August 26

On August 26, 1833, a major earthquake with an estimated magnitude of over 7.0 devastated the Kathmandu Valley and parts of Bihar and Tibet. The quake destroyed historic temples, palaces, and homes in Kathmandu, leaving many survivors homeless. Landslides triggered by the shaking obstructed roads and isolated Himalayan villages. In northern India and Tibet, entire hamlets were leveled, with hundreds of casualties reported. The disaster highlighted the seismic risk inherent to the Himalayan region. In its aftermath, early British surveyors began documenting the area’s geology, laying groundwork for future earthquake research and preparedness.

Aeroflot Flight 1770 was on a scheduled domestic route when it encountered difficulties during its final approach to Vnukovo. The aircraft descended below the glide path in poor weather conditions, striking terrain short of the runway. All sixteen occupants, including crew and passengers, perished in the crash. An official investigation led to a review of landing procedures and instrument approach protocols at Soviet airfields. The tragedy remains a somber chapter in Aeroflot's history and Russian civil aviation.

In the early hours, a powerful explosive device hidden under a service tunnel at Harvey’s Resort Hotel in Stateline was discovered after an anonymous tip. The bomb, intended by John Birges to extort $3 million, was subjected to an FBI disarming operation that went awry. During the attempt, the device detonated prematurely, blowing a crater in the surrounding hillside but causing no casualties. Birges was later captured, tried, and sentenced to life imprisonment for the extortion plot and bomb construction. The incident led to reviews of bomb squad protocols and remains a notable case study in explosive ordnance disposal training.

The Yakutsk-Aldan domestic service encountered problems during its final approach amid poor weather conditions. The Antonov An-24 aircraft struck terrain short of the runway, leaving no survivors among the crew and passengers. Investigators cited factors such as reduced visibility and procedural deviations as contributing to the crash. The tragedy prompted enhancements in approach procedures and pilot training for operations in remote Siberian airfields. Memorials were later held to honor those who lost their lives in one of Russia’s deadliest domestic aviation accidents of the early 1990s.

Colgan Air Flight 9446, a Beechcraft 1900 commuter turboprop, departed Barnstable Municipal Airport en route to a scheduled flight when it experienced a rapid loss of control. Witnesses observed the aircraft descend steeply before colliding with wooded terrain near the runway end. Both pilots on board were killed on impact, marking a tragic accident that highlighted safety risks in regional aviation. The NTSB investigation focused on mechanical records, pilot training, and operational procedures. Findings prompted reforms in maintenance oversight and crew fatigue regulations for small carriers. The accident underscored the critical importance of stringent safety protocols in commuter aviation.