Extreme Evidence

Episode 2

Mystery on the Mississippi

Fri, Oct 3, 2003

The 763-foot, 70,000-ton Liberian-registered freighter Bright Field was loaded with 64,000 tons of grain and heading down the Mississippi River when the main engine suddenly lost power while navigating a sharp bend. The pilot dropped his anchors to slow the ship but had difficulty steering due to the lack of power necessary to navigate the currents. The freighter plowed nose-first into the Riverwalk shopping mall and hotel, destroyed 15 shops and restaurants, damaged a part of a hotel and condominium and brought down a section of a parking deck. A hole 15 feet in diameter was gouged into its bow. Using computer graphics and amateur videos, investigators will show that a breakdown in an oil pump caused the accident, and pilot Ted Davis will explain how he managed to avoid two cruise ships and a floating casino, preventing an even bigger catastrophe.