No injured cavers recorded.
At about 4:30 on Monday, October 17, Ricky Kates (15), George Hackler (16), David Hammonds (15) and two companions went caving on Elder Mountain near Tiftonia, Tennessee. At Twin Airplane Cave they tied a rope to a tree and Kates, Hackler and Hammonds descended, hand over hand for about 80 feet to a ledge above a deeper drop. After some time they tried to ascend but were afraid of a fall down the drop below and yelled for help. The two on the surface tried to pull them up without success and then went for help. The Hamilton County Rescue Squad was called and several units soon arrived. In the course of two hours additional ropes were rigged and two men descended. Harnesses and cables were attached to the victims and they were hoisted out.
Another example of "non-organized" cavers unaware of current A36 single rope techniques and utilizing the somewhat out of date hand-over- hand technique.