Abstract: At approximately 3:30 p.m. on September 15, 1998, Employee #1 was attempting to hook extra chokers to the carriage butt hook. Employee #1 had a grip on the hook when the yarder engineer released the clamp on the carriage. The carriage reeled in the line to which the hook was attached and Employee #1 was holding on to. The action of the line being reeled in caused Employee #1 to be picked up and thrown up in the air and out into the unit. Employee #1 was thrown 300 feet down the hill, resulting in severe injuries to his back and head. Employee #1 was treated for his injuries and carried out to a point that he could be transported by helicopter to a local hospital, where he was hospitalized.