1844day.year
A gun explodes on board the steam warship USS Princeton during a pleasure cruise down the Potomac River, killing six, including Secretary of State Abel Upshur. President John Tyler, who was also on board, was not injured from the blast.
A cannon exploded aboard the USS Princeton wooden steam warship, killing six dignitaries during a Potomac River cruise.
During a pleasure cruise on February 28, 1844, aboard the USS Princeton, a newly commissioned U.S. Navy warship, disaster struck.
The ship's largest gun, named the 'Peacemaker', burst during a demonstration, hurling metal fragments across the deck.
Six people, including Secretary of State Abel Upshur, were killed instantly.
President John Tyler, observing nearby, escaped injury but the tragedy stunned the nation's political leadership.
The accident exposed flaws in naval ordnance design and led to calls for improved safety in weapon manufacturing.
It became one of the deadliest peacetime naval accidents in U.S. history and influenced future naval protocols.
1844
explodes on board
USS Princeton
Potomac River
Abel Upshur
John Tyler
1925day.year
The Charlevoix-Kamouraska earthquake strikes northeastern North America.
A powerful earthquake shook northeastern North America near Charlevoix and Kamouraska, causing widespread panic and damage.
On February 28, 1925, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Charlevoix-Kamouraska region of Quebec, Canada.
The tremor was felt across northeastern North America, with reports from as far south as New York and Boston.
In Quebec, it caused cracked walls, fallen chimneys, and terrorized residents unaccustomed to seismic activity.
Sirens wailed and people fled homes in Montreal, Quebec City, and even across the border in the United States.
Though no fatalities were reported, the quake spurred new studies on seismic risks in eastern Canada.
It remains one of the most significant earthquakes ever recorded in the Charlevoix region.
1925
Charlevoix-Kamouraska earthquake
1958day.year
A school bus in Floyd County, Kentucky hits a wrecker truck and plunges down an embankment into the rain-swollen Levisa Fork river. The driver and 26 children die in one of the worst school bus accidents in U.S. history.
On February 28, 1958, a school bus in Floyd County, Kentucky collided with a wrecker truck and plunged into the swollen Levisa Fork river, killing the driver and 26 children.
In the afternoon of February 28, 1958, a church-sponsored school bus carrying local children attempted to pass a slow-moving wrecker truck on a rain-slick mountain road in Floyd County, Kentucky. The bus clipped the truck, lost control, and plunged down an embankment into the Levisa Fork river. Local residents and emergency crews braved the swift, icy currents to reach the submerged vehicle, but all 26 children and the driver perished. Shockwaves from the tragedy spread nationwide, prompting calls for stricter school bus safety regulations. The disaster remains one of the deadliest school bus accidents in U.S. history and led to reforms in vehicle design and emergency response protocols.
1958
Floyd County, Kentucky
Levisa Fork
one of the worst school bus accidents
1966day.year
A NASA T-38 Talon crashes into the McDonnell Aircraft factory while attempting a poor-visibility landing at Lambert Field, St. Louis, killing astronauts Elliot See and Charles Bassett.
On February 28, 1966, a NASA T-38 Talon jet crashed into the McDonnell Aircraft factory near Lambert Field in St. Louis, killing astronauts Elliot See and Charles Bassett.
Astronauts Elliot See and Charles Bassett were piloting a NASA T-38 Talon to Lambert Field for a training flight in poor visibility when the accident occurred. As they descended through dense fog, the jet clipped the roof of the McDonnell Aircraft plant adjacent to the runway and disintegrated on impact. Both pilots were killed instantly in the crash. The tragedy shocked the space community, as See and Bassett had been assigned to the upcoming Gemini IX mission. Investigators highlighted the hazards of low-visibility flight and recommended changes to approach procedures. The accident led to stricter landing protocols and improved pilot training for high-performance aircraft at NASA.
1966
T-38 Talon
crashes into the McDonnell Aircraft factory
Lambert Field
Elliot See
Charles Bassett
1969day.year
The 1969 Portugal earthquake hits Portugal, Spain and Morocco.
On February 28, 1969, a strong earthquake struck northern Portugal and was felt across parts of Spain and Morocco.
The 1969 Portugal earthquake, with its epicenter in northern Portugal, unleashed powerful tremors that leveled buildings and fractured roadways in towns such as Guarda and Vilar Formoso. Communities in neighboring Spain and northern Morocco also reported shaking and minor structural damage. Rescue efforts were hampered by disrupted transport routes and unseasonal winter weather. Humanitarian aid arrived from across Europe to provide shelter, medical care, and supplies to displaced families. The disaster prompted a nationwide review of seismic monitoring and building codes. In its aftermath, Portugal implemented stronger construction standards to better withstand future quakes.
1969
1969 Portugal earthquake
Portugal
Spain
Morocco
1973day.year
Aeroflot Flight X-167 crashes during takeoff from Semey Airport, killing 32 people.
On February 28, 1973, Aeroflot Flight X-167 crashed during takeoff from Semey Airport in Kazakhstan, killing all 32 passengers and crew on board.
Aeroflot Flight X-167, operated with a Yakovlev Yak-40, experienced a sudden loss of control shortly after liftoff from Semey Airport in the Kazakh SSR. The aircraft rolled unexpectedly, stalled, and crashed back onto the runway before bursting into flames. All 32 people aboard lost their lives in the immediate impact and subsequent fire. The official investigation cited a combination of possible engine failure and weight distribution issues as contributing factors. The tragedy prompted Soviet aviation authorities to tighten safety checks and revise loading procedures on regional flights. Later Yak-40 aircraft received design upgrades aimed at preventing similar accidents.
1973
Aeroflot Flight X-167
Semey Airport
1975day.year
In London, an underground train fails to stop at Moorgate terminus station and crashes into the end of the tunnel, killing 43 people.
On February 28, 1975, a London Underground train failed to stop at Moorgate terminus and crashed into the tunnel end, resulting in 43 fatalities.
The Moorgate tube crash occurred when a northbound Northern line train approached the dead-end platform at Moorgate station without reducing speed. Traveling at approximately 45 mph, the train burst through the end-of-line barriers and collided with the tunnel wall. The frontal carriages were crushed, and many passengers were killed instantly or trapped by debris and fire. Emergency responders faced difficult conditions navigating the narrow, smoke-filled tunnels to rescue survivors. A public inquiry never determined why the driver did not brake, inspiring the installation of the Moorgate Protection system to automatically stop trains. The incident remains one of the worst peacetime rail disasters in British history and led to lasting safety improvements on the Underground.
1975
fails to stop
1997day.year
An earthquake in northern Iran is responsible for about 1,100 deaths.
A powerful earthquake struck northern Iran on February 28, 1997, resulting in approximately 1,100 fatalities.
On February 28, 1997, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the mountainous region of northern Iran. The tremor devastated several rural villages near the epicenter, toppling homes and critical infrastructure. Rescue efforts were hampered by harsh weather and remote terrain, delaying aid to survivors. Local hospitals were overwhelmed as the death toll climbed to around 1,100, with many more injured. The disaster prompted an international relief response, including emergency supplies and medical teams. Reconstruction of the hardest-hit areas took months, with rebuilding efforts focusing on earthquake-resistant designs. The tragedy highlighted Iran's vulnerability to seismic activity and the need for improved disaster preparedness.
1997
earthquake
Iran
2001day.year
The 2001 Nisqually earthquake, having a moment magnitude of 6.8, with epicenter in the southern Puget Sound, damages Seattle metropolitan area.
The Nisqually earthquake struck the southern Puget Sound region on February 28, 2001, causing significant damage in the Seattle area.
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake shook the southern Puget Sound in Washington state on February 28, 2001, with its epicenter near Olympia. The quake rattled the Seattle metropolitan area, toppling chimneys, cracking roads, and damaging numerous buildings. Essential services, including power and water, were temporarily disrupted, and bridges were inspected for safety concerns. Thankfully, despite the intensity, the event resulted in remarkably few casualties, with only a handful of injuries reported. Emergency crews responded swiftly to clear debris and restore infrastructure. The Nisqually earthquake highlighted the region's seismic risk and the effectiveness of earthquake readiness measures adopted since the 1980s. It prompted updates to building codes and bolstered public awareness of earthquake survival strategies.
2001
2001 Nisqually earthquake
moment magnitude
epicenter
Puget Sound
Seattle metropolitan area