1420day.year
The 8.8–9.4 Caldera earthquake shakes Chile's Atacama Region causing tsunami in Chile, Hawaii, and Japan.
A massive 8.8–9.4 magnitude earthquake struck Chile’s Atacama Region on August 31, 1420, triggering a Pacific-wide tsunami.
The 1420 Caldera earthquake is estimated to have reached one of the highest magnitudes recorded in pre-modern times. It devastated coastal settlements in the Atacama Region and generated tsunami waves that reached Hawaii and Japan. Contemporary accounts describe towering sea surges and widespread destruction along shorelines. The event likely altered local landscapes and disrupted indigenous communities’ livelihoods. Its far-reaching tsunami effects underscore the interconnected nature of Pacific seismic hazards.
1420
8.8–9.4 Caldera earthquake
Atacama Region
tsunami
Hawaii
1886day.year
The 7.0 Mw Charleston earthquake affects southeastern South Carolina with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme). Sixty people killed with damage estimated at $5–6 million.
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake strikes Charleston, South Carolina, causing extensive damage and dozens of fatalities.
At 7.3 on the Richter scale, the Charleston earthquake struck South Carolina on August 31, 1886.
It was one of the most powerful seismic events ever recorded in the eastern United States.
With a maximum intensity of X on the Mercalli scale, it flattened buildings and sparked widespread fires.
Approximately sixty people lost their lives and hundreds were injured.
Damage was estimated at five to six million dollars, a massive sum in the 19th century.
The quake was felt as far away as Boston, New York, and Chicago, highlighting its extraordinary reach.
1886
Charleston earthquake
Mercalli intensity
1940day.year
Pennsylvania Central Airlines Trip 19 crashes near Lovettsville, Virginia. The CAB investigation of the accident is the first investigation to be conducted under the Bureau of Air Commerce act of 1938.
On August 31, 1940, Pennsylvania Central Airlines Trip 19 crashed near Lovettsville, Virginia, prompting the first CAB investigation under the 1938 air commerce act.
Pennsylvania Central Airlines Trip 19 disappeared during a routine passenger flight and crashed near Lovettsville, Virginia on August 31, 1940. The accident claimed the lives of all passengers and crew, prompting a pivotal inquiry. The Civil Aeronautics Board launched its first formal investigation under the Bureau of Air Commerce Act of 1938. Investigators sifted through weather reports, maintenance records, and radio communications in an effort to determine the cause. Their pioneering work established new protocols for accident reconstruction and data gathering. As a result, airlines adopted stricter maintenance schedules and enhanced pilot training programs. The legacy of this investigation lies in the improved safety standards that have shaped modern commercial aviation.
1940
Pennsylvania Central Airlines Trip 19
Lovettsville, Virginia
CAB
Bureau of Air Commerce
1950day.year
TWA Flight 903 crashes near Itay El Barud, Egypt, killing all 55 aboard.
TWA Flight 903 crashed near Itay El Barud, Egypt, on August 31, 1950, killing all 55 aboard.
TWA Flight 903, en route from Cairo to Tel Aviv, went down near Itay El Barud on August 31, 1950, under circumstances that remain partially unclear. All 55 passengers and crew lost their lives in the crash, marking one of the deadliest airline disasters in the region at the time. Investigators combed wreckage and flight records to determine contributing factors such as mechanical failure or pilot error. Adverse weather conditions and potential navigational complications were also examined. The tragedy prompted tighter safety regulations and improvements in air traffic control throughout the Middle East. Relatives and international observers mourned the loss, emphasizing the growing importance of global aviation safety. The crash of Flight 903 remains a sobering reminder of the challenges facing early postwar commercial air travel.
1950
TWA Flight 903
Itay El Barud
1972day.year
Aeroflot Flight 558 crashes in the Abzelilovsky District in Bashkortostan, Russia (then the Soviet Union), killing all 102 people aboard.
Aeroflot Flight 558 crashes in Russia’s Bashkortostan region, killing all 102 people on board.
On August 31, 1972, Aeroflot Flight 558 crashed into a wooded area in the Abzelilovsky District in Bashkortostan, Russia (then the Soviet Union).
The Tupolev Tu-124 encountered adverse weather conditions and pilot error during its scheduled flight.
The aircraft struck trees before breaking apart on impact, scattering wreckage across the forest.
All 102 passengers and crew aboard were tragically killed in the accident.
The disaster prompted Soviet authorities to review flight safety procedures and enhance pilot training programs.
It remains one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Russian civil aviation history.
1972
Aeroflot Flight 558
Abzelilovsky District
Bashkortostan
1986day.year
Aeroméxico Flight 498 collides with a Piper PA-28 Cherokee over Cerritos, California, killing 67 in the air and 15 on the ground.
Aeroméxico Flight 498 collides mid-air over California, killing dozens on board and on the ground.
On August 31, 1986, Aeroméxico Flight 498, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, collided with a Piper PA-28 Cherokee over Cerritos, California.
The scheduled passenger flight was approaching Los Angeles International Airport when the private aircraft entered its path.
The mid-air collision caused both planes to crash into a residential neighborhood.
All 67 passengers and crew aboard the DC-9 and the occupants of the Cherokee were killed.
On the ground, 15 residents lost their lives and several homes were destroyed.
The accident led to major reforms in air traffic control procedures and the introduction of collision avoidance systems.
It remains a stark reminder of the importance of airspace coordination and modern aviation technology.
1986
Aeroméxico Flight 498
Piper PA-28 Cherokee
Cerritos, California
1986day.year
The Soviet passenger liner Admiral Nakhimov sinks in the Black Sea after colliding with the bulk carrier Pyotr Vasev, killing 423.
The Soviet liner Admiral Nakhimov collides in the Black Sea, sinking and claiming 423 lives.
On August 31, 1986, the Soviet passenger liner Admiral Nakhimov collided with the bulk carrier Pyotr Vasev in the Black Sea.
The nighttime collision breached the ship’s hull, causing rapid flooding and a severe list.
Rescue vessels arrived amid challenging weather, but evacuations were hampered by rough seas.
The liner sank, resulting in the tragic loss of 423 lives.
The disaster prompted Soviet authorities to investigate maritime safety protocols and navigation practices.
It remains one of the deadliest peacetime sea disasters in Soviet history.
Soviet
Admiral Nakhimov
Black Sea
1987day.year
Thai Airways Flight 365 crashes into the ocean near Ko Phuket, Thailand, killing all 83 aboard.
Thai Airways Flight 365 crashes into the sea near Phuket, killing all 83 people aboard.
On August 31, 1987, Thai Airways Flight 365, a Boeing 737-200, plunged into the Andaman Sea shortly after takeoff from Phuket.
The flight encountered unexpected turbulence and poor visibility near Ko Phuket.
Witnesses described the aircraft spiraling into the ocean during descent.
All 83 passengers and crew perished in the crash.
Investigators cited pilot disorientation and severe weather conditions as primary factors.
The tragedy led to enhanced weather monitoring and pilot training for tropical storm operations.
It remains one of the deadliest accidents in Thai civil aviation history.
1987
Thai Airways Flight 365
Ko Phuket
1988day.year
Delta Air Lines Flight 1141 crashes during takeoff from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, killing 14.
Delta Air Lines Flight 1141 crashes during takeoff in Texas, killing 14 people.
On August 31, 1988, Delta Air Lines Flight 1141, a Boeing 727, crashed shortly after takeoff from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
The aircraft failed to achieve sufficient lift, striking communication antennas and localizer guidance equipment.
Control was lost, and the plane impacted a nearby road and residential area.
Fourteen people on board were killed, and dozens more sustained injuries.
The NTSB investigation attributed the crash to improper flaps and slats configuration during takeoff.
The accident led to revised cockpit procedures and stricter pre-flight check protocols industry-wide.
Memorial services were held to honor the victims and improve future aviation safety.
1988
Delta Air Lines Flight 1141
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
1988day.year
CAAC Flight 301 overshoots the runway at Kai Tak Airport and crashes into Kowloon Bay, killing seven people.
CAAC Flight 301 overshoots the runway at Kai Tak Airport and crashes into Kowloon Bay, killing seven.
On August 31, 1988, a CAAC Flight 301 Hawker Siddeley Trident overran the runway during landing at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport.
Heavy rain and poor visibility caused the aircraft to aquaplane on the wet surface.
It plunged into the waters of Kowloon Bay, partially submerging the fuselage.
Emergency teams faced challenging conditions to rescue survivors from the sinking plane.
Seven passengers tragically lost their lives, and several others were injured.
The incident spurred upgrades to runway safety areas, improved drainage, and enhanced approach lighting at Kai Tak.
CAAC Flight 301
Kai Tak Airport
Kowloon Bay
1997day.year
Diana, Princess of Wales, her partner, Dodi Fayed, and driver Henri Paul die in a car crash in Paris.
Princess Diana, Dodi Fayed, and their driver, Henri Paul, died in a fatal car crash in Paris's Pont de l'Alma tunnel.
In the early hours of August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, her companion Dodi Fayed, and their driver, Henri Paul, were killed in a high-speed collision inside the Pont de l'Alma tunnel in Paris. The couple was fleeing paparazzi photographers when their Mercedes plunged into a pillar. Only Diana's bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, survived the crash. The tragic accident prompted worldwide mourning and intense media scrutiny over press ethics. Multiple investigations examined speed, alcohol levels, and paparazzi involvement. The event marked one of the most significant losses in modern royal history. Diana's death led to changes in public attitudes toward privacy and press conduct.
1997
Diana, Princess of Wales
Dodi Fayed
Henri Paul
die in a car crash
1999day.year
A LAPA Boeing 737-200 crashes during takeoff from Jorge Newbury Airport in Buenos Aires, killing 65, including two on the ground.
A LAPA Boeing 737-200 crashed during takeoff in Buenos Aires, killing 65 people and injuring several others.
On August 31, 1999, LAPA Flight 3142, a Boeing 737-200, failed to gain altitude during takeoff from Jorge Newbery Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The aircraft overran the runway, struck a barrier, and crashed into a nearby building. Sixty-three passengers and crew on board and two people on the ground lost their lives. Investigations cited pilot error, insufficient runway checks, and inadequate safety procedures. The disaster prompted reforms in Argentine aviation regulations and improved airport safety protocols. Families of the victims advocated for stricter oversight of airline operations. The crash remains one of the deadliest in Argentina's aviation history.
LAPA
Boeing 737-200
crashes during takeoff
Jorge Newbury Airport
Buenos Aires