Incident Reports [Click here] to return to Incident Reports list. * You will not copy the report, or any portion of the report, without expressed written consent of the IUCRR The IUCRR does not claim to report the final status of any accident. Information and facts are gathered on a best-effort basis. No conclusions as to cause of death are expressed or implied. The IUCRR is not responsible for any misuse of the information. It is the policy of the IUCRR to report all accidents for which it is informed. If there is an accident that you know about and have information on that is not included in the list, please contact us at IUCRR-Info@iucrr.org. IMPORTANT NOTES: At an accident site, there are actually very few real facts. The IUCRR reports state facts only, and specifically exclude any speculation. Information derived from bystanders is often included if corroborated. Fields shown below that are blank or “n/a” indicate factual information was not available, or not relevant. It is the policy of the IUCRR not to make any substantive changes to the reports as submitted by the IUCRR team member, so any mistakes are theirs.
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2001-03-23 Incident
Rescue Or Recovery Or Near Miss: Recovery
Date of Report: 03-23-01
Time Of Accident: 20:00 EST
Date Of Accident: 02-26-01
County / State / Country: Clarksville, Albany County, NY USA
Name Of Accident Site————————
Clarksville Cave, Rt. 443, Clarksville NY
Date Recovery Started: 02-26-01(3 day recovery)
Time Recovery Started: 22:00 EST
Age Of Victim: 23
Sex Of Victim: Male
Victims Highest Cert Level: In Training – SSI Basic Class
Cert Agency: SSI
Date Of Training: 9/24/00-12/10/00
Yrs Experience Diving: 0
Total Number Of Dives: several pool dives
Number Of Dives This Year:
Trained In Cave Diving: No
Cave Diving Training Agency:
Date Of Cave Diving Training:
Years Experience Cave Diving:
Total Number Of Cave Dives:
Number Of Cave Dives In Last Year:
Number Of Dives At This Location: 0
Dates Of Dives At This Location:
Maximum Depth At Location: 8 ft
Dive Partners: 2
Dive Partners Address————————
Troy, NY 12180
Dive Partners Experience————————
SSI Basic trained 05-21-00.
18 Open water dives and a couple of
sump dives at another site.
Original Dive Plan————————
To remove rocks and debris
from sump entrance.(see attachment)
Maximum Known Depth: 8ft
Water Temp: 42F
Depth Body Found: 8ft
Distance To Nearest Exit: body length in entrance
Description Of Silt In Area: extreme
Normal Viz Distance: Once disturbed, zero
Viz During Recovery: 8 inches to zero
Weather Conditions At Time Of Accident————————
Clear with NY winter temperatures
Entry Conditions At Site————————
Swimming pool sized “pond” 1000ft
into a dry cave.(see attachment)
Wet Or Dry Suit: 1/4″ jacket over 3/16 farmer john
Full Or Shorty: full
Condition Of Suit: jacket new/ FJ worn
Hood: yes, skirted
Gloves: yes
Booties: Regular boots over wetsuit socks
Weight Belt: none used(see attachment)
Pounds Kilos Of Weight: 0
Buoyancy Compensator: none used(see attachment)
B C Type: NA
Degree Of B C Inflation: NA
Mask: unknown
Location Of Mask: on face
Contents Of Mask: unknown
Fins: none used(see attachment)
Type Of Fins: NA
Taped Fins: NA
Snorkel: no
Knife: none
Location Of Knife: NA
Number Of Tanks: 1
Size Of Tanks: 19cf
Tank Material: Al
Tank Position: thigh mounted(see attachment)
Fill Pressure At Start Of Dive: 1200psig
Pressure At Recovery: 0 psig
Tank Valve Configuration: K w/ 1 1st stg/ 2 2nd stg
Position Of Isolation Valve: NA
Number Of Regulators: 1
Brand Of Regulators: Sherwood Brut
Octopus: yes, Sherwood
Long Hose: no
Regs Functional At Scene: yes
General Condition Of Regulators: used(college scuba club)
Status Of Valve Opening: full open
Pressure Gauge: Genesis console
P S I Reading On Gauge: 0
Number Of Lights: 1
Type Of Lights: Princton Tec 4 AA
Lights Operational: yes
Location Of Lights: forearm mounted
Number Of Reels: none
Type Of Reels: NA
Reels Deployed: NA
Location Of Reels: NA
Distance From Guideline: NA
Guideline Condition: NA
Depth Gauge Type: Genesis
Victims Depth Gauge Reading: none used
Slate: no
Tables: NA
Number Of Computers: 0
Type Of Computers: NA
Computer Data————————
NA
Addtional Description Of Equipment————————
none
Equipment Loaned: loaned
Loaned From Who: RPI Scuba Club
Overall Condition Of Equipment: fairly used but good condition
Body State————————
Stuck in a 3 feet wide by 16 inch
high phreatic entrance tube. Laying
on right side.(see attachment)
Report Prepared By: Mike Martuscello
Preparers Address————————
78 Glen Ave.
Amsterdam, NY 12010
Recovery Team Members————————
Many involved.(see attachment)
Officer In Charge————————
Albany County Sheriff Department
(518)765-2351