History's A Disaster

Send us Fan Mail On July 19, 1989, United Airlines Flight 232 suffered a catastrophic engine failure resulting in the loss of hydraulic controls, leading to a dramatic emergency landing. Despite the crisis, the quick thinking and skillful actions of Captain Al Haynes, First Officer Bill Records, and DC-10 instructor Denny Fitch saved 185 lives from what could have been a total disaster. The subseq...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of History's a Disaster, host Andrew takes us through the tragic and mysterious sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior during a massive thunderstorm on November 10th, 1975. The episode details the ship's origins, its successful career, and the fateful final voyage alongside the Arthur M. Anderson. Theories surrounding the ship's disappe...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'History's A Disaster,' hosted by Andrew, we delve into the tragic events of the 1982 Alpine Meadows Avalanche in California. Leading up to March 31st, unprecedented snowfall and high winds triggered a massive avalanche at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, destroying buildings and rendering eight people missing. Despite rigorous avalanche control measure...

Send us Fan Mail This episode discusses the tragic volcanic eruption of Whakaari Island on December 9, 2019. Host Andrew explores the sequence of events that led to the eruption during a guided tour, which resulted in 22 deaths and numerous injuries. The episode delves into the heroic efforts of survivors and rescuers, the aftermath of the disaster, and the legal consequences faced by the tour ope...

Send us Fan Mail The Tragic Murder of Christopher Meyer In this episode, Andrew delves into the harrowing 1995 case of 10-year-old Christopher Meyer, who disappeared while fishing in Aroma Park, Illinois. The investigation quickly led to the arrest of convicted child killer Timothy Buss, a man with a disturbingly violent past. The episode provides a detailed timeline of events, from Christopher&ap...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'History's a Disaster,' Andrew delves into the tragic events of the 1955 24 Hours of LeMans racing event in France, where a catastrophic accident led to the deaths of 84 people, making it the worst disaster in motorsport history. The episode recounts the sequence of events, starting from the race's inception, highlighting the poor track desig...

Send us Fan Mail The Great Influenza Epidemic: Misnamed, Deadly, and Unforgettable This episode of History's a Disaster, hosted by Andrew, explores the Great Influenza Epidemic of 1918, often misnamed as the Spanish Flu. The virus, caused by the H1N1 strain, spread in three waves during and after World War I, resulting in the deadliest pandemic in recorded history. Despite heavy censorship du...

Send us Fan Mail On February 22, 1978, a Louisville and Nashville train derailed in Waverly, Tennessee, causing a catastrophic propane explosion during cleanup efforts. The incident resulted in 16 deaths, over 200 injuries, and widespread destruction. This episode delves into the details of the derailment, the ensuing explosion, and the emergency response led by Dr. Subhi Ali. It also explores the...

Send us Fan Mail The 1956 Grand Canyon Mid-Air Collision: Tragic Prelude to Aviation Reform On June 30, 1956, two passenger planes collided over the Grand Canyon, resulting in no survivors and a devastating disaster that spurred significant changes in aviation safety regulations. This episode of 'History's A Disaster' with Andrew examines the circumstances leading to the collision b...

Send us Fan Mail The Tragic Iroquois Theater Fire of 1903 On December 30th, 1903, a fire broke out during a packed matinee performance at the Iroquois Theater in Chicago, leading to the deadliest single-building fire in American history, with over 600 casualties. Claimed to be 'nearly fireproof,' the theater's inadequate safety measures and locked exits contributed to the high death...

Send us Fan Mail In the concluding episode of the series on the Light Brigade, host Andrew dives into the aftermath of the infamous charge during the Crimean War. The episode covers the hardships the brigade faced, including severe winter conditions and lack of supplies, leading to the decimation of their horses and suffering among the men. Lords Raglan, Lucan, and Cardigan are embroiled in a blam...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'History's a Disaster,' host Andrew delves into the dramatic and tragic charge of the Light Brigade during the Battle of Bo Cova in the Crimean War. The episode covers the events leading up to the military action, the charge itself, and the subsequent chaos. Poorly communicated orders and strategic errors by British commanders, including Lord Ragl...

Send us Fan Mail The episode of 'History's a Disaster' hosted by Andrew delves into the infamous charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War. It covers the historical context leading up to the disastrous charge on October 25, 1854, including Russian expansion, British and French involvement for geopolitical reasons, and the personal rivalries and incompetence among British mi...

Send us Fan Mail In May 1864, the merchant ship Invercauld wrecked on Auckland Island, just four months after the Grafton, but neither crew knew of the other's presence. Host Andrew recounts the Invercauld's grim tale, contrasting the successful survival strategy of the Grafton crew with the Invercauld's disastrous lack of leadership under Captain Delgardo. The story highlights the...

Send us Fan Mail On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103, a Boeing 747 operated by Pan-American World Airways, was destroyed by a bomb over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 259 passengers and crew members, and 11 more on the ground. This episode of History's a Disaster, hosted by Andrew, delves into the deadliest terrorist attack in UK history, detailing the investigation and the hunt for the...

Send us Fan Mail In January 1864, the five-man crew of the schooner Grafton wrecked off Auckland Island's coast and survived for 18 months. Led by French sailor Francois Rain and Captain Thomas Musgrave, the crew operated on a communal basis, shared resources, and worked together to create shelter, find food, and build a forge to manufacture tools. They constructed a sturdy dinghy, named &apo...

Send us Fan Mail On part 2 Andrew takes a look into the life and crimes of serial killer John Reginald Christi Facebook: historyisadisaster Instagram: historysadisaster email: historysadisaster@gmail.com Special thank you to Lunarfall Audio for producing and doing all the heavy lifting on audio editing since April 13, 2025, the Murder of Christopher Meyer episode https://lunarfallaudio.com/

Send us Fan Mail Andrew takes a dive into postwar London, what happened during the disaster and the aftermath that follows Facebook: historyisadisaster Instagram: historysadisaster email: historysadisaster@gmail.com Special thank you to Lunarfall Audio for producing and doing all the heavy lifting on audio editing since April 13, 2025, the Murder of Christopher Meyer episode https://lunarfallaudio...

Send us Fan Mail Andrew takes a look back at the Susan Smith case, her trial, what shes been up to in prison and her recent parole hearing Facebook: historyisadisaster Instagram: historysadisaster email: historysadisaster@gmail.com Special thank you to Lunarfall Audio for producing and doing all the heavy lifting on audio editing since April 13, 2025, the Murder of Christopher Meyer episode https:...

Send us Fan Mail Andrew takes a look at the truth behind the Pied Piper fairy tale. Discussing theories about what really happened Facebook: historyisadisaster Instagram: historysadisaster email: historysadisaster@gmail.com Special thank you to Lunarfall Audio for producing and doing all the heavy lifting on audio editing since April 13, 2025, the Murder of Christopher Meyer episode https://lunarf...

Send us Fan Mail Andrew takes a dive into the case of Philip Austin. An English killer who murdered his wife and children Facebook: historyisadisaster Instagram: historysadisaster email: historysadisaster@gmail.com Special thank you to Lunarfall Audio for producing and doing all the heavy lifting on audio editing since April 13, 2025, the Murder of Christopher Meyer episode https://lunarfallaudio....

Send us Fan Mail Andrew takes a look into the history of the Challenger shuttle, the cause of the disaster and the aftermath Facebook: historyisadisaster Instagram: historysadisaster email: historysadisaster@gmail.com Special thank you to Lunarfall Audio for producing and doing all the heavy lifting on audio editing since April 13, 2025, the Murder of Christopher Meyer episode https://lunarfallaud...

Send us Fan Mail A quick update on the show and the upcoming rebrand to the new name History's A Disaster Facebook: historyisadisaster Instagram: historysadisaster email: historysadisaster@gmail.com Special thank you to Lunarfall Audio for producing and doing all the heavy lifting on audio editing since April 13, 2025, the Murder of Christopher Meyer episode https://lunarfallaudio.com/

Send us Fan Mail Andrew takes a closer look at the great fire that destroyed Chicago in 1871. Dispels some myths surrounded the fire and a look at who possibly caused the fire SInce the release of this episode the podcast has been renamed and certain elements in the intro and conclusion may not reflect those changes Facebook: historyisadisaster Instagram: historysadisaster email: historysadisaster...

Send us Fan Mail A look into the most famous aviation disaster in history. The Hindenburg SInce the release of this episode the podcast has been renamed and certain elements in the intro and conclusion may not reflect those changes Facebook: historyisadisaster Instagram: historysadisaster email: historysadisaster@gmail.com Special thank you to Lunarfall Audio for producing and doing all the heavy...