Cavalese cable-car disaster

There have been two cable car disasters in the Italian ski-resort Cavalese, one in 1976 and one in 1998. Cavalese is located in the Dolomites, some 40 km North-East of Trento.

1976

On 9 March 1976, in the worst cable car accident ever, 42 people including 15 children died when the steel cable of their cable car broke. "42 Skiers Are Killed in Italy When Cable Car Falls 200 Feet", The New York Times, March 10, 1976 Most of the victims were Germans from Hamburg. The cabin fell some 700 feet (200 m) down a mountainside, and then a heavy overhead carriage assembly fell on top of it. Only one passenger survived, a 14 year old girl.

1998

On 3 February 1998, an EA-6B Prowler, an electronic warfare (anti-radar) aircraft belonging to the U.S. Marines struck a cable supporting a gondola in Cavalese. The cable was severed and 20 people in the cabin plunged over 80 metres to their deaths. The plane had wing and tail damage but was able to return to the base.

Those killed, 19 passengers and one operator, were all of European nationalities: eight Germans (one of whom lived in Austria), five Belgians, three Italians, two Poles, one Austrian and one Dutch.

President Bill Clinton apologized for the accident a few days after it occurred, and promised monetary compensation.

The incident strained the relationship between Americans and Italians. There were anti-American protests in Italy, with slogans like NATO per uccidere (Born to kill, using a double meaning of "NATO" in Italian). Some complained about American use of Italian air bases. The name given to the accident by the Italians, "The Massacre of Cermis" (Cermis being the name of the nearest mountain), clearly shows the reaction of the Italian public.

Italian prosecutors wanted the four Marines to stand trial in Italy, but an Italian court determined that NATO treaties gave jurisdiction to U.S. military courts.

Initially, all four men on the plane were charged, but only the pilot Captain Richard J. Ashby and his navigator Captain Joseph Schweitzer actually faced trial, charged with 20 counts of involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide. Ashby's trial took place at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. It was determined that the maps on board did not show the cables and that the EA-6B was flying somewhat faster and considerably lower than allowed by military regulations. The restrictions in effect at the time required a minimum flying height of 2000 feet (600 m); the pilot said he thought they were 1000 feet (300 m). The cable was cut at a height of 360 feet (110 m). The pilot further claimed that the height-measuring equipment on his plane had been malfunctioning, and that he had been unaware of the speed restrictions. In March 1999, the jury acquitted Ashby, outraging the Italian public. The manslaughter charges against Schweitzer were then dropped.

The two men were court-martialed a second time for obstruction of justice, because they had destroyed a videotape recorded from the plane on the day of the accident. They were found guilty in May 1999; both were dismissed from the service and the pilot received a six month prison term. He was released after four and a half months for good behavior. Shortly after his release, Ashby caused a disturbance at a Las Vegas casino and was cited for trespassing.

By February 1999, the victims' families had received little compensation ($65000 per victim) as immediate help by the Italian government, which was reimbursed by the U.S. government."America's Obligation in Italy", The New York Times, March 10, 1999In May 1999, the U.S. Congress rejected a bill that would have set up a $40 million compensation fund for the victims."US Congress decision not acceptable for Cavalese victims' lawyer", Agence France Presse, May 17, 1999In December 1999, the Italian legislature approved a generous monetary compensation plan for the families ($1.9 million per victim). NATO treaties obliged the US government to pay 75% of this compensation, which it did."Families of victims in Italian ski-lift disaster compensated", Agence France Presse, April 26, 2000

There had been a similar incident in August 1961 when six people died after a low-flying French military plane cut the cables of a cable car between the Helbronner peak and the Aiguille du Midi, in the French Mont Blanc range.

References