Black Sunday

As most of you know today was black sunday at PKI. I was wondering if any of you were there that day. For any of you who do not know what black sunday is, you can look at the rollback today. (6/9/04) If any of you were there please tell what it was like and what happened.

Actually don't you mean that "On this date in 1991 it was Black Sunday at KI"?

I was not there, but one of my very best friends was. He worked, at the time, as a show technician in the Festhaus. He can tell you in vivid recollection all that happened that day.

However, most people that worked (or still work) at KI that were there that day prefer to not recall it.

Many people confuse the incidents and how they occurred. The lake electrocutions happened first, and three people were involved. Two of the three died including a security officer. As soon as it happened, that area of the park was evacuated and closed off. The Festhaus was immediately closed and staff sent home. Life-Flight choppers flew into the park to take the victims.

Other areas of the park remained operational as normal, with KI trying hard to not upset guests or disrupt all park operations. However within minutes, the accident occurred on Flight Commander. Initial thoughts of inspectors and park officials were that the female had chosen to ride the attraction in order to get a better look at what was going on in Octoberfest and wiggled out of the restraint to see.

Of course later investigation found that she had an exhorbitant blood-alchohol level and had passed out on the attraction. A design flaw was eventually found after a lengthy investigation. It was discovered that the combination of her passing out, with the ability for a small person to fall sideways out of the restraint, led to the fatality.

Upon the second accident, the entire park was evacuated immediately and closed for the remainder of the day.

Shaggy

*** Edited 6/9/2004 5:50:17 PM UTC by Shaggy***

I was at the park that day with my niece, who was probably about 13 at the time. We had to have been in the park at the time of the first incident, in fact, we realized we were probably just walking by there (only out on International Street) as we were heading for the front gate. By the time we got home the news of the two accidents were all over the TV and we were shocked. My niece had ridden FC that morning, if I am not mistaken. It felt odd to have been among what what going on and have no idea it was happening until we got home.

I was not there, but I remember that morning as if it were yesterday. I was in the third row of my church's 15-passenger church van, getting ready to leave for a mission trip to Grundy, VA, when we heard the news on the radio.

I was there the day before. I just remember hearing the news and didn't believe it. To this day, I still walk by the pond and can't help but think about that day.

-Sean

Den, You went to Grundy, VA? Wow, talk about devotion(course I've been to Grundy plenty of times on religious related stuff, but I have friends there;)).

I remember when I went in 94 hearing about Black sunday, esp. while we were on flight commmander(my friend had been there the week after, and was telling me as we went up the tower). Shame about that ride, wish they would have modified the restraints instead as it was alot of fun.

They did modify the restraints. It was closed because of low ridership.

And closed years AFTER the incident.

Shaggy

Just a question. Why doesn't RCDB have any information on this coaster? It's called Flight Commander, correct? I can't find anything.

I thought it was eventually closed because of the outcome of the incident. Ah well, I still miss it. Oh, and carrouseler, Flight Commander wasn't a coaster, it was the best flat ride I've ever been on:).

Really, you thought it was the best?

Not me, it garnered a big "Yaaaaaaawn" as far as I was concerned.... hence no line... ever.

;-)

Shaggy

Ohh, thanks TeknoScropion.:)

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Shaggy said:
Really, you thought it was the best?

Not me, it garnered a big "Yaaaaaaawn" as far as I was concerned.... hence no line... ever.

;-)

Shaggy

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I'll second that. You barely noticed any elevation changes and the barrel rolling was all jerky.

Tekno - yeah, I went twice to help out with painting, sanding desks, clearing out buildings, etc. It was a blast.

I always liked Flight Commander for some reason. I always tried to wiggle the joystick back and forth to make it stay upside down as long as possible. I remember going the week it reopened and attempting to sit in the car the woman fell out of...

I can't help but ask why you'd want to sit in the same car someone previously fell out of, but for some reason I think I'd do the same thing. ;)

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carrouseler said:
Just a question. Why doesn't RCDB have any information on this coaster? It's called Flight Commander, correct? I can't find anything.

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It is not a coaster. It is "flight simulator".

http://www.pkicentral.com/Parkinfo/parkhistory/photos/robert/5.jpg

Haha. Very true Marimba. I too can say that it was my favorite flat ride in the park. I don't know, there was just some appeal to me about going upside down that slow and that high. It was just really fun. I can understand why some people found it boring though. I still wish we had it...

But, I don't know if I could say that it is still my favorite flat ride. With all the new types that have come out over the years since it has closed, it's too hard to compare. Gotta love Delirium, right? ;)

-Darth