1906day.year
The 8.2 Mw Valparaíso earthquake hits central Chile, killing 3,882 people.
An 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck central Chile around Valparaíso, causing widespread destruction and over 3,800 fatalities.
On August 16, 1906, an 8.2 Mw earthquake devastated the port city of Valparaíso and surrounding central Chile.
The intense shaking triggered fires and landslides, compounding the initial structural damage.
An estimated 3,882 lives were lost and thousands more were injured or left homeless.
Recovery efforts faced challenges due to damaged infrastructure and limited communication.
The disaster prompted advances in seismic research and stricter building regulations in Chile.
Valparaíso’s historic quarter was later rebuilt, preserving its unique architectural heritage.
1906
Mw
Valparaíso earthquake
1942day.year
World War II: US Navy L-class blimp L-8 drifts in from the Pacific and eventually crashes in Daly City, California. The two-man crew cannot be found.
The Navy blimp L-8 returned unmanned to Daly City, California, in 1942, after drifting from patrol with its crew mysteriously missing.
During World War II, the US Navy L-class blimp L-8 departed on an anti-submarine patrol from Treasure Island, California. On August 16, 1942, L-8 drifted back over San Francisco Bay and came down intact near Daly City without its two-man crew aboard. Investigators found life belts and personal items inside, but no trace of the pilots. Theories ranged from mid-air mishap to desertion, but the true fate of the airship's crew remains unsolved. The disappearance became one of the war's most enduring aviation mysteries. The L-8 incident highlighted the challenges of lighter-than-air craft and naval patrols along the Pacific coast.
1942
World War II
US Navy
L-class blimp
L-8
Daly City, California
1987day.year
Northwest Airlines Flight 255, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashes after takeoff in Detroit, Michigan, killing 154 of the 155 on board, plus two people on the ground.
Northwest Airlines Flight 255 crashed shortly after takeoff from Detroit on August 16, 1987, killing 154 of 155 aboard and two on the ground in one of the worst U.S. aviation accidents of the 1980s.
Northwest Airlines Flight 255, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, departed Detroit Metro Airport on August 16, 1987, and crashed seconds after liftoff. Of the 155 people onboard, only a four-year-old child survived, while two motorists in a nearby car were also killed. Investigators found the crew failed to deploy the wing flaps and slats, a critical oversight during pre-flight checks. The tragic error led to sweeping revisions in cockpit procedures and checklist discipline industry-wide. Families of the victims pushed for better support services and memorialization at the crash site. Flight 255 remains a sobering example of the vital role of human factors in aviation safety.
1987
Northwest Airlines Flight 255
McDonnell Douglas MD-82
Detroit
Michigan
1991day.year
Indian Airlines Flight 257, a Boeing 737-200, crashes during approach to Imphal Airport, killing all 69 people on board.
Indian Airlines Flight 257 crashed on approach to Imphal Airport on August 16, 1991, killing all 69 people aboard and leading to safety reforms for flights in challenging terrain.
Indian Airlines Flight 257, operating a Boeing 737-200, descended below minimum safe altitude in poor weather and struck terrain approximately two kilometers short of Imphal Airport. All 69 passengers and crew were killed, marking one of North-East India’s deadliest air disasters. The investigation highlighted deficiencies in navigational aids and cockpit communication during instrument approaches. In response, Indian aviation authorities upgraded radar coverage and installed better ground-based navigation systems at regional airports. Pilot training programs were revised to emphasize approach procedures in hilly regions. The crash site remains a solemn reminder of the importance of terrain awareness in air safety.
1991
Indian Airlines Flight 257
Boeing 737-200
Imphal Airport
2005day.year
West Caribbean Airways Flight 708, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, crashes in Machiques, Venezuela, killing all 160 people on board.
West Caribbean Airways Flight 708 stalled and crashed over Venezuela on August 16, 2005, killing all 160 aboard and leading to global scrutiny of high-altitude icing and stall recovery training.
West Caribbean Airways Flight 708, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, departed Panama City en route to Fort-de-France on August 16, 2005, and encountered severe thunderstorms. Ice accumulation caused unreliable airspeed indications, which the crew misinterpreted, resulting in a high-altitude stall and rapid descent. The aircraft crashed near Machiques, Venezuela, killing all 160 passengers and crew. Investigators pointed to inadequate training in stall recognition and flawed company procedures regarding weather avoidance. The tragedy prompted international airlines to reinforce pilot education on icing conditions and stall recovery techniques. It remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Venezuela’s history.
2005
West Caribbean Airways Flight 708
McDonnell Douglas MD-82
Machiques
Venezuela
2010day.year
AIRES Flight 8250 crashes at Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport in San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia, killing two people.
AIRES Flight 8250 skidded off the runway and broke apart during landing at San Andrés Airport on August 16, 2010, killing two passengers and prompting runway safety upgrades.
AIRES Flight 8250, a Boeing 737-700, approached Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport in San Andrés, Colombia, on a stormy evening of August 16, 2010. Heavy rain and crosswinds challenged the pilots, and the aircraft touched down long and fast before skidding off the runway and tearing apart. Two passengers succumbed to their injuries, while dozens more were rescued by quick-response emergency teams. The Civil Aviation Authority of Colombia launched an investigation that cited adverse weather and runway surface conditions as key factors. The accident led to comprehensive safety upgrades at the island’s airport, including improved drainage, enhanced runway lighting, and stricter landing protocols during inclement weather. The incident underscored the critical importance of runway safety management under challenging environmental conditions.
2010
AIRES Flight 8250
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport
San Andrés, San Andrés y Providencia
2013day.year
The ferry St. Thomas Aquinas collides with a cargo ship and sinks at Cebu, Philippines, killing 61 people with 59 others missing.
The ferry St. Thomas Aquinas collided with a cargo ship and sank near Cebu, Philippines, on August 16, 2013, killing 61 passengers and leaving many more missing in one of the nation’s worst maritime disasters.
On the evening of August 16, 2013, the passenger ferry St. Thomas Aquinas was en route to Cebu City when it collided with the cargo ship Sulpicio Express Siete in congested shipping lanes. The impact ripped open compartments below deck, causing rapid flooding and sinking. At least 61 people lost their lives, and dozens remained missing after frantic rescue operations by the Philippine Coast Guard and local vessels. Investigators pointed to potential navigational errors, poor visibility, and overloading as contributing factors. The tragedy prompted calls for stricter enforcement of maritime regulations, better crew training, and modernized safety equipment on ferry routes. The sinking remains a stark reminder of the risks faced by passengers on inter-island voyages in the Philippines.
2013
St. Thomas Aquinas
Cebu
Philippines
2015day.year
Trigana Air Flight 267, an ATR 42, crashes in Oksibl, Bintang Mountains Regency, killing all 54 people on board.
On August 16, 2015, Trigana Air Flight 267 crashed in the remote Bintang Mountains of Papua, Indonesia, killing all 54 on board.
It was operated by Trigana Air on a domestic passenger flight from Jayapura to Oksibil.
The ATR 42 turboprop aircraft disappeared from radar shortly before landing amid heavy rain and poor visibility.
Rescue teams found the wreckage on a steep slope in the Bintang Mountains Regency, Papua.
All 54 passengers and crew aboard tragically perished in the crash.
The remote, mountainous terrain and adverse weather conditions hampered recovery efforts.
The accident prompted calls for improved aviation safety measures in Indonesia's eastern regions.
Trigana Air Flight 267
ATR 42
Oksibl
Bintang Mountains Regency
2020day.year
The August Complex fire in California burns more than one million acres of land.
The August Complex fire ignited amid dry lightning storms on August 16, 2020, ultimately scorching over one million acres in Northern California.
Sparked by an unprecedented lightning storm in the Mendocino National Forest, the August Complex fire began as dozens of separate blazes.
Fueled by record-dry vegetation and strong winds, it rapidly merged into California's largest recorded wildfire.
Over one million acres of forest, grassland, and private property were consumed, displacing communities and straining firefighting resources.
Thick smoke from the fire blanketed much of Northern California, causing hazardous air conditions and health advisories.
Fire crews battled the blaze for months, employing air tankers, bulldozers, and thousands of personnel to establish containment lines.
The August Complex fire underscored the growing intensity of wildfires in a changing climate and prompted reviews of forest management practices.
2020
August Complex fire