Collision Course

In science it is known as the Butterfly Effect, the idea that for every event that occurs, there are much smaller events that multiply over time. Change one small thing, and you change everything. Make one small mistake and the course of a life is altered forever.

Truxton and Pollux: In the early morning hours of February 18, 1942, a US Navy destroyer and a supply ship grounded themselves on the rocks of Newfoundland's Burin Peninsula. A few men from the Truxton struggled to shore and wandered, frozen and covered in oil, until they found a group of miners on their way to work. The miners roused the surrounding towns of Lawn and St. Lawrence and mounted a massive rescue effort, with some of the townspeople being lost in the process to the high waves and cold temperatures. 200 men died that night, but the Newfoundlanders managed to rescue 168 and nurse them back to health. The President of the US showed his gratitude by having an elementary school built for the St. Lawrence area. In 1988, survivor Lanier Phillips returned and donated $2,000 dollars and a memorial plaque to the school.

PWA 737 Crash in Cranbrook: On February 11, 1978, Pacific Western Airlines 737-200 crashed at Cranbrook Airport. The aircraft crashed after thrust reversers did not fully stow following a rejected landing that was executed in order to avoid a snowplough that was on the runway. A go-around was initiated but the thrust reversers did not stow away properly because hydraulic power, was automatically cut off at lift-off. The aircraft missed the plough, overran the runway, crashed and burned. The crash killed 4 of the 5 crew members and 38 of the 44 passengers.