' fuel tanks, each of which held several thousand gallons of diesel fuel, ruptured upon impact,[1] resulting in a massive fuel spill and a fire. Forty-seven people, 42 of whom were passengers,[1] were killed – many by drowning, others by fire/smoke inhalation. Another 103 were injured. The towboat's four crew members were not injured.[1] Odom helped save seventeen people after the crash using the same towboat that had been pushing the barge that hit the bridge.[6] At the time of the derailment, the lead locomotive, number 819, had been in service with Amtrak for only twenty days.[7]
Despite the displacement of the bridge, the continuously welded rails did not break. As a result, the track circuit controlling the bridge approach block signals remained closed (intact) and the nearest signal continued to display a clear (green) aspect. Had one of the rails been severed by the bridge's displacement, the track circuit would have opened, causing the approach signal to display a stop (red) aspect and the preceding signal an amber (caution) approach indication. This might have given the Amtrak engineer sufficient time to stop his train or at least reduce its speed in an effort to minimize the accident's severity.
Immediately prior to the accident, a barge being pushed by the towboat Mauvilla (owned and operated by Warrior and Gulf Navigation of Chickasaw, Alabama) had made a wrong turn on the Mobile River and entered the Big Bayou Canot, an un-navigable channel of water crossed by a CSX Transportation rail bridge.
The towboat's pilot, Willie Odom, was not properly trained on how to read his radar and so, due to very poor visibility in heavy fog and his lack of experience, did not realize he was off course. The boat also lacked a compass and a chart of the waters.[2] Odom believed that he was still on the Mobile River and had identified the bridge in the radar as another tug boat.[3] After the investigation, he was not found to be criminally liable for the accident.[3]
The bridge was struck by the Mauvilla at about 2:45 am. The span had been designed to rotate so it could be converted to a swing bridge by adding suitable equipment. No such conversion had ever been performed but the span had not been adequately secured against unintended movement. The collision forced the unsecured end of the bridge span approximately three feet out of alignment and severely kinked the track.[4][5]
At 2:53 a.m.,[1] Amtrak's Sunset Limited train, powered by three locomotives (one GE Genesis P40DC number 819 in the front and two EMD F40PHs, numbers 262 and 312) en route from Los Angeles, California, to Miami, Florida, with 220 passengers and crew aboard, crossed the bridge at around 70 miles per hour (113 km/h) and derailed at the kink. The first of its three locomotives slammed into the displaced span, causing that part of the bridge to collapse into the water beneath. The lead locomotive embedded itself nose-first into the canal bank and the other two locomotives, together with the baggage car, sleeping car and two of the six passenger cars, plunged into the water. The locomotives' fuel tanks, each of which held several thousand gallons of diesel fuel, ruptured upon impact,[1] resulting in a massive fuel spill and a fire. Forty-seven people, 42 of whom were passengers,[1] were killed – many by drowning, others by fire/smoke inhalation. Another 103 were injured. The towboat's four crew members were not injured.[1] Odom helped save seventeen people after the crash using the same towboat that had been pushing the barge that hit the bridge.[6] At the time of the derailment, the lead locomotive, number 819, had been in service with Amtrak for only twenty days.[7]
Despite the displacement of the bridge, the continuously welded rails did not break. As a result, the track circuit controlling the bridge approach block signals remained closed (intact) and the nearest signal continued to display a clear (green) aspect. Had one of the rails been severed by the bridge's displacement, the track circuit would have opened, causing the approach signal to display a stop (red) aspect and the preceding signal an amber (caution) approach indication. This might have given the Amtrak engineer sufficient time to stop his train or at least reduce its speed in an effort to minimize the accident's severity.
FowlHunter13
Master
I remember the Sunset Limited accident very well as I was one of the first Coast Guard assets on scene. Even to this day, certain smells or sights bring me right back to that foggy early morning. It’s amazing how something that happened dang near 30 years ago now can still be so vivid in my mind.
November 1977 A young doctor was killed off Scenic Highway.
The Pensacola Ammonia AccidentThis article recounts first-hand the efforts of an emergencyresponse team to control the effects of ammonia vented in atrain derailment.WJ. Stueben and W.L. BallAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.Pace, Fla http://www.iffcokandla.in/data/polo...eserver/file/515603/filename/Aiche-21-016.pdf
There was a similar accident in the late 70s north of Panama City when a train derailed and poisonous gas escaped.
Several people died and it was determined to be sabotage.
Several people died and it was determined to be sabotage.
Cloud of death
“I was just glad to save the lives I did,” former deputy Tommy Loftin said. “The lord blessed me with my life and blessed them with their lives.”
www.newsherald.com
Avalon Blvd train derailment about 11 or 12 years ago spilled crap too. There's a subdivision there. Just fine, so they say... My ex girlfriend's brother was home in that subdivision when it happened. He was one of the first on the scene. He ain't never been rightThere was a similar accident in the late 70s north of Panama City when a train derailed and poisonous gas escaped.
Several people died and it was determined to be sabotage.
Cloud of death
“I was just glad to save the lives I did,” former deputy Tommy Loftin said. “The lord blessed me with my life and blessed them with their lives.”www.newsherald.com
Fordtudor37
Shooter
Now parallel time and have this happen by a driver (originally from another country) of an 18 wheeler who "lost his way" -- Wouldn't this make news that would divert your attention from how bad the country is doing right now ? --- Just keep your eyes open and watch them repeat history. So far everything done in the last year and a half is a repeat of 1928 - 1934 Germany before it became known as Nazi Germany. ------
What's the fastest way to slay a beast or take down the best fighter ?
Take out its legs or way to fight, which is exactly what they are doing to our military and the American people right now. Except now is kick people out of the service for not taking a shot and instigating riots (BLM) and wrecking havoc with society with the woke movement and having undesirable's into out school systems (drag shows, drag queens, etc) which by law is "Impeeding the morals of a minor", a arrestable offense.
Just like they did to --
1) Telling all of Germany how it was the Jews fault they lost WWI.
2) Assaulting the German people by taking there guns way starting in 1935, before storming houses and killing people to get the guns in 1937.
2) Lately the "Woke mindset" being pushed by politician's is similar to what the German political group did in 1938 to the Jews in Germany, before the Blitz into Poland in 1939.
What's the fastest way to slay a beast or take down the best fighter ?
Take out its legs or way to fight, which is exactly what they are doing to our military and the American people right now. Except now is kick people out of the service for not taking a shot and instigating riots (BLM) and wrecking havoc with society with the woke movement and having undesirable's into out school systems (drag shows, drag queens, etc) which by law is "Impeeding the morals of a minor", a arrestable offense.
Just like they did to --
1) Telling all of Germany how it was the Jews fault they lost WWI.
2) Assaulting the German people by taking there guns way starting in 1935, before storming houses and killing people to get the guns in 1937.
2) Lately the "Woke mindset" being pushed by politician's is similar to what the German political group did in 1938 to the Jews in Germany, before the Blitz into Poland in 1939.
TackleberryMCS
Master
I remember this well. I even remember driving along Scenic Hwy. the afternoon of the crash seeing the National Airlines plane sitting in about 8'-10' of water.
rossi
Master
I was overseas when that plane crashed. Mail from me to the wife was on that plane. I still have the brown envelope the recovered mail was sent to her in. It was stamped revovered from a plane crash in Pensacola Bay.
JedClpIT
Marksman
I had heard that the altimeter had not been zeroed prior to departure of the Donna. Additionally, a beacon or light from the shore was catching the tips of the waves across the bay, imitating a runway light series. With an altitude reading coinciding with possible runway lights in rough weather, they set her down. I've always wondered if there was any truth to it.
I remember seeing that plane in the bay, I was a junior in high school at the time and was on the school bus headed to Mobile from Andalusia to play UMS in the AL high school baseball semi finals.
