Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) - Report of ...

At 2:58 p.m., MSHA coal mine inspectors, Gary Jensen, Frank Markosek, and Scott Johnson
arrived at the clean-up area to relieve Durrant, Saint, and Adamson for their 8-hour regular shift
rotation. Jensen and Johnson were members of MSHA’s MEU. Cybulski and Zelanko returned
to the surface with Durrant, Saint, and Adamson.
By the end of day shift, the crew had advanced the clean-up efforts in the No. 1 entry close to
crosscut 127. After the last Ramcar was loaded, Jensen informed the crew that they needed to
set RocProps. Jensen also recommended that steel channels be installed across the last two rows
of RocProps. As Wilson drove the loaded Ramcar to the feeder, crew members entered the
clean-up area to install supports. Gordon unloaded his Ramcar at the feeder, changed out with
Wilson, and parked in crosscut 125. Bouldin parked his Ramcar near crosscut 126 and walked to
the clean-up area to help install ground supports. Brandy Fillingim, who had been working
outby, came to the clean-up area at the end of the shift and assisted the crew. Fillingim, Bouldin,
and Horton installed RocProps and steel channels on the right side of the entry, while Black,
Day, and Kimber set them on the left side. Gressman was operating the control valve on the
pump used to pressurize the RocProps. Metcalf and Tripp were tightening the steel cables on the
left side. Jensen and Markosek were near the tail of the continuous mining machine, monitoring
the activities. Johnson was outby the clean-up area, taking air measurements at the Panel 13 seal
at crosscut 107.
At 6:38 p.m., as the crew completed installing ground support in the clean-up area, the coal pillar
between the No. 1 and No. 2 entries burst. Coal was thrown violently across the No. 1 entry
during the magnitude 1.9 seismic event. The burst created a void up to 20 feet deep into the
pillar at the roof line (see Figure 12 and Figure 13, view indicated by arrow). The dislodged coal
threw eight RocProps, steel cables, chain-link fence, and a steel channel toward the left side of
the entry, striking the rescue workers and filling the entry with approximately four feet of debris
(see Figure 14). Heavy dust filled the clean-up area, reduced visibility, and impaired breathing.
Oxygen deficient air from the inby area migrated over the miners. The dust and oxygen
deficiency were slow to clear due to damaged ventilation controls.
Figure 12 – Damage to Outby Portion of Pillar on Right Side of No. 1 Entry (Outby August 16 Accident Site)
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