List of catastrophic collapses of broadcast masts and towers

Last updated

This is a list of catastrophic collapses of broadcast masts and towers.

Masts and towers can collapse as a result of natural disasters, such as storms and fires; from engineering defects; and from accidents, sabotage or warfare.

List of collapses

LocationDateMode of constructionHeight
(meters)
Reason for collapseRemarks
Flag of England.svg Poldhu, Cornwall, EnglandSeptember 17, 190120 wooden poles arranged in a circle64StormIdentical design to South Wellfleet installation. Replaced by four free-standing wooden lattice towers
Flag of the United States.svg South Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, United StatesNovember 25, 190120 wooden poles arranged in a circle64StormIdentical design to Poldhu installation. Replaced by 4 free-standing wooden lattice towers.
Flag of Scotland.svg Machrihanish, Scotland [1] December 5, 1906Guyed steel tubular mast128StormUsed for transatlantic communication with Brant Rock, Massachusetts, U.S. Never replaced.
Flag of the German Empire.svg Nauen, GermanyMarch 30, 1912Guyed steel lattice mast200StormWas the oldest continuously operating radio transmitting installation in the world.
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Java, Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia)1923??Lightning
Flag of Germany.svg Norddeich, GermanyNovember 25, 1925Guyed steel lattice mast ?StormThree towers collapsed
Flag of Germany.svg Place of Magdeburg Transmitter, Berlin, GermanyJuly 1926Guyed mast on roof top ?Guy cable rusted through
Flag of Germany.svg Western mast of Zeesen transmitter, Zeesen, Germany1927Guyed steel lattice mast210Collapse at construction
Flag of Germany.svg Munich-Stadelheim, GermanyNovember 23, 1930Free standing wood lattice tower75StormTwo towers snapped off 25 metres above ground
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Langenberg, GermanyOctober 10, 1935Free standing wood lattice tower150TornadoReplaced by triangle antenna
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Liechtenstein-Haberfeld transmitterNovember 21, 1938Storm
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg Utbremen Radio Tower, Bremen, Germany1939Free standing wood lattice tower90LightningReplaced by steel tower
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Radio Normandie Transmitter, Tower West, Fécamp, France [2] November 7, 1940Free standing lattice tower113Storm
Flag of Germany.svg Langenberg, Germany1949Guyed steel tube mast51StormTwo masts of a triangle aerial
Flag of Germany.svg Schwerin-Möwenburgstrasse transmitter, Schwerin, GermanyFebruary 10, 1949Guyed steel lattice mast120Storm
Flag of Germany.svg Hamburg-Billwerder, West GermanyDecember 1949Guyed steel lattice mast198StormPartial destruction of a guyed mast under construction
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Augusta, Michigan November 30, 1953Guyed steel tube mastAircraft collisionFormer Michigan Governor Kim Sigler, who was piloting the plane, and three passengers were killed.
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania March 11, 1955Steel lattice mastWindstorm WENS television. The lower part of the tower is still visible and in use.
Flag of Cyprus (1922-1960).svg Nicosia, Cyprus 1955SabotageDestroyed by EOKA rebels
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg WOAI, Selma, Texas [3] April 3, 1956 [4] Guyed steel lattice mast100Aircraft collisionHit by a B-29. [4]
Flag of Germany.svg Ochsenkopf, West GermanyJanuary 1958Guyed steel tube mast50IceReplaced by concrete tower
Flag of the United States.svg KAYS-TV Tower, Hays, Kansas May 29, 1959Guyed steel tube mast224Storm with 105 kt winds [5] Top 150 m of the tower toppled. Replaced within three months by a mast 251 m tall.
Flag of the United States (1959-1960).svg KOBR-TV Tower, Caprock, New Mexico 1960Guyed lattice steel mast491StormReplaced by new mast of same height
Flag of the United States.svg LORAN-C location transmitter, Carolina Beach, North Carolina, US1961Lattice Tower191StormTower buckled at 2/3 of height. Tower carried radials (wires attached radially in a horizontal plane) on its top although it was not designed for them.
Flag of France.svg Villebon-sur-Yvette, FranceDecember 10, 1961Guyed steel lattice mast ?Terrorism
Flag of Denmark.svg LORAN-C transmitter Ejde, Ejde, Faroe Islands1962Guyed steel lattice mast190Material faultSlip of guy
Flag of the United States.svg KGW Tower, Portland, Oregon, USOctober 12, 1962Guyed steel lattice mast180Storm Columbus Day Storm of 1962
Flag of Denmark.svg Angissq LORAN-C transmitter, Angissq, GreenlandJuly 27, 1964Guyed steel lattice mast411Material faultReplaced by a 214 m (704 ft)) tall mast radiator
Flag of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.svg Yap LORAN-C transmitter, Yap Island, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (modern-day Micronesia)1964Guyed steel lattice mast305Collapsed during construction
Flag of Japan.svg Iwo Jima LORAN-C transmitter, Japan1965Guyed steel lattice mast411Maintenance workThe collapsing mast also destroyed the transmitter building. Six persons were killed.
Flag of Australia (converted).svg SES8 Tower, Mount Burr, South Australia,1965Guyed steel lattice mast200Structural failure during guy wire tension testing
Flag of the United States.svg KXJB-TV mast, Galesburg, North Dakota February 14, 1968Guyed steel lattice mast628Helicopter collision
Flag of the United States.svg WLBT Tower, Raymond, Mississippi March 3, 1966Guyed steel lattice487 F5 tornado Replaced with 609.3 m tower which collapsed in 1997
Flag of the United States.svg KBIM-TV, at Caprock, New MexicoApril 1, 1966unknown411Unknown [6]
Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg XHI-TV Tower, Ciudad Obregón, Mexico September 28, 1966 ?200 Hurricane Kristen Replaced with a temporary tower; station relocated to Yucuribampo Hill
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Waltham mast, UKNovember 17, 1966Guyed tubular steel mast290StormHigh winds caused oscillations in the mast structure
Flag of the United States.svg WNBC-AM, WCBS-AM, at High Island, New York, [7] August 27, 1967Guyed lattice steel mast161Aircraft collision
Flag of the United States.svg KELO TV Tower, Rowena, South Dakota June 24, 1968Guyed steel lattice mast609Airplane collision during thunderstorm
Flag of the United States.svg WAEO Tower, Starks, Wisconsin November 17, 1968Guyed steel lattice mast524Collapse due to plane collision with guy wire
Flag of Luxembourg.svg Marnach, LuxembourgJanuary 17, 1969 ?Plane crash ?
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Emley Moor, Great BritainMarch 19, 1969Guyed tubular steel mast385IceReplaced by 330 m free-standing concrete tower
Flag of Sweden.svg Orlunda, SwedenJuly 12, 1970Guyed steel lattice mast250LightningThe base insulator was destroyed
Flag of the United States.svg KOIN-TV Towers, Portland, Oregon February 28, 1971Guyed steel lattice mast305 & 213IceTwo towers collapsed
Flag of the United States.svg KSTP-TV and WCCO-TV, Shoreview, Minnesota September 7, 1971Guyed steel lattice mast411Structural failure during constructionSeven technicians were killed while lifting the first of three large antenna sections into place at the top of the tower. [8]
Flag of East Germany.svg Königs Wusterhausen, East GermanyNovember 15, 1972Lattice steel tower243Storm
Flag of the United States.svg Bithlo (near Orlando), Florida, USJune 8, 1973Guyed Steel Tower457Removal of load-bearing diagonals during FM antenna installationMulti-station tower supporting antennas of TV stations WDBO-TV, WFTV, and WMFE-TV, and radio stations WDBO-FM and WDIZ-FM – two workers on tower killed
Flag of the United States.svg KCRG-TV Tower Walker, Iowa October 4, 1973Guyed Steel Tower598Tower modificationsTower being modified prior to installation of Iowa Public Television side-mounted antenna – five workers on tower site killed
Flag of France.svg TV Mast Brest - Roc'h Trédudon, FranceFebruary 1974Guyed steel lattice mast218TerrorismA slightly higher tower, 225 m, has been built since.
Flag of the United States.svg KELO TV Tower, Rowena, South Dakota, US1975Guyed steel lattice mast610Blizzard
Flag of East Germany.svg Sendemast SL3, Burg bei Magdeburg, East GermanyFebruary 18, 1976Guyed steel lattice mast350Material fault
Flag of France.svg Pic de Nore transmitter, Pic de Nore, FranceDecember 2, 1976Concrete tower80StormStorm tore pinnacle down
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CKVR Television Tower, Barrie, Ontario, CanadaSeptember 7, 1977Guyed steel lattice mast305Aircraft collision
Flag of the United States.svg KSLA-TV Tower, Mooringsport, LA October 8, 1977Guyed steel lattice mast521Undetermined1709 feet HAAT. Erected November 17, 1964. Had elevator, RCA Travelling Wave pylon antenna for Channel 12 (System M), land mobile antennas, all lost. RCA contractor for erection, stainless subcontractor. No definitive cause ever found for collapse. Speculation of "galloping guy lines" (mechanical standing waves in one of the guys), causing stress-to-failure in the guys due to rapidly alternating strain.
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg TV mast of Shaanxi No.9 Transmitting Station, Chang'an, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China December 16, 1977 [9] Guyed steel tubular mast26Ice
Flag of the United States.svg WJJY TV Mast, Bluffs, IL March 26, 1978Guyed steel lattice mast49124 two-inch coupling bolts connecting the second and third sections of the tower snapped due to ice formationIn August 1969. This tower was one of the three tallest structures in the Northern Hemisphere and its transmitter radiated the most powerful UHF-TV signal in the world.[ citation needed ] TV channel 14 (470-476 MHz). Collapsed Easter Sunday. 39°45′31″N90°31′8″W / 39.75861°N 90.51889°W / 39.75861; -90.51889 (WJPT)
Flag of the United States.svg WAND TV Tower, Decatur March 26, 1978Guyed steel lattice mast400Upper section of antenna broke loose and destroyed guy wires due to ice stormWAND and WJJY used the same RCA UHF antennas, mfg in 1969. TV channel 17 (488-494 MHz) Collapsed Easter Sunday.
Flag of the United States.svg Nebraska Education Tower, Angora February 1978Guyed steel lattice mast457Ice
Flag of East Germany.svg Zehlendorf bei Oranienburg, East GermanyMay 21, 1978Guyed steel lattice mast352Aircraft collision
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Vysílač Krašov, Bezvěrov, Czechoslovakia1979Guyed mast of lattice steel305IceMast was predamaged
Flag of Sweden.svg Blåbärskullen transmitter, Sunne, SwedenDecember 27, 1979Guyed mast of lattice steel323IcePinnacle with broadcasting antennas fell down, height afterwards 274 metres
Flag of Norway.svg LORAN-C transmitter Jan Mayen, Jan Mayen, NorwayOctober 8, 1980Guyed mast of lattice steel190IceGuy supports were improperly installed
Flag of Malta.svg Delimora Transmitter, MaltaGuyed mast of lattice steel88Melting of guy supportsThe guy wires were made of polymer, which melted as a result of a high electric field strength storm
Flag of Luxembourg.svg Dudelange Radio Tower, LuxembourgJuly 31, 1981Lattice steel tower285Aircraft collisionDebris of the tower killed a couple in a house near the tower.
Flag of the United States.svg WWAY tower, Winnabow, North Carolina 1981Lattice steel tower ?Aircraft collisionHit by a military jet. Replaced with one nearly 2,000 feet (610 m) tall.
Flag of the United States.svg WCIQ Tower, Mount Cheaha, Alabama January 1982Guyed steel lattice mast ? Ice storm
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg main mast of Shaanxi No.10 Transmitting Station, Chunhua, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China May 2, 1982 [10] Guyed steel lattice mast129 [11] High winds and corrosion
Flag of the United States.svg Senior Road Tower, Missouri City, Texas, USDecember 7, 1982Guyed steel lattice mast569Guy support wire severedTotal collapse during installation of 6-ton FM antenna on new 1800 ft. tower. Five technicians killed: two on the hoist riding the FM antenna up and three on the tower. Determined insufficient sized bolts on the makeshift lifting lug extension failed. The falling debris severed one of the tower's guy wires which caused the tower to whip back and forth and collapse.
Flag of the United States.svg KANU tower, Lawrence, KS December 11, 1982Guyed steel lattice mast184SabotageGuy wires severed
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CKX-TV Craig Television Tower, Canada1983Guyed mast412Ice
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg TV mast Wavre, BelgiumOctober 13, 1983Guyed mast315Storm
Flag of the United States.svg KWWL, Rowley, Iowa November 28, 1983Guyed steel lattice mast610Ice
Flag of Germany.svg Bielstein, West GermanyJanuary 15, 1985Guyed steel tube mast298Ice
Flag of the United States.svg San Francisco, CA, US - Candlestick HillFebruary 14, 1986Self-supporting tower137High windKYA transmitter placed in service in 1937. Failure may have resulted from tower leg insulator replacement where all-thread rod was not long enough to fully engage securing nut.
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Caroline 558 and Radio Monique mast, aboard MV Ross Revenge, off English coastNovember 25, 1987Lattice steel tower92Force 8 stormTallest ever mast aboard any ship. It was replaced by horizontal wire antenna between two shorter masts.
Flag of the United States.svg KTUL Tower Coweta, OK December 26, 1987Lattice steel guyed tower582Ice stormListed at 1909 feet
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg a mast in NRTA Transmitting Station 501, Anning, Kunming, Yunnan, China January 1988Guyed steel lattice mast143.5Material fault and high winds [12]
Flag of the United States.svg KTVO-TV Tower, Colony, Missouri June 2, 1988Guyed steel lattice mast610MaintenanceCrew was replacing cross support beams at the 200 meter level. The mast broke at that spot, the bottom 200 meters fell to the south, the top fell straight down. All three workers on the mast were killed.
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhumadian Prefecture TV & FM Relay Station, Zhumadian, Zhumadian Prefecture, Henan, China January 10, 1989 [13] Guyed steel lattice mast55Ice storm
Flag of the United States.svg KGO (AM) towers Newark, California October 17, 1989 ?91 Earthquake Three towers damaged
Flag of the United States.svg WRAL-TV & WPTF-TV towers, Auburn December 1989Two guyed steel tube framework masts609IceUnusually heavy ice concentrated at top predominantly on one side of towers caused asymmetrical load. Dislodged essentially as one piece during rapid warming; sudden unloading caused dynamic failure.
Flag of the United States.svg Minnkota power cooperative, near Langdon, North Dakota, USSeptember 25, 1990guyed steel triangular tower107Underground corrosion of guy wire steel and anchor shaftTwo tower service personnel were seriously injured
Flag of Iceland.svg RÚV long wave radio mast, Vatnsendahæð, Reykjavik, IcelandFebruary 3, 1991Guyed steel lattice mast150Storm
Flag of the United States.svg WDIO-TV Duluth, Minnesota, USMarch 23, 1991Guyed steel triangular tower259Ice and high windFreezing rain, accompanied at time with thunder, coated the city of Duluth with as much as six inches of ice. The 850-foot WDIO-TV tower was toppled as winds gusted to 40 mph, buffeting the heavily ice-covered tower. The tower fell onto a nearby utility line which provided power to the remainder of Duluth's television and FM radio stations, and all but one AM radio station. Telephone and power lines snapped leaving Duluth and many northeastern Minnesota communities without utility services for 24 hours. The DNR reported that four million pine trees were damaged or destroyed. - NOAA NWS Duluth, MN
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Hekou MW Transmitting Station, Hekou, Honghe, Yunnan, China May 8, 1991Guyed steel lattice mast133.5High winds
Flag of Poland.svg Warsaw radio mast, Konstantynów, PolandAugust 8, 1991Guyed steel tube framework mast648MaintenanceReplacement by facility in Solec Kujawski
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Kuruk-tagh Relay Station, Korla, Bayingolin, Xinjiang, China September 13, 1991Lattice steel tower60High winds
Flag of the United States.svg WCIX TV Tower Homestead, Florida August 25, 1992Guyed steel tower549 Hurricane Andrew Rebuilt by LeBlanc Tower of Canada
Flag of the United States.svg COMMSTA Miami1992Guyed mast (insulated)91 Hurricane Andrew Collapse of 2 masts
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Cape Race LORAN-C transmitter, Cape Race, CanadaFebruary 2, 1993Guyed steel lattice mast411Material faultFatigue failure of the eyebolt head in a compression cone insulator on structural guy caused swing-in damage, which resulted in structural collapse
Flag of Turkey.svg LORAN-C transmitter Kargaburan, Kargaburan, TurkeyFebruary 25, 1993Guyed steel lattice mast191SnowstormTower had construction faults
Flag of the United States.svg WCOV-TV Tower, Montgomery, Alabama, USMarch 6, 1996 ?242Tornado
Flag of Japan.svg Yosami Transmitting Station mast No.8, Kariya, Aichi, JapanAugust 29, 1996Guyed steel lattice mast250Structural failure during dismantlingOne worker was killed and four workers were injured.
Flag of Germany.svg Langenberg, GermanySeptember 2, 1996Guyed steel lattice mast160Maintenance
Flag of the United States.svg KXTX-TV Tower Cedar Hill, Texas October 12, 1996Guyed steel tower468Maintenance for DTV installThree died when tower collapsed after a gin pole ran off its track and snapped a guy wire
Flag of Moldova.svg Grigoriopol transmitter, Moldova1997Guyed steel lattice mast350IceTwo masts collapsed
250
Flag of the United States.svg KXJB-TV mast, North Dakota, USApril 6, 1997Guyed steel lattice mast628Ice
Flag of the United States.svg KNOE-TV Tower, Columbia, Louisiana March 20, 1997Guyed steel lattice mast606MaintenanceOne killed, two injured when workers failed to install temporary braces
Flag of the United States.svg WLBT Tower, Raymond, Mississippi October 23, 1997Guyed steel lattice609MaintenanceThree killed - temporary braces failed during HDTV antenna upgrade
Flag of Japan.svg Sakaide Transmission Tower, Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku Island, JapanFebruary 20, 1998Steel lattice73Vandalism, possible sabotage76 bolts were removed without authorization from the base of the tower. The perpetrator has not been identified to this date. [14] [15]
Flag of the United States.svg WKY-AM-TV Tower, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USJune 13, 1998Guyed mast293 Tornado
Flag of Serbia.svg TV Tower Avala, SerbiaApril 30, 1999Concrete tower (with observation deck)203Air raid (NATO bombardment during the Kosovo war)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Bozhou Educational TV Tower, Xuege Subdistrict, Bozhou, Anhui, China August 30, 1999Square lattice roof top tower98 (40 + 58 (building + tower)) [16] Storm [16] The tower on the roof collapsed to street. Two persons were killed. [17]
Flag of the United States.svg WMBD AM radio tower, Peoria, Illinois, USApril 20, 2000Thunderstorm windsEarly morning thunderstorm wind event with estimated damage of $500,000 [18]
Flag of the United States.svg WRMD-Tower, St. Petersburg, Florida, USApril 25, 2000Guyed steel lattice mast198Helicopter crashThree died when a medical helicopter hit a guy wire in clear weather and crashed
Flag of the United States.svg WNWI 1080-Towers, Oak Lawn (Chicago), Illinois, US[ citation needed ]July 9, 2000Guyed steel lattice mast61SabotageTwo towers collapsed
Flag of the United States.svg KXEO/KWWR-Tower, Mexico, MO, USAugust 23, 2000Guyed steel lattice mast123Storm
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Linquan Radio & TV Transmitting Station (old), Linquan, Fuyang, Anhui, China January 1, 2001Guyed steel lattice tower103 [19] Structural failure during dismantlingTwo workers were killed, and one worker was seriously injured. [20]
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CBC Tower, Shawinigan, QC, CanadaApril 27, 2001Guyed steel lattice mast331.5 (307.1 + 24.4 (structure + antenna))Controlled implosion after aircraft crash caused serious damage five days earlierRebuilt in 2003, the new tower has almost the same height, i.e. 326.8 m (307.1 m for the structure, but the antenna is shorter (19.7 m)).
Flag of Russia.svg Angara transmitter, Northern Mast, Angara, RussiaJune 6, 2001Guyed steel lattice mast carrying a T-antenna205Deteriorated support guys
Flag of the United States.svg World Trade Center North Tower, New York City, NYSeptember 11, 2001Truses and Axis526.8 (417 + 109.8 (roof + antenna))Terrorist attackTower was destroyed as a result of the September 11 attacks in which a commercial airliner flew into the side of the building causing it and the broadcast tower to collapse under its own weight.
Flag of Russia.svg Krasny Bor transmitter, RussiaNovember 5, 2001Guyed steel lattice mast258Helicopter collision
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg a mast in Datong MW Transmitting Station, Yunzhou District, Datong, Shanxi, China 2001Guyed steel lattice mast151.5High winds and corrosion
Flag of the United States.svg WKFT, North Carolina, USMarch 14, 2002Guyed steel tower533.1Airplane crashPilot killed and the tower was destroyed
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Nanxian Radio & TV Transmitting Station, Nanxian, Yiyang, Hunan, China April 3, 2002Free-standing steel lattice tower100 [21] Storm
Flag of the United States.svg KDUH-TV Mast, Hemingford, Nebraska, USSeptember 24, 2002Guyed steel lattice mast599MaintenanceTwo workers killed, three injured on ground
Flag of the United States.svg WVAH-TV Tower, West Virginia, USFebruary 19, 2003Guyed steel lattice mast473Ice
Flag of the United States.svg WPAY-Tower, Portsmouth, Ohio, USFebruary 19, 2003Guyed steel lattice mast200Ice
Flag of the United States.svg WTNV-FM Tower, Jackson, Tennessee, USMay 4, 2003Free-standing steel lattice tower176 Tornado
Flag of the United States.svg WMBD Tower, Peoria, Illinois, USMay 10, 2003Free-standing steel lattice tower ? Tornado Collapse of three towers, following collapse of larger single tower at same site by straight-line winds on 20 April 2000
Flag of the United States.svg KETV TV TowerJuly 2003Guyed steel lattice mast415Reconstruction work
Flag of the United States.svg WIFR TV towerJuly 5, 2003Guyed steel lattice mast222Storm (derecho)
Flag of the United States.svg WAAY-TV - TV Mast, Huntsville, Alabama, USSeptember 4, 2003Guyed steel lattice mast305unknownThree workers killed
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Utrecht, Netherlands September 8, 2003Guyed steel lattice mast45
Flag of the United States.svg WJDB Transmitter Grove Hill, AL September 16, 2004Guyed steel lattice mast131 Hurricane Ivan Replacement tower constructed shortly thereafter. Also knocked Clarke County, AL, Sheriff's Office off the air (KWO611)
Flag of the United States.svg WPMI-TV Tower, Robertsdale, Alabama, USSeptember 16, 2004Guyed steel lattice mast518Storm Hurricane Ivan
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peterborough, Great BritainOctober 30, 2004Guyed steel lattice mast163Fire (suspected vandalism)Temporary replacement mast constructed shortly thereafter. New permanent mast entered full service in February 2006.
Flag of the United States.svg KFI Mast, La Mirada, CA, USDecember 19, 2004Guyed steel lattice mast195Aircraft collision
Flag of the United States.svg WLGA Transmitter Tower (formerly WSWS-TV Transmitter Tower), Cusseta, Georgia, USFebruary 27, 2005Guyed steel lattice mast538Replacement tower completed September 15, 2005.
Flag of the United States.svg Nebraska Education Tower Atlanta, Atlanta, Nebraska, USNovember 25, 2005Guyed steel lattice mast325Aircraft collisionAll three aircraft occupants killed
Flag of the United States.svg KLTV-TV Mast, Tyler, TX (Red Springs, TX)February 3, 2006Guyed steel lattice mast329Undetermined1078 feet HAAT. Erected in 1981. No definitive cause ever found for collapse. Speculation was that the collapse was directly or indirectly related to the recent installation of their digital television antenna. The collapse destroyed the tower, KLTV's analog and digital antennas, KLTV's digital transmitter, and FM station KVNE's antenna. The analog transmitter was undamaged, and within a few days was moved to KLTV's backup tower in east Tyler. The collapse occurred the day after Raycom Media officially took ownership of the station.
Flag of the United States.svg WALB-TV Mast, Doerun, GA June 1, 2006Guyed steel lattice mast ?Demolition mishapWhile the tower for then-sister station WFXL, which had been damaged by a collision with a military helicopter, was being imploded, one of the tower's guy wires wrapped around one for WALB's tower, as feared by engineers prior to the implosion. As a result, WALB's tower collapsed. A new tower for both WALB and WFXL was later constructed, which began broadcasting on July 3, 2007, at 11:35 p.m. [22]
Flag of Brazil.svg Torre VIP de Rádio & TV, São Bernardo do Campo, BrazilAugust 23, 2006Guyed steel lattice mast174MaintenanceOne person was killed
Flag of the United States.svg WACS-TV towerMarch 1, 2007Guyed steel lattice mast329 EF3 tornado Americus, Georgia, was struck by the tornado a few minutes later
Flag of the United States.svg WSKY-DT Tower, Camden County, NC, USMarch 2, 2007Guyed steel lattice mast230Guy wire anchor failureUnder construction. Also destroyed transmitter building. Was planned for a height of 1,036 ft (315.77 m). [23]
Flag of the United States.svg WCFE-DT, Clinton, County, NY, USApril 18, 2007Guyed steel tower136Structural failure400-foot transmitter tower located on Averil Peak, NY completely collapsed as a result of accumulation of ice and snow from the April 2007 Nor'easter. Partially damaged the transmitter building at the base. New tower erected and back in service Oct, 9 2007.
Flag of the United States.svg Browns Summit Crown Castle Broadcasting Tower, Browns Summit, Texas, USMay 29, 2007Guyed steel lattice mast244Restoration work
Flag of the United States.svg WNEP-TV Tower, Penobscot Knob PennsylvaniaDecember 16, 2007Guyed steel lattice mast244 Ice Also damaged transmitter building and doppler radar. [24]
Flag of the United States.svg WVIA-TV Tower, Penobscot Knob December 16, 2007Guyed steel lattice mast510 Ice 300 ft. section lost from top of tower [25]
Flag of the United States.svg KATV-TV Tower, Redfield, Jefferson County, USJanuary 11, 2008Guyed steel lattice mast609MaintenanceRestringing guy wires [26]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg a mast in Inner Mongolia Transmitting Station 610, Tumed Left Banner, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China 2008Guyed steel lattice mast152High winds
Flag of the United States.svg Emmis Television Wichita TowerMarch 28, 2009Guyed steel lattice mast326Ice
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2QN Tower, Deniliquin, New South Wales, Australia June 30, 2009Guyed steel lattice mast102StormWind gust reportedly caused the mast to collapse during a severe storm
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Jinzhou Radio & TV Tower, Jinzhou Town, Jinzhou, Hebei, China July 23, 2009Free-standing steel lattice tower186.8Storm [27]
Flag of the United States.svg KRKO Radio TowersSeptember 4, 2009Guyed steel lattice mast ?TerrorismTwo masts
Flag of the United States.svg WLHR-FM Radio Tower Lavonia, GA, USJanuary 30, 2010Guyed steel lattice mast86SabotageGuyed wires cut
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg a MW mast [28] and 3 SW masts [29] in Qinghai Transmitting Station 920, Gyêgu, Yushu, Qinghai, China April 14, 2010Guyed steel lattice mast (MW)
Guyed steel tubular mast (SW)
76 (MW) & 25 (SW) 2010 Yushu earthquake
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Laomaling Radio & TV Transmitting Station, Pingshun, Changzhi, Shanxi, China April 26, 2010Guyed steel lattice mast72High winds
Flag of the United States.svg WEAU TV/Radio Tower Fairchild, WI, USMarch 22, 2011Guyed steel lattice mast609Ice, high windsWeather-related
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Zendstation Smilde, TV/Radio Tower, Hoogersmilde, The Netherlands July 15, 2011Guyed steel tube mast on concrete tower303FireTubular steel superstructure collapsed, new steel lattice superstructure constructed (2012) on top of existing concrete base tower
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhutiao TV Transposer Station, Niushou, Fancheng, Xiangyang, Hubei, China July 26, 2011Free-standing steel lattice tower70Storm
Flag of Argentina.svg LRL312 Mega 98.3, LR5 Pop Radio 10 1.5 and LRL317 FM Federal October 1, 2011Guyed210FireFire started in a leftover deposit close to one of the guy wire anchors. [30] [31] [32]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Baofeng Radio & TV Transmitting Station, Baofeng, Pingdingshan, Henan, China March 23, 2012Free-standing steel lattice tower136 [33] High winds [34]
Flag of Germany.svg Longwave transmitter Europe 1, 280 metres mast, Felsberg-Berus, Germany August 8, 2012Guyed steel lattice mast280Ragged guy wirePinnacle and upper sections fell down
Flag of South Korea.svg main mast of Gwangju CBS Sillyong Transmitting Station, Gwangsan District, Gwangju, South Korea August 28, 2012Guyed steel lattice mast110 Typhoon Bolaven (2012) [35]
Flag of Vietnam.svg Nam Dinh PTTH Transmitting Station 2, Nam Dinh, Vietnam October 28, 2012Free-standing steel lattice tower180Storm [36]
Flag of Germany.svg Boll Relay Transmitter, Oberndorf-Boll, Germany November 2, 2012Lattice tower30Truck collision [37]
Flag of the United States.svg Houston public safety radio towerSeptember 20, 2013Guyed152Unknown
Flag of Vietnam.svg VOV Quang Binh Transmitting Station Dong Hoi, Quang Binh, Vietnam September 30, 2013Free-standing steel lattice tower150Storm [38]
Flag of Ukraine.svg Karachun TV Tower, Sloviansk, Ukraine July 1, 2014Guyed steel lattice mast222Artillery shellingDuring the final days of the siege of Sloviansk Ukrainian Government forces positioned on the Mount Karachun were shelled by the Russian proxies. As a result, the guy wires failed and tower collapsed. [39]
The new tower 50 m shorter was opened on December 5, 2016, in place of the destroyed one. [40]
Flag of Cameroon.svg CRTV Mast, Logbessou, Douala, CameroonSeptember 24, 2014Guyed200CorrosionMast collapsed during replacement of corroded leg at 160 m. Four riggers killed. [41]
Flag of Poland.svg Rekowo Radio Mast, Rekowo, PolandJanuary 2, 2015Guyed60Storm
Flag of Sweden.svg Häglared transmitter, Borås, SwedenMay 15, 2016Guyed mast of lattice steel332SabotageRoughly half of the mast fell after guy wires had been sabotaged.
Flag of the Republic of China.svg RTI Lukang Branch north array tower T1 & T3, Lukang, Changhua, Taiwan September 27, 2016Free-standing steel lattice tower125 Typhoon Megi [42]
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yancheng Radio & TV Transmitting Station (old), Tinghu District, Yancheng, Jiangsu, China January 17, 2017Free-standing steel lattice tower135Structural failure during dismantlingTwo workers were killed. [43]
Flag of Mexico.svg SPR TV tower, Hermosillo, Sonora, MexicoAugust 9, 2017 ? ?High winds [44]
Flag of the United States.svg KOZK Ozarks Public Television, Fordland, MOApril 19, 2018Guyed597MaintenanceSix workers were performing routine maintenance at 105 ft on the tower when it collapsed, one worker was killed.
Flag of Japan.svg Amami FM Ariya Transmitting Station, Amami, Kagoshima, JapanSeptember 30, 2018Guyed steel lattice mast [45] 30 [46] Typhoon Trami Replaced by a 25m steel monopole tower.
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg a backup mast in Fujian Transmitting Station 103 Wuliting Site, Jin'an District, Fuzhou, Fujian, China October 18, 2019Guyed steel lattice mast76Excavator collision with guy wire [47]
Flag of the United States.svg KOLN Tower, Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, USAJanuary 18, 2020Guyed500.4IceCollapsed during an ice storm. [48]
Flag of the Republic of China.svg a tower in RTI Lukang Branch south array, Lukang, Changhua, Taiwan October 17, 2022Free-standing steel lattice tower75 Typhoon Nesat [49]
Flag of the Republic of China.svg a tower in RTI Lukang Branch north array, Lukang, Changhua, Taiwan October 18, 2022Free-standing steel lattice tower125 Typhoon Nesat [49]
Flag of the United States.svg KDLO-TV Towers, Florence, South Dakota, USADecember 14, 2022Guyed steel lattice mast548.6 & 243.8Ice2 towers collapsed during an ice storm. [50]
Flag of the United States.svg SBA Communications Tower, [51] Houston, Texas, USAOctober 20, 2024Guyed steel lattice mast304.5Helicopter collisionHelicopter crashed into the tower, killing four people on board, including a young child. [52] The aircraft warning lights on the tower had a history of not working. [53]

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