This series of 12 video segments examines some of the lessons learned from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. The segments include the unique perspective of two survivors of Chernobyl. The videos offer information about radiation and how EPA is preparing to respond to a large-scale radiological or nuclear incident in the United States.

It was produced and released by the EPA — and archived by TheBlackVault.com. It is an official U.S. Government video.

Document Archive

Recovering from a Nuclear Incident – Lessons Learned from Chernobyl [294 Pages, 8.5MB]

Loading...

Taking too long?

Reload document

| Open in new tab

Download [6.51 MB]

Video Archive

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12

The post Recovering from a Nuclear Incident – Lessons Learned from Chernobyl first appeared on The Black Vault.

The Tybee Island B-47 crash was an incident on February 5, 1958, in which the United States Air Force lost a 7,600-pound (3,400 kg) Mark 15 nuclear bomb in the waters off Tybee Island near Savannah, Georgia, United States.

During a practice exercise, an F-86 fighter plane collided with the B-47 bomber carrying the bomb. To protect the aircrew from a possible detonation in the event of a crash, the bomb was jettisoned. Following several unsuccessful searches, the bomb was presumed lost somewhere in Wassaw Sound off the shores of Tybee Island.

The B-47 bomber was on a simulated combat mission from Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. It was carrying a single 7,600-pound (3,400 kg) bomb. At about 2:00 AM, an F-86 fighter collided with the B-47. The F-86 crashed, after the pilot ejected from the plane. The damaged B-47 remained airborne, plummeting 18,000 feet (5,500 m) from flight level 380 (38,000 feet (12,000 m)) when Major Richardson regained flight control.

The crew requested permission to jettison the bomb, in order to reduce weight and prevent the bomb from exploding during an emergency landing. Permission was granted, and the bomb was jettisoned at 7,200 feet (2,200 m) while the bomber was traveling at about 200 knots (370 km/h). The crew did not see an explosion when the bomb struck the sea. They managed to land the B-47 safely at the nearest base, Hunter Air Force Base. The pilot, Colonel Howard Richardson, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after this incident.

Declassified Documents

 B-47B/F-86L Aircraft Mishap Report, 5 February 1958 2000 Release [154 Pages, 64.7MB]

 B-47B/F-86L Aircraft Mishap Report, 5 February 1958 2017 Release [142 Pages, 65.3MB] – Originally I requested a Mandatory Declassified Review (MDR) on this document, and they asked if I would submit a FOIA instead. I agreed, with the stipulation the record would be reviewed in its entirety for release.  In February of 2017, I received the documents with the exemptions properly cited this time, however, I received a document MORE redacted than originally released in 2000!

The post B-47B/F-86L Aircraft Mishap Report, 5 February 1958 first appeared on The Black Vault.

NOTE: This manual is a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) staff product and is intended to provide information and guidance to NTSB employees who are involved in organizing and conducting investigations. This manual has not been adopted by the NTSB Board Members, is not regulatory in nature, is not a binding statement of policy, and is not all-inclusive.

The recommended procedures are not intended to become obligations of the NTSB or to create any rights in any of the parties to an NTSB investigation. Deviation from the guidance offered in this manual will at times be necessary to meet the specific needs of an investigation. However, such deviations from the guidance offered in this manual shall be within the sole discretion of the appropriate NTSB employees and shall not be the prerogative of parties to the investigation or other individuals not employed by the NTSB.

The procedures in this NTSB Aviation Investigation Manual—Major Team Investigations apply to “Go Team” investigations of major aviation accidents. An investigation of this type could involve more than 100 technical specialists, representing as many as a dozen parties and multiple Federal and local government agencies.

This manual provides general information to assist the investigator-in-charge (IIC), group chairmen, and others who may participate in a major aviation accident investigation. It is intended to provide guidance on the process of conducting a major investigation, from initial notification to the adoption of the final report, probable cause, and recommendations by the Members of the Safety Board.

Although this publication includes some technical information related to investigative activities in major aviation accidents, it is primarily intended to provide guidance of a procedural or administrative nature. Investigators should refer to Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for procedural references and to the ICAO Manual of Aircraft Accident Investigation for technical information and examples of investigative techniques. Other sources, such as military investigation manuals, can also be used to supplement information in the NTSB’s Aviation Investigation Manual.

The Manual

 National Transportation Safety Board – Aviation Investigation Manual – Major Team Investigations, November 2002 [61 Pages, 0.2MB]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/ntsb/MajorInvestigationsManual.pdf

The post National Transportation Safety Board – Aviation Investigation Manual – Major Team Investigations, November 2002 first appeared on The Black Vault.

While sifting through thousands of different pages of documents, I found references to some previously, never-before-released (that I saw) documents about nuclear accidents.

I have always been fascinated by the topic, ever since I saw the 1996 film Broken Arrow.  Yes, I know, a bit cheesy, but I was 15 when it came out – and I was just about to start The Black Vault. I was fascinated to learn, that Broken Arrow was a real term, and in fact, nuclear accidents have plagued American history. So,  when I saw these documents existed, I had to get them!

It took quite a few years – and my FOIA requests bounced around from a few offices. I had to refile to the NNSA in 2015, and in September of 2016, finally received them, declassified.

Declassified Documents

 FOIA Response Letter, Dated September 15, 2016 [3 Pages, 1.1MB]

 History of Accidents Involving Nuclear Materials, May 2, 1971 [5 Pages, 1.8MB]

 Summary of Air Force Nuclear Accidents, February 6, 1968 [4 Pages, 2.2MB]

 History of Accidents Involving Nuclear Materials, May 25, 1966 [8 Pages, 19.9MB]

The post Summaries of Nuclear Weapon and Material Accidents – Department of Energy – National Nuclear Security Administration first appeared on The Black Vault.

 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Aviation Research Report Index for April 1995 (the date on which the Office was established within the FAA) to April 2001 [66 Pages, 9.42mb]

https://documents.theblackvault.com/documents/aviation/FAAReports2001.pdf

The post FAA Office of Aviation Research Report Index first appeared on The Black Vault.