1854day.year
The paddle steamer SS Arctic, owned by the Collins Line of New York, sinks off the coast of Newfoundland, following a collision with a smaller vessel, the SS Vesta. Only 88 of over 300 people on board survive. About a dozen of the occupants of the Vesta are killed when their lifeboat is hit by the Arctic.
The SS Arctic sinks after colliding with the SS Vesta, killing over 200 passengers.
Only 88 of more than 300 people survive in one of the deadliest maritime disasters of the era.
In 1854, the Collins Line paddle steamer SS Arctic collided with the smaller brig SS Vesta off Newfoundland’s coast.
The impact fatally damaged Arctic’s hull, leading to rapid flooding and sinking in frigid Atlantic waters.
Of the more than 300 passengers and crew onboard, only 88 survived, many rescued from lifeboats.
Tragically, around a dozen occupants of the Vesta also died when their lifeboat was struck by the sinking Arctic.
The disaster prompted scrutiny of maritime safety, lifeboat capacity, and ship design standards.
1854
SS Arctic
sinks
SS Vesta
1875day.year
The merchant sailing ship Ellen Southard is wrecked in a storm at Liverpool.
The merchant sailing ship Ellen Southard is wrecked in a storm off Liverpool.
Her loss highlights the perils faced by maritime trade in the age of sail.
In 1875, the British merchant vessel Ellen Southard was caught in a violent storm while approaching Liverpool.
Buffeted by gale-force winds and high seas, the ship broke apart on the rocky coastline.
Crew members struggled to launch lifeboats amid treacherous conditions, and many lives were lost.
The wreck underscored the dangers of global shipping routes and the need for improved weather forecasting.
Lessons from the tragedy influenced future safety measures for merchant ships.
1875
Ellen Southard
1903day.year
"Wreck of the Old 97": an American rail disaster, in which 11 people are killed; it later becomes the subject of a popular ballad.
The "Wreck of the Old 97" ends in tragedy when a mail train derails, killing 11 people.
The incident later inspires a famous American ballad.
On September 27, 1903, the Southern Railway’s mail train known as the Old 97 crashed at Stillhouse Trestle in Virginia.
Travelling at excessive speed, the locomotive failed to negotiate a curve and plunged off the trestle.
Eleven passengers and crew were killed, and the crash became a symbol of early railway risks.
The event inspired the popular folk song 'The Wreck of the Old 97', capturing public imagination.
It led to stricter speed regulations and improvements in train braking systems.
1903
Wreck of the Old 97
1956day.year
USAF Captain Milburn G. Apt becomes the first person to exceed Mach 3. Shortly thereafter, the Bell X-2 goes out of control and Captain Apt is killed.
Captain Milburn G. Apt became the first person to exceed Mach 3 in the Bell X-2 but was tragically killed when the aircraft went out of control.
On 27 September 1956, USAF test pilot Captain Milburn G. Apt flew the Bell X-2 rocket plane to a record-breaking speed beyond Mach 3. Reaching Mach 3.1 over the Mojave Desert, he became the first human to surpass three times the speed of sound. Moments later, the X-2 entered a spin that Apt could not control, forcing him to eject. His parachute deployed improperly, and he was killed in the descent. The accident highlighted the extreme risks of high-speed flight research during the early space age. Insights gained from the flight led to improvements in escape systems and aerodynamic stability for future supersonic aircraft.
1956
Milburn G. Apt
Bell X-2
1959day.year
Typhoon Vera kills nearly 5,000 people in Japan.
Typhoon Vera struck Japan with devastating force, killing nearly 5,000 people and causing widespread destruction.
On 27 September 1959, Typhoon Vera made landfall on Japan’s Honshu island as one of the most powerful storms in the nation’s history. Sustained winds exceeding 160 mph and a massive storm surge led to catastrophic flooding and coastal damage. Entire neighborhoods were swept away, and over half a million people were rendered homeless. Official figures recorded nearly 5,000 fatalities and tens of thousands of injuries. The tragedy spurred major reforms in Japan’s meteorological services and disaster preparedness infrastructure. In the aftermath, the government invested in improved sea walls, levees, and early warning systems to mitigate future typhoon impacts.
1959
Typhoon Vera
1973day.year
Texas International Airlines Flight 655 crashes into the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness near Mena, Arkansas, killing all 11 people on board.
Texas International Airlines Flight 655 crashes in the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness near Mena, Arkansas, killing all 11 aboard.
On September 27, 1973, Texas International Airlines Flight 655, en route from Memphis to Hot Springs, Arkansas, crashed in the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness.
The twin-engine Convair 600 descended off course and collided with terrain during poor weather conditions.
All 11 passengers and crew lost their lives in the remote crash site.
Rescue teams faced rugged terrain and limited visibility, delaying recovery efforts.
The accident prompted reviews of flight safety procedures and instrument meteorological training for regional airlines.
The tragedy remains one of the deadliest aviation incidents in Arkansas history.
1973
Texas International Airlines Flight 655
Black Fork Mountain Wilderness
Mena, Arkansas
1977day.year
Japan Airlines Flight 715 crashes on approach to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Malaysia, killing 34 of the 79 people on board.
Japan Airlines Flight 715 crashes on approach to Subang Airport in Malaysia, killing 34 of the 79 onboard.
On September 27, 1977, Japan Airlines Flight 715, a Douglas DC-8, was on approach to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Malaysia.
During descent, the aircraft struck a hillside in dense haze and reduced visibility.
Thirty-four of the 79 passengers and crew tragically lost their lives.
Investigators cited pilot error and poor weather forecasting as key factors in the accident.
The crash led to improvements in approach procedures and heightened emphasis on instrument landing systems in the region.
It remains one of the deadliest aviation disasters in Malaysia's history.
1977
Japan Airlines Flight 715
Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport
Subang
Malaysia
1996day.year
Confusion on a tanker ship results in the Julie N oil spill in Portland, Maine.
A tanker confusion results in the Julie N oil spill in Portland Harbor, Maine, causing significant environmental damage.
On September 27, 1996, the tanker Julie N accidentally spilled thousands of gallons of gasoline into Portland Harbor, Maine.
Crew confusion during hose transfers led to an overflow and discharge into the waterfront.
The spill spread quickly, coating nearby shorelines and threatening marine wildlife.
Local authorities and response teams launched an emergency cleanup operation that lasted weeks.
The incident prompted revisions to harbor safety protocols and tighter oversight of fuel transfers.
Today, the Julie N spill serves as a case study in marine pollution prevention and emergency response.
Julie N oil spill
2014day.year
63 people are killed in an eruption of Mount Ontake in Japan.
An unexpected eruption of Mount Ontake in Japan on September 27, 2014, claimed 63 lives, making it one of the country’s deadliest volcanic disasters.
Mount Ontake erupted suddenly on September 27, 2014, catching hikers and visitors off guard on the sacred volcano. The phreatic explosion sent plumes of ash, rocks, and toxic gases hundreds of meters into the sky, making evacuation nearly impossible. Sixty-three people lost their lives, and dozens more were injured or went missing amid the chaos. Rescue teams faced hazardous conditions, battling low visibility and unstable terrain to recover survivors. The tragedy prompted a comprehensive review of Japan’s volcanic monitoring network and led to the implementation of improved hazard warnings for climbers. Mount Ontake remains a solemn reminder of nature’s unpredictable power.
2014
eruption of Mount Ontake