Willow Island disaster
Willow Island Memorial | |
| Date | April 27, 1978 |
|---|---|
| Location | Willow Island, West Virginia |
| Coordinates | 39°22′02″N 81°17′29″W / 39.367238°N 81.291484°W |
| Cause | Failure of scaffolding |
| Deaths | 51 |
The Willow Island disaster was the collapse of a cooling tower under construction at the Pleasants Power Station at Willow Island, West Virginia, on April 27, 1978. Fifty-one construction workers were killed. It is thought to be the deadliest construction accident in U.S. history.