Cavalese cable-car disaster
Encyclopedia
The Cavalese cable car disaster of 1998 (as distinct from a cable car disaster in the same location in 1976), occurred on 3 February 1998 near the Italian town of Cavalese
, a ski resort
located in the Dolomites
, some 40 km north-east of Trento
. The disaster, which led to the death of 20 people, occurred when a U.S. military plane cut a cable supporting a gondola of an aerial tramway
.
The pilot of the military plane, Captain Richard J. Ashby, and his navigator, Captain Joseph Schweitzer, were put on trial in the United States and were found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide
. Later they were found guilty of obstruction of justice
and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman
for having destroyed a videotape recorded from the plane and were dismissed from the Marines.
This event and the acquittal
of the pilots put pressure on the international relationship between the United States and Italy, where it is known as the Strage del Cermis ("Massacre of Cermis", Cermis
being the mountain to whose peak the cable car travelled).
On 3 February 1998, 14:13 local time, an EA-6B Prowler, BuNo 163045, 'CY-02', callsign Easy 01, an electronic warfare
aircraft belonging to VMAQ-2
of the United States Marine Corps
, struck the cables supporting the aerial tramway
-style cable car
from Cavalese
. The aircraft was flying at a speed of 540 miles per hour (869 km/h) and at an altitude of between 260 and 330 ft (79.2 and 100.6 m) despite orders from the Pentagon to keep above 1000 feet in that area. When reaching approximately 46.283733°N 11.467237°W, the aircraft's right wing struck the cables supporting the cable car. The cable was severed and 20 people in the cabin descending from Cermis
plunged over 80 meters to their deaths. The plane had wing and tail damage but was able to return to its base, Aviano Air Base
.
, five Belgians
, three Italians
, two Poles
, one Austrian
and one Dutch
.
offered an official apology, and promised monetary compensation; the then-United States Ambassador to Italy
, Thomas M. Foglietta
, visited the accident site and knelt in prayer, offering apologies on behalf of the United States.
There were anti-American protests in Italy, where the event received the name of Strage del Cermis .
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 (609.6 m); the pilot said he thought they were 1000 feet (304.8 m). The cable was cut at a height of 360 feet (109.7 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 European public. The manslaughter charges against Schweitzer were then dropped.
ed a second time for obstruction of justice
and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman
, 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. Schweitzer made a plea agreement that came to full light after the military jury deliberated upon sentencing. His agreement prevented him from serving any prison time, but it did not prevent him from receiving a dismissal.
In late 2007, Ashby and Schweitzer asked for a re-examination of their trial and clemency, challenging their dismissals in order to be eligible for military benefits. On this occasion they claimed that during the first trial the prosecutor and the defense secretly agreed to drop the involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide charges, but to keep the obstruction of justice one in order to satisfy the requests coming from Italy. The appeal of Schweitzer was denied in November 2007.
, the US Marine Corps agreed with the results of the Italian officers. The investigation was led by General Michael DeLong, along with Italian Colonels Orfeo Durigon and Fermo Missarino. The document was kept secret until Italian newspaper La Stampa
legally obtained a copy from US Archives and published it on July 13, 2011.
The Marine aircrew was determined to be flying too low and too fast putting themselves and others at risk. The investigation team suggested that disciplinary measures against the flight crew and commanding officers should be taken, agreed that US had to bear the full blame for what happened, and victims' relatives were entitled to receive a monetary settlement.
The commission found that the squadron was deployed at Aviano on August 27, 1997, before the publishing of new directives by the Italian government forbidding flight below 2000 feet (609.6 m) in Trentino Alto Adige. All the squadron's pilots received a copy of the directive. The letter was later found, unopened, in the cockpit of the EA-6B along with maps marking the cable car ropes.
In the report, the pilots are said to be usually well-behaved and sane, without any previous case of drug abuse or psychological stress. Nevertheless, on January 24, they received a formal warning for taking off too low.
On February 2, Schweitzer planned the flight route for a low altitude training mission, using obsolete documents. It was proved that squadron commander, Lieutenant Colonel Muegge, and his assistants Captains Roys, Recce, Watton, and Caramanian did not alert the navigator about the new flight altitude limitations, maybe because the proposed flight had a lower ceiling of 1000 feet (304.8 m), enough to be safe with any cable in the area. The report included an interview with the commander of 31st Fighter Wing, who stated the Muegge confessed to him that he and his crew except Ashby were aware of the current flight limitations. After approving the report, Pace suggested to take disciplinary measures for the commanders, too.
On the morning of the disaster, the plane underwent maintenance due to a fault in the "G meter", which measures g-force
s, and was replaced. The radar altimeter
was checked and reported in normal condition. After the disaster, Ashby reported the radar altimeter did not alert, but this is disputed and highly unlikely. At the time of the disaster, the radar altimeter was set at 800 feet (243.8 m), but the plane was flying at less than 400 feet (121.9 m).
Ashby was qualified for low altitude flight, but his last training mission of that kind was flown over six months before, on July 3. The report includes flight tracing from a nearby AWACS airplane. The document reports a camcorder aboard the flight, but it was blank after being erased by Schweitzer.
In May 1999, the U.S. Congress
rejected a bill that would have set up a $40 million compensation fund for the victims.
In December 1999, the Italian legislature approved a 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.
and the Aiguille du Midi
, in the French Mont Blanc
range.
On 9 March 1976 in the worst cable car accident ever, the Cavalese cable-car disaster, 42 people including 15 children were killed on the same cable car system as this incident, when the supporting cable snapped.
Cavalese
Cavalese is a comune of 3,665 inhabitants in Trentino, northern Italy, a ski resort and the main center in the Val di Fiemme.The cable car from Cavalese to the nearby mountain Cermis has been the site of two major cable-car accidents, one in 1976 and one in 1998 Cavalese is a comune of 3,665...
, a ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
located in the Dolomites
Dolomites
The Dolomites are a mountain range located in north-eastern Italy. It is a part of Southern Limestone Alps and extends from the River Adige in the west to the Piave Valley in the east. The northern and southern borders are defined by the Puster Valley and the Sugana Valley...
, some 40 km north-east of Trento
Trento
Trento is an Italian city located in the Adige River valley in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is the capital of Trentino...
. The disaster, which led to the death of 20 people, occurred when a U.S. military plane cut a cable supporting a gondola of an aerial tramway
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
.
The pilot of the military plane, Captain Richard J. Ashby, and his navigator, Captain Joseph Schweitzer, were put on trial in the United States and were found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide
Negligent homicide
Negligent homicide is a criminal charge brought against people who, through criminal negligence, allow others to die.Negligent Homicide is a lesser included offense to first and second degree murder, in the sense that someone guilty of this offense can expect a more lenient sentence, often with...
. Later they were found guilty of obstruction of justice
Obstruction of justice
The crime of obstruction of justice, in United States jurisdictions, refers to the crime of interfering with the work of police, investigators, regulatory agencies, prosecutors, or other officials...
and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman
Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman
Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman is an offense subject to court martial defined in the punitive code, Article 133, of the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice , enacted at ....
for having destroyed a videotape recorded from the plane and were dismissed from the Marines.
This event and the acquittal
Acquittal
In the common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is abandoned nolle prosequi...
of the pilots put pressure on the international relationship between the United States and Italy, where it is known as the Strage del Cermis ("Massacre of Cermis", Cermis
Cermis
Cermis is a mountain of the Lagorai group in eastern Trentino, Italy in the comune of Cavalese.Part of the Val di Fiemme-Obereggen, it is famous for its ski slopes....
being the mountain to whose peak the cable car travelled).
Details of the accident
Electronic warfare
Electronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...
aircraft belonging to VMAQ-2
VMAQ-2
Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 2 is a United States Marine Corps electronic warfare squadron consisting of EA-6B Prowler jets...
of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, struck the cables supporting the aerial tramway
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
-style cable car
Cable car
A cable car is any of a variety of transportation systems relying on cables to pull vehicles along or lower them at a steady rate, or a vehicle on these systems.-Aerial lift:Aerial lifts where the vehicle is suspended in the air from a cable:...
from Cavalese
Cavalese
Cavalese is a comune of 3,665 inhabitants in Trentino, northern Italy, a ski resort and the main center in the Val di Fiemme.The cable car from Cavalese to the nearby mountain Cermis has been the site of two major cable-car accidents, one in 1976 and one in 1998 Cavalese is a comune of 3,665...
. The aircraft was flying at a speed of 540 miles per hour (869 km/h) and at an altitude of between 260 and 330 ft (79.2 and 100.6 m) despite orders from the Pentagon to keep above 1000 feet in that area. When reaching approximately 46.283733°N 11.467237°W, the aircraft's right wing struck the cables supporting the cable car. The cable was severed and 20 people in the cabin descending from Cermis
Cermis
Cermis is a mountain of the Lagorai group in eastern Trentino, Italy in the comune of Cavalese.Part of the Val di Fiemme-Obereggen, it is famous for its ski slopes....
plunged over 80 meters to their deaths. The plane had wing and tail damage but was able to return to its base, Aviano Air Base
Aviano Air Base
Aviano Air Base is a NATO Air Base under U.S. Air Force administration in northeastern Italy, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. It is located in Aviano municipality, at the foot of the Carnic Pre-Alps, or Southern Carnic Alps, about 15 kilometers from Pordenone.-Units:Aviano is hosted by the...
.
Victims
Those killed, 19 passengers and one operator, were all European nationals: eight GermansGerman nationality law
German citizenship is based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis. In other words one usually acquires German citizenship if a parent is a German citizen, irrespective of place of birth....
, five Belgians
Belgian nationality law
Belgian citizenship is based on a mixture of the principles of Jus sanguinis and Jus soli. In other words, both place of birth and Belgian parentage are relevant for determining whether a person is a Belgian citizen. It is regulated by the Code of Belgian Nationality.In some circumstances...
, three Italians
Italian nationality law
right|200pxItalian nationality law is the law of Italy governing the acquisition, transmission and loss of Italian citizenship. Like many continental European countries it is largely based on jus sanguinis. It also incorporates many elements that are seen as favourable to the Italian diaspora. The...
, two Poles
Polish nationality law
Polish nationality law is based upon the principles of jus sanguinis. Children born to Polish parents usually acquire citizenship irrespective of place of birth. Persons born in Poland to foreign parents do not normally become Polish citizens....
, one Austrian
Austrian nationality law
Austrian citizenship is based primarily on the principle of Jus sanguinis. In other words, one usually acquires Austrian citizenship if a parent is Austrian, irrespective of place of birth.-Birth in Austria:...
and one Dutch
Dutch nationality law
Dutch nationality law is based primarily on the principle of Jus sanguinis and is governed by the Kingdom act regarding Dutch citizenship . Thus citizenship is conferred primarily by birth to a Dutch parent, irrespective of place of birth...
.
- Hadewich Antonissen (24, WechelderzandeWechelderzandeWechelderzande is a small village in the Kempen in the province of Antwerp.Since 1977 it is a part of a larger community: Lille, BelgiumThe centre of the village has a renowned building called Den Hert. At the end of 19th century beginning of the 20th century it was a favourite site for several...
), Belgian - Stefan Bekaert (28, LeuvenLeuvenLeuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
), Belgian - Dieter Frank Blumenfeld (47, BurgstädtBurgstädtBurgstädt is a town in the district of Mittelsachsen, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated 12 km northwest of Chemnitz....
), German - Rose-Marie Eyskens (24, KalmthoutKalmthoutKalmthout is a municipality in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises only the village of Kalmthout. On January 1, 2007 Kalmthout had a population of 17,508. The total area is...
), Belgian - Danielle Groenleer (20, ApeldoornApeldoornApeldoorn is a municipality and city in the province of Gelderland, about 60 miles south east of Amsterdam, in the centre of the Netherlands. It is a regional centre and has 155,000 . The municipality of Apeldoorn, including villages like Beekbergen, Loenen and Hoenderloo, has over 155,000...
), Dutch - Michael Pötschke (28, Burgstädt), German
- Egon Uwe Renkewitz (47, Burgstädt), German
- Marina Mandy Renkewitz (24, Burgstädt), German
- Maria Steiner-Stampfl (61, BrixenBrixenBrixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
), Italian - Ewa Strzelczyk (37, GliwiceGliwiceGliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
), Polish - Filip Strzelczyk (14, Gliwice), Polish
- Annelie (Wessig) Urban (41, Burgstädt), German
- Harald Urban (41, Burgstädt), German
- Sebastian Van den Heede (27, BruggeBrüggeBrügge is a municipality in the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.Its small church and market square are noted for their beauty....
), Belgian - Marcello Vanzo (56, CavaleseCavaleseCavalese is a comune of 3,665 inhabitants in Trentino, northern Italy, a ski resort and the main center in the Val di Fiemme.The cable car from Cavalese to the nearby mountain Cermis has been the site of two major cable-car accidents, one in 1976 and one in 1998 Cavalese is a comune of 3,665...
) cable car operator, Italian - Stefaan Vermander (27, AssebroekAssebroekAssebroek is a suburb in the municipality and city of Bruges, Belgium. In 2004, Assebroek had 19,525 inhabitants. Since 1999, this number has hardly changed...
), Belgian - Anton Voglsang (35, ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
), Austrian - Sonja Weinhofer (22, born in MunichMunichMunich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and living in ViennaViennaVienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
), Austrian - Jürgen Wunderlich (44, Burgstädt), German
- Edeltraud Zanon-Werth (56, born in InnsbruckInnsbruck- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
and living in BrixenBrixenBrixen is the name of two cities in the Alps:*Brixen, South Tyrol, Italy*Brixen im Thale, Tyrol, AustriaBrixen may also refer to:*Bishopric of Brixen, the former north-Italian state....
), Italian
Reactions
President Bill ClintonBill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
offered an official apology, and promised monetary compensation; the then-United States Ambassador to Italy
United States Ambassador to Italy
Since 1840, the United States has had diplomatic representation in the Italian Republic and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Italy, with a break in relations from 1941 to 1944 while Italy and the U.S. were at war during World War II. The U.S. Mission to Italy is headed by the Embassy of the...
, Thomas M. Foglietta
Thomas M. Foglietta
Thomas Michael "Tom" Foglietta was United States Ambassador to Italy and anAmerican politician from the state of Pennsylvania, most notable for his time in the House of Representatives from 1981 to 1997....
, visited the accident site and knelt in prayer, offering apologies on behalf of the United States.
There were anti-American protests in Italy, where the event received the name of Strage del Cermis .
First trial
Italian prosecutors wanted the four Marines to stand trial in Italy, but an Italian court recognized 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
Negligent homicide
Negligent homicide is a criminal charge brought against people who, through criminal negligence, allow others to die.Negligent Homicide is a lesser included offense to first and second degree murder, in the sense that someone guilty of this offense can expect a more lenient sentence, often with...
. Ashby's trial took place at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a United States military training facility in North Carolina. The base's of beaches make it a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports allows for fast deployments.The main base is supplemented by five satellite...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. 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 (609.6 m); the pilot said he thought they were 1000 feet (304.8 m). The cable was cut at a height of 360 feet (109.7 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
Acquittal
In the common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is abandoned nolle prosequi...
Ashby, outraging the European public. The manslaughter charges against Schweitzer were then dropped.
Second trial and re-examination
The two men were court-martialCourt-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
ed a second time for obstruction of justice
Obstruction of justice
The crime of obstruction of justice, in United States jurisdictions, refers to the crime of interfering with the work of police, investigators, regulatory agencies, prosecutors, or other officials...
and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman
Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman
Conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman is an offense subject to court martial defined in the punitive code, Article 133, of the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice , enacted at ....
, 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. Schweitzer made a plea agreement that came to full light after the military jury deliberated upon sentencing. His agreement prevented him from serving any prison time, but it did not prevent him from receiving a dismissal.
In late 2007, Ashby and Schweitzer asked for a re-examination of their trial and clemency, challenging their dismissals in order to be eligible for military benefits. On this occasion they claimed that during the first trial the prosecutor and the defense secretly agreed to drop the involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide charges, but to keep the obstruction of justice one in order to satisfy the requests coming from Italy. The appeal of Schweitzer was denied in November 2007.
US official report
In a formal investigation report redacted a month after the tragedy (March 10, 1998) and signed by general Peter PacePeter Pace
Peter Pace is a retired United States Marine Corps general who served as the 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first Marine appointed to the United States' highest-ranking military office. Appointed by President George W. Bush, Pace succeeded U.S. Air Force General Richard Myers on...
, the US Marine Corps agreed with the results of the Italian officers. The investigation was led by General Michael DeLong, along with Italian Colonels Orfeo Durigon and Fermo Missarino. The document was kept secret until Italian newspaper La Stampa
La Stampa
La Stampa is one of the best-known, most influential and most widely sold Italian daily newspapers. Published in Turin, it is distributed in Italy and other European nations. The current owner is the Fiat Group.-History:...
legally obtained a copy from US Archives and published it on July 13, 2011.
The Marine aircrew was determined to be flying too low and too fast putting themselves and others at risk. The investigation team suggested that disciplinary measures against the flight crew and commanding officers should be taken, agreed that US had to bear the full blame for what happened, and victims' relatives were entitled to receive a monetary settlement.
The commission found that the squadron was deployed at Aviano on August 27, 1997, before the publishing of new directives by the Italian government forbidding flight below 2000 feet (609.6 m) in Trentino Alto Adige. All the squadron's pilots received a copy of the directive. The letter was later found, unopened, in the cockpit of the EA-6B along with maps marking the cable car ropes.
In the report, the pilots are said to be usually well-behaved and sane, without any previous case of drug abuse or psychological stress. Nevertheless, on January 24, they received a formal warning for taking off too low.
On February 2, Schweitzer planned the flight route for a low altitude training mission, using obsolete documents. It was proved that squadron commander, Lieutenant Colonel Muegge, and his assistants Captains Roys, Recce, Watton, and Caramanian did not alert the navigator about the new flight altitude limitations, maybe because the proposed flight had a lower ceiling of 1000 feet (304.8 m), enough to be safe with any cable in the area. The report included an interview with the commander of 31st Fighter Wing, who stated the Muegge confessed to him that he and his crew except Ashby were aware of the current flight limitations. After approving the report, Pace suggested to take disciplinary measures for the commanders, too.
On the morning of the disaster, the plane underwent maintenance due to a fault in the "G meter", which measures g-force
G-force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall. This acceleration experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of non-gravitational forces acting on an object free to move. The accelerations that are not produced by gravity are termed proper accelerations, and...
s, and was replaced. The radar altimeter
Radar altimeter
A radar altimeter, radio altimeter, low range radio altimeter or simply RA measures altitude above the terrain presently beneath an aircraft or spacecraft...
was checked and reported in normal condition. After the disaster, Ashby reported the radar altimeter did not alert, but this is disputed and highly unlikely. At the time of the disaster, the radar altimeter was set at 800 feet (243.8 m), but the plane was flying at less than 400 feet (121.9 m).
Ashby was qualified for low altitude flight, but his last training mission of that kind was flown over six months before, on July 3. The report includes flight tracing from a nearby AWACS airplane. The document reports a camcorder aboard the flight, but it was blank after being erased by Schweitzer.
Compensation
By February 1999, the victims' families had received $65,000 per victim as immediate help by the Italian government, which was reimbursed by the U.S. government.In May 1999, the U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
rejected a bill that would have set up a $40 million compensation fund for the victims.
In December 1999, the Italian legislature approved a 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.
Theatre play
On 9 January 2002, at Bolzano's Teatro Studio has been represented a dramatic play called Ciò che non si può dire - Il Racconto del Cermis (Cermis Tale - What cannot be told), written by Italian novelist Pino Loperfido, author of the namesake book published in 2001 by Curcu & Genovese.Other incidents
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 peakPointe Helbronner
Pointe Helbronner is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps on the watershed between France and Italy.The peak which previously was a mere geodetic reference point was named after Paul Helbronner, a French polytechnicien, alpinist and geodesist who pioneered cartography of the...
and the Aiguille du Midi
Aiguille du Midi
The Aiguille du Midi is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps.The cable car to the summit, the Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi, was built in 1955 and held the title of the world's highest cable car for about two decades. It still holds the record as the highest vertical ascent...
, in the French Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco , meaning "White Mountain", is the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe and the European Union. It rises above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence...
range.
On 9 March 1976 in the worst cable car accident ever, the Cavalese cable-car disaster, 42 people including 15 children were killed on the same cable car system as this incident, when the supporting cable snapped.