Estimates are that as many 250,000 sea birds, 2,800 sea otters, 300 harbor seals, 247 bald eagles and billions of salmon eggs were killed.
All in Accidents
The Agony of Defeat
Today was the day that Yugoslavian ski jumper, Vinko Bogataj, wiped out in spectacular fashion during a competition in Oberstdorf, West Germany.
Casey Jones
Today is the birthday of John Luther Jones, or as history remembers him, Casey Jones.
The Lakeview Gusher
It would flow out of control for 18 months. Over 9 million barrels of crude oil were spilled before the well could finally be contained. At its peak, the spill formed a 60-acre lake of oil.
U.S.S Princeton
An exploding cannon killed 8 people, including members of President John Tyler's cabinet.
Plunge into Hell
It was on this day that 12-year-old Todd Dobowski of Centralia, Pennsylvania fell into a hot, gaseous void caused by an underground coal fire.
The Louisville Sewer Disaster
Manhole covers whizzed through the air. Students were jolted out of their beds. Toilets erupted into fountains of raw sewage.
Margaret's Wild Ride
The pilot gunned the engine and took off, apparently not noticing that Margaret was still attached.
The Parachute Cape
It was on this day that an Austrian tailor/inventor fell to his death from the Eiffel Tower.
Mountain of the Dead
It was on this night that 9 Russian hikers lost their lives in a bizarre incident that remains one of the world's greatest unsolved mysteries.
Wardrobe Malfunction
It was on this day during halftime of Super Bowl XXXVIII that 90 million viewers were shocked and awed by Janet Jackson's breast.
Black Brant Scare
This was the first and only incident in which a superpower activated its nuclear suitcase.
Death by Home Improvement
This bluesman had one of the most covered songs of all time.
Project Crested Ice
A bomber carrying four hydrogen bombs crashes, scattering radioactive debris across miles of sea ice.
The Palomares Incident
The accident dropped 4 hydrogen bombs on a small fishing village.
Sub vs Mountain
At about 2 in the morning the bow of the sub plowed into a wall of rock and mud.
Meltdown of SL-1
The only known fatal accident involving a nuclear reactor in America happened on this day.
The Ashtabula Horror
92 of 159 passengers would die when a wrought-iron bridge collapsed and the Pacific Express fell 70 feet into the frozen Ashtabula River.
Nancy Cruzan
The Cruzan Family's fight for their daughter's right to die helped raise awareness about the need for advanced health directives and living wills.
Sole Survivor
At 21,000 feet the flight ran into a severe thunderstorm and violent turbulence. A lightning strike ignited a fuel tank in the right wing and a massive explosion soon followed.