1 00:00:01,935 --> 00:00:02,469 Man: EACH AND EVERY PIECE, 2 00:00:02,469 --> 00:00:03,370 NO MATTER HOW SMALL, 3 00:00:03,370 --> 00:00:06,273 WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE IT WAS FOUND. 4 00:00:06,273 --> 00:00:10,477 Narrator: NTSB INVESTIGATORS FACE PRESSURE LIKE NEVER BEFORE. 5 00:00:10,477 --> 00:00:14,615 Man: THE EYES OF THE WORLD WERE GONNA BE ON THIS. 6 00:00:14,615 --> 00:00:18,185 Narrator: A PIPER SARATOGA HAS CRASHED INTO THE SEA. 7 00:00:18,185 --> 00:00:21,622 Man: HIT THE WATER LIKE THIS. 8 00:00:21,622 --> 00:00:23,690 Narrator: AT THE CONTROLS OF THE SMALL PLANE, 9 00:00:23,690 --> 00:00:26,293 ONE OF THE BIGGEST NAMES IN AMERICAN LIFE-- 10 00:00:26,293 --> 00:00:28,795 JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. 11 00:00:28,795 --> 00:00:31,031 Man: WHAT A RISING STAR HE WAS. 12 00:00:31,031 --> 00:00:32,966 Man: SOME PEOPLE WERE THINKING HE'D HAVE A SHOT 13 00:00:32,966 --> 00:00:35,068 AT BEING A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 14 00:00:35,068 --> 00:00:37,237 John Kennedy: GOOD MORNING. 15 00:00:37,237 --> 00:00:40,874 Narrator: ANOTHER DARK CHAPTER IN A TRAGIC FAMILY SAGA. 16 00:00:40,874 --> 00:00:42,442 Woman: THERE WAS THIS KENNEDY CURSE. 17 00:00:42,442 --> 00:00:43,944 Woman: JOHN, WHAT'S GOING ON? 18 00:00:43,944 --> 00:00:45,112 Kennedy: COME ON! 19 00:00:45,112 --> 00:00:47,514 Narrator: NOW ALL THE WORLD WANTS TO KNOW: 20 00:00:47,514 --> 00:00:51,485 WHAT'S THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE CRASH THAT KILLED A KENNEDY? 21 00:00:55,589 --> 00:00:57,658 Flight attendant: LADIES AND GEN GENTLEMEN, WE ARE STARTING OUR APPROACH. 22 00:00:57,658 --> 00:00:59,059 Pilot: WE LOST BOTH ENGINES! 23 00:00:59,059 --> 00:01:00,193 Flight attendant: PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE. 24 00:01:00,193 --> 00:01:01,028 EMERGENCY DESCENT. 25 00:01:01,028 --> 00:01:02,396 Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY. 26 00:01:02,396 --> 00:01:04,131 Flight attendant: BRACE FOR IMPACT! 27 00:01:04,131 --> 00:01:05,165 Controller: I THINK I LOST ONE. 28 00:01:05,165 --> 00:01:07,267 Man: INVESTIGATION STARTING... 29 00:01:08,368 --> 00:01:10,070 Man: HE'S GONNA CRASH! 30 00:01:21,281 --> 00:01:25,619 Narrator: IT'S A WARM SUMMER EVENING AT ESSEX COUNTY AIRPORT. 31 00:01:25,619 --> 00:01:28,922 LESS THAN AN HOUR FROM THE BUSY STREETS OF MANHATTAN, 32 00:01:28,922 --> 00:01:32,125 THE SMALL AIRFIELD SERVES MANY OF NEW YORK'S WEALTHY CITIZENS, 33 00:01:32,125 --> 00:01:35,028 BOARDING PRIVATE PLANES FOR WEEKEND GETAWAYS. 34 00:01:38,598 --> 00:01:40,767 PREPARING TO PILOT HIS OWN PLANE, 35 00:01:40,767 --> 00:01:46,239 A MAN WHO IN MANY WAYS IS CONSIDERED AMERICAN ROYALTY-- 36 00:01:46,239 --> 00:01:48,642 JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. 37 00:01:48,642 --> 00:01:51,278 Elizabeth Mehren: HE WAS BREATHTAKINGLY HANDSOME. 38 00:01:51,278 --> 00:01:52,612 HE WAS SUCH A CROWN PRINCE, 39 00:01:52,612 --> 00:01:54,481 PEOPLE KEPT WAITING FOR THE MOMENT 40 00:01:54,481 --> 00:01:56,583 WHEN HE WOULD RUN FOR OFFICE PUBLICLY. 41 00:01:56,583 --> 00:01:58,986 IT WAS LIKE SORT OF AN ASSUMPTION, I THINK, 42 00:01:58,986 --> 00:02:00,787 KIND OF QUIETLY IN THE BACKGROUND. 43 00:02:03,357 --> 00:02:04,891 Kennedy: GOOD MORNING. 44 00:02:04,891 --> 00:02:06,693 Narrator: THOUGH JFK JR. HAS NOT YET RUN FOR OFFICE, 45 00:02:06,693 --> 00:02:09,629 HE'S ALREADY A HUGE CELEBRITY-- 46 00:02:09,629 --> 00:02:12,899 PEOPLE MAGAZINE'S SEXIEST MAN ALIVE. 47 00:02:12,899 --> 00:02:16,703 Kennedy: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MEET GEORGE. 48 00:02:16,703 --> 00:02:18,171 Narrator: HE'S ALSO THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 49 00:02:18,171 --> 00:02:21,475 OF HIS OWN SPLASHY PUBLICATION, 50 00:02:21,475 --> 00:02:23,477 AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE'S THE ONLY SON 51 00:02:23,477 --> 00:02:27,614 OF THE LATE PRESIDENT JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY. 52 00:02:27,614 --> 00:02:30,117 THE PUBLIC FASCINATION WITH JOHN KENNEDY JR. 53 00:02:30,117 --> 00:02:32,486 STEMS FROM HIS FATHER'S EXTRAORDINARY LIFE 54 00:02:32,486 --> 00:02:34,287 AND TRAGIC DEATH. 55 00:02:34,287 --> 00:02:37,090 Reporter: PRESIDENT KENNEDY HAS BEEN ASSASSINATED. 56 00:02:37,090 --> 00:02:39,493 IT'S OFFICIAL NOW. THE PRESIDENT IS DEAD. 57 00:02:39,493 --> 00:02:40,927 Narrator: THE BELOVED PRESIDENT 58 00:02:40,927 --> 00:02:42,562 WAS CUT DOWN BY AN ASSASSIN'S BULLET 59 00:02:42,562 --> 00:02:46,767 JUST THREE DAYS BEFORE JOHN JR.'S THIRD BIRTHDAY. 60 00:02:46,767 --> 00:02:48,468 Mehren: WE WATCHED THIS ADORABLE LITTLE CHILD 61 00:02:48,468 --> 00:02:51,038 PLAYING UNDER THE DESK IN THE OVAL OFFICE. 62 00:02:51,038 --> 00:02:53,073 WE WATCHED HIM RIDING ON HIS DADDY'S BACK 63 00:02:53,073 --> 00:02:56,710 IN THE WHITE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, PLAYING HORSEY WITH HIS DADDY. 64 00:02:56,710 --> 00:02:58,378 WE WATCHED HIM OF COURSE 65 00:02:58,378 --> 00:03:01,014 AT THAT ONE TERRIBLY TRAGIC AND SAD MOMENT 66 00:03:01,014 --> 00:03:04,985 WHEN THE SMALL CHILD IN THE LITTLE SHORT KNEE COAT 67 00:03:04,985 --> 00:03:08,288 SALUTED HIS FATHER'S CASKET AS IT CAME BY. 68 00:03:14,628 --> 00:03:17,464 Narrator: 36 YEARS LATER, ON A JULY EVENING, 69 00:03:17,464 --> 00:03:19,766 JOHN KENNEDY JR. WAITS FOR HIS WIFE, CAROLYN, 70 00:03:19,766 --> 00:03:23,003 WHO'S RUNNING LATE. 71 00:03:23,003 --> 00:03:27,074 THEY'RE FLYING TO A FAMILY WEDDING. 72 00:03:27,074 --> 00:03:29,076 ALSO HITCHING A RIDE ON KENNEDY'S PLANE 73 00:03:29,076 --> 00:03:31,244 IS HIS SISTER-IN-LAW, LAUREN BESSETTE. 74 00:03:31,244 --> 00:03:32,579 Kennedy: ANY WORD FROM YOUR SISTER? 75 00:03:32,579 --> 00:03:35,582 Lauren Bessette: NO. STUCK IN TRAFFIC, I GUESS. 76 00:03:35,582 --> 00:03:37,584 Kennedy: WE'RE DROPPING YOU AT MARTHA'S VINEYARD, RIGHT? 77 00:03:37,584 --> 00:03:38,718 Lauren: YEAH. 78 00:03:38,718 --> 00:03:39,886 Kennedy: ALL RIGHT. 79 00:03:39,886 --> 00:03:41,588 Narrator: JOHN PLANS TO DROP LAUREN OFF 80 00:03:41,588 --> 00:03:44,658 AND CONTINUE ON WITH HIS WIFE TO THE KENNEDY FAMILY COMPOUND 81 00:03:44,658 --> 00:03:47,561 IN HYANNIS PORT, MASSACHUSETTS. 82 00:03:47,561 --> 00:03:50,931 Mehren: I THINK THAT HE WAS IMPATIENT TO GET TO THE WEDDING. 83 00:03:50,931 --> 00:03:53,467 HE WAS PROBABLY TESTY. 84 00:03:53,467 --> 00:03:55,669 WHO WOULDN'T BE? 85 00:03:55,669 --> 00:03:58,839 Kennedy: I WANT TO BE READY TO GO AS SOON AS SHE GETS HERE. 86 00:03:58,839 --> 00:04:00,307 Narrator: THOUGH HE'S HAD HIS PILOT'S LICENSE 87 00:04:00,307 --> 00:04:01,741 FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, 88 00:04:01,741 --> 00:04:04,144 THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME KENNEDY HAS FLOWN SOLO 89 00:04:04,144 --> 00:04:06,279 SINCE BREAKING HIS ANKLE SIX WEEKS EARLIER 90 00:04:06,279 --> 00:04:08,415 IN A HANG GLIDING ACCIDENT. 91 00:04:11,118 --> 00:04:12,686 Mehren: HE LIKED EXTREME SPORTS. 92 00:04:12,686 --> 00:04:16,056 HE LIKED TO TAKE RISKS. HE LIKED TO PUSH LIMITS. 93 00:04:16,056 --> 00:04:18,024 HE WASN'T SATISFIED WITH LIVING 94 00:04:18,024 --> 00:04:19,860 JUST IN THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW LANE. 95 00:04:23,530 --> 00:04:24,998 Narrator: AT 8:20 P.M., 96 00:04:24,998 --> 00:04:28,201 KENNEDY'S WIFE CAROLYN BESSETTE ARRIVES AT THE AIRPORT. 97 00:04:31,404 --> 00:04:35,108 Mehren: CAROLYN BESSETTE WAS AN AMERICAN BEAUTY. 98 00:04:35,108 --> 00:04:37,210 SHE WAS THIS GODDESS-LIKE CREATURE 99 00:04:37,210 --> 00:04:40,514 WITH HER BEAUTIFUL BLOND HAIR PULLED BACK. 100 00:04:40,514 --> 00:04:45,118 THEY REALLY WERE THIS AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL COUPLE TOGETHER. 101 00:04:46,686 --> 00:04:48,255 Kennedy: ALL RIGHT LADIES, HOP IN. 102 00:04:48,255 --> 00:04:52,192 I JUST HAVE TO DO A WALK-AROUND, AND THEN WE CAN GET GOING. 103 00:04:52,192 --> 00:04:56,463 HEY, IT'S GONNA BE A NICE WEEKEND. 104 00:04:56,463 --> 00:04:58,565 Narrator: SINCE MARRYING JOHN THREE YEARS AGO, 105 00:04:58,565 --> 00:05:02,802 CAROLYN HAS BEEN PLUNGED INTO THE MEDIA SPOTLIGHT. 106 00:05:02,802 --> 00:05:06,973 PAPARAZZI HOUND THE FAMOUS COUPLE AT EVERY TURN. 107 00:05:06,973 --> 00:05:08,375 Mehren: THEY STILL WENT OUT. 108 00:05:08,375 --> 00:05:10,644 YOU KNOW, THEY WENT JOGGING, THEY WENT WALKING WITH THE DOG, 109 00:05:10,644 --> 00:05:14,080 AND THEY DID THEIR BEST TO KEEP HAVING A LIFE. 110 00:05:16,483 --> 00:05:18,885 Narrator: THE CONSTANT SCRUTINY TURNS UP SIGNS OF TENSION 111 00:05:18,885 --> 00:05:21,421 BETWEEN THE COUPLE. 112 00:05:21,421 --> 00:05:26,293 THERE ARE RUMORS THAT THE MARRIAGE IS IN TROUBLE. 113 00:05:26,293 --> 00:05:28,094 STILL LIMPING FROM HIS ACCIDENT, 114 00:05:28,094 --> 00:05:31,064 KENNEDY MAKES A FINAL PRE-FLIGHT CHECK OF HIS NEW PLANE, 115 00:05:31,064 --> 00:05:33,833 A PIPER SARATOGA. 116 00:05:33,833 --> 00:05:37,971 Tim O'Neill: IT'S A TOP-OF-THE-LINE SINGLE-ENGINE SIX-SEATER. 117 00:05:37,971 --> 00:05:42,442 IT WAS WELL-EQUIPPED WITH A GPS, A GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM. 118 00:05:42,442 --> 00:05:44,211 THE SELLING POINT FOR THE SARATOGA 119 00:05:44,211 --> 00:05:46,713 WAS IT HAS FOUR CLUB SEATS FACING EACH OTHER 120 00:05:46,713 --> 00:05:49,616 IN THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. 121 00:05:49,616 --> 00:05:51,484 Kennedy: SEATBELTS ON, PLEASE. 122 00:05:51,484 --> 00:05:53,853 THERE'S SOME HEADSETS BACK THERE IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN IN. 123 00:06:01,962 --> 00:06:08,568 ALL RIGHT, BATTERY ON, FUEL PUMP ON... 124 00:06:08,568 --> 00:06:12,038 AND PROPELLER IS, UH, CLEAR. 125 00:06:14,841 --> 00:06:16,142 Narrator: THE FLIGHT TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD 126 00:06:16,142 --> 00:06:18,478 SHOULD TAKE ABOUT 90 MINUTES. 127 00:06:18,478 --> 00:06:23,216 AFTER THAT, IT'S JUST A SHORT HOP TO HYANNIS PORT. 128 00:06:23,216 --> 00:06:24,918 O'Neill: THE ROUTE FROM ESSEX COUNTY AIRPORT 129 00:06:24,918 --> 00:06:27,754 TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD, HE WAS QUITE FAMILIAR. 130 00:06:27,754 --> 00:06:29,823 HE'D DONE IT SEVERAL TIMES. 131 00:06:32,058 --> 00:06:35,495 Narrator: AT 8:40 P.M., MORE THAN TWO HOURS BEHIND SCHEDULE, 132 00:06:35,495 --> 00:06:39,132 THE FLIGHT GETS UNDER WAY. 133 00:06:39,132 --> 00:06:40,967 Kennedy: 75 KNOTS. 134 00:06:45,805 --> 00:06:47,240 OH, YEAH. 135 00:06:49,542 --> 00:06:51,211 Narrator: LIKE MANY PRIVATE PILOTS, 136 00:06:51,211 --> 00:06:54,581 KENNEDY IS FLYING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES, OR VFR. 137 00:06:54,581 --> 00:06:55,915 O'Neill: YOU STAY CLEAR OF CLOUDS. 138 00:06:55,915 --> 00:06:58,084 YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD VISIBILITY. 139 00:06:58,084 --> 00:07:00,420 YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING OUTSIDE, ABLE TO SEE THE HORIZON 140 00:07:00,420 --> 00:07:04,491 AND ORIENT THE AIRPLANE USING YOUR VISUAL CUES. 141 00:07:04,491 --> 00:07:05,592 Kennedy: AND THAT'S THE BEST VIEW OF NEW YORK 142 00:07:05,592 --> 00:07:09,262 YOU'RE EVER GONNA GET. 143 00:07:09,262 --> 00:07:10,730 O'Neill: ONCE YOU TURN TOWARDS THE EAST, 144 00:07:10,730 --> 00:07:15,001 YOU HAD A NICE VIEW OF MANHATTAN, THE HUDSON RIVER. 145 00:07:15,001 --> 00:07:18,772 ON A GOOD DAY YOU COULD SEE, OH, 30 MILES OR SO AT ALTITUDE. 146 00:07:22,609 --> 00:07:25,378 Narrator: KENNEDY CRUISES AT JUST 5,500 FEET, 147 00:07:25,378 --> 00:07:28,915 A TYPICAL ALTITUDE FOR SMALL PLANES. 148 00:07:28,915 --> 00:07:34,087 AROUND 9:30 P.M., HE LEAVES THE MAINLAND COAST BEHIND. 149 00:07:34,087 --> 00:07:37,424 Kennedy: JUST LEAVING MONTAUK OVER THERE. 150 00:07:37,424 --> 00:07:39,359 Carolyn Bessette: I DON'T SEE A THING. 151 00:07:43,830 --> 00:07:46,166 O'Neill: HIS FLIGHT PATH WAS FOLLOWING THE COAST, 152 00:07:46,166 --> 00:07:50,770 SO HE WOULD WANT TO GO SOUTH OVER THE LONG ISLAND SOUND 153 00:07:50,770 --> 00:07:55,141 TO LINE UP AND SET UP FOR A LONG STRAIGHT IN FOR THE RUNWAY. 154 00:07:57,377 --> 00:07:59,379 Narrator: HE EXPECTS TO REACH THEIR FIRST DESTINATION 155 00:07:59,379 --> 00:08:01,481 IN ABOUT HALF AN HOUR. 156 00:08:01,481 --> 00:08:04,184 Kennedy: WE'LL HAVE YOU ON THE GROUND BY 10 FOR SURE. 157 00:08:13,626 --> 00:08:16,329 Narrator: BUT BY 10 O'CLOCK... 158 00:08:17,997 --> 00:08:19,332 Controller: MARTHA'S VINEYARD TOWER. 159 00:08:19,332 --> 00:08:21,368 Man: AIRPORT SECURITY HERE. 160 00:08:21,368 --> 00:08:23,737 Narrator: THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER AT MARTHA'S VINEYARD AIRPORT 161 00:08:23,737 --> 00:08:26,873 HAS HAD NO CONTACT WITH THE KENNEDY PLANE. 162 00:08:26,873 --> 00:08:29,242 Man: ANY WORD ON THAT FLIGHT? 163 00:08:29,242 --> 00:08:30,510 Controller: UH, NEGATIVE. 164 00:08:30,510 --> 00:08:33,279 I HAVEN'T BEEN NOTIFIED OF THAT ARRIVAL. 165 00:08:33,279 --> 00:08:36,983 Narrator: OVERDUE FLIGHTS ARE NOT UNCOMMON. 166 00:08:36,983 --> 00:08:40,420 BUT AS THE HOURS PASS WITH NO SIGN OF THE PIPER SARATOGA, 167 00:08:40,420 --> 00:08:43,022 A CHILLING REALITY SETS IN. 168 00:08:44,824 --> 00:08:47,527 JOHN F. KENNEDY, HIS WIFE AND SISTER-IN-LAW 169 00:08:47,527 --> 00:08:50,764 ARE MISSING WITHOUT A TRACE. 170 00:08:50,764 --> 00:08:55,502 Mehren: THE KENNEDY CURSE IS, IT'S A, IT'S A HANDY MONIKER, 171 00:08:55,502 --> 00:08:59,105 BUT THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO IT. 172 00:08:59,105 --> 00:09:00,807 Narrator: THE HISTORY OF THE KENNEDY FAMILY 173 00:09:00,807 --> 00:09:03,543 IS MARRED BY TRAGEDY. 174 00:09:03,543 --> 00:09:06,780 JOSEPH KENNEDY JR., JFK JR.'S LATE UNCLE, 175 00:09:06,780 --> 00:09:10,316 DIED WHILE ON A TOP-SECRET MISSION IN WORLD WAR TWO. 176 00:09:12,786 --> 00:09:15,422 PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY AND HIS YOUNGER BROTHER ROBERT 177 00:09:15,422 --> 00:09:17,624 WERE BOTH ASSASSINATED. 178 00:09:17,624 --> 00:09:20,827 Mehren: AND NUMEROUS COUSINS HAVE SINCE DIED. 179 00:09:20,827 --> 00:09:24,998 IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING, SOME PALL 180 00:09:24,998 --> 00:09:27,133 OVER THE FAMILY SOMETIMES. 181 00:09:29,736 --> 00:09:32,739 Narrator: AT 3 A.M., THE FAA CALLS THE COAST GUARD 182 00:09:32,739 --> 00:09:36,476 AND LAUNCHES A SEARCH FOR KENNEDY'S PLANE, 183 00:09:36,476 --> 00:09:40,113 NOW FIVE HOURS OVERDUE. 184 00:09:40,113 --> 00:09:42,015 CURTIS SUMROK OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD 185 00:09:42,015 --> 00:09:44,484 JOINS THE SEARCH. 186 00:09:44,484 --> 00:09:45,985 Curtis Sumrok: I THINK WE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT 187 00:09:45,985 --> 00:09:48,254 OF A HEIGHTENED HOPE THAT WE WOULD FIND THIS PERSON 188 00:09:48,254 --> 00:09:51,591 BECAUSE THEY DID HAVE SUCH A TRAGIC HISTORY. 189 00:09:53,726 --> 00:09:56,496 Narrator: THE FIRST PRIORITY IS TO NARROW THE SEARCH AREA, 190 00:09:56,496 --> 00:09:58,298 BUT THERE'S LITTLE TO GO ON. 191 00:09:58,298 --> 00:10:01,668 Man: IT LOOKS LIKE HE DIDN'T FILE A FLIGHT PLAN. 192 00:10:01,668 --> 00:10:04,437 Narrator: KENNEDY'S PRECISE ROUTE IS UNKNOWN. 193 00:10:07,006 --> 00:10:09,175 UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES, SMALL PLANES 194 00:10:09,175 --> 00:10:12,345 ARE NOT AS CLOSELY MONITORED BY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL. 195 00:10:16,015 --> 00:10:17,984 THE COAST GUARD WILL HAVE TO USE RADAR DATA 196 00:10:17,984 --> 00:10:20,720 TO ESTIMATE KENNEDY'S LAST LOCATION. 197 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,323 IT'S AN APPROXIMATION AT BEST. 198 00:10:26,192 --> 00:10:29,262 ONCE PLANES LEAVE THE COAST TO FLY OVER OPEN OCEAN, 199 00:10:29,262 --> 00:10:31,097 THE RADAR SYSTEM HERE ONLY TRACKS THEM 200 00:10:31,097 --> 00:10:33,266 IF THEY'RE FLYING ABOVE 1,100 FEET. 201 00:10:35,134 --> 00:10:37,136 Sumrok: WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT ALTITUDE, 202 00:10:37,136 --> 00:10:40,406 SO IF, FOR INSTANCE, THERE WAS SOME ATTEMPT TO RECOVER, 203 00:10:40,406 --> 00:10:43,276 IT COULD FLY 100 YARDS OR IT COULD FLY FIVE MILES, 204 00:10:43,276 --> 00:10:47,013 WE DON'T KNOW. 205 00:10:47,013 --> 00:10:49,015 Narrator: ALL THE SEARCHERS KNOW FOR CERTAIN 206 00:10:49,015 --> 00:10:51,017 IS THAT KENNEDY'S PLANE IS MISSING, 207 00:10:51,017 --> 00:10:53,086 AND IT'S UP TO THEM TO FIND IT. 208 00:11:00,326 --> 00:11:02,262 AT FIRST LIGHT, U.S. MILITARY 209 00:11:02,262 --> 00:11:03,997 AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES 210 00:11:03,997 --> 00:11:05,865 JOIN FORCES WITH THE COAST GUARD 211 00:11:05,865 --> 00:11:08,568 IN A DESPERATE HUNT FOR KENNEDY'S PLANE. 212 00:11:11,204 --> 00:11:14,374 EVERYONE KNOWS THAT IF THE SMALL PLANE DITCHED AT SEA, 213 00:11:14,374 --> 00:11:17,677 SURVIVORS WON'T LAST LONG IN THE COLD ATLANTIC WATERS. 214 00:11:19,646 --> 00:11:22,315 Jeff Guzzetti: THE SCALE OF THE EFFORT 215 00:11:22,315 --> 00:11:24,617 TO SEARCH FOR THE AIRCRAFT, 216 00:11:24,617 --> 00:11:26,619 IT WAS MASSIVE. 217 00:11:26,619 --> 00:11:29,255 TYPICALLY THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN MOST GENERAL AVIATION ACCIDENTS, 218 00:11:29,255 --> 00:11:32,358 BUT THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS JFK JR., 219 00:11:32,358 --> 00:11:36,729 AND IT CAPTURED THE EYES OF THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. 220 00:11:36,729 --> 00:11:40,166 Narrator: NEWS THAT JFK JR.-- ONE OF AMERICA'S FAVORITE SONS-- 221 00:11:40,166 --> 00:11:43,536 IS MISSING STUNS THE NATION. 222 00:11:43,536 --> 00:11:45,438 THE PUBLIC WANTS ANSWERS. 223 00:11:45,438 --> 00:11:47,840 Sumrok: AS SOON AS THIS STORY BROKE, 224 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:49,642 THE MEDIA VANS WERE ON THE ROLL, 225 00:11:49,642 --> 00:11:53,146 AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY NEWS, MAJOR NEWS ORGANIZATION 226 00:11:53,146 --> 00:11:55,882 HAD A PRESENCE IN OUR PARKING LOT. 227 00:11:59,118 --> 00:12:00,820 Narrator: TRYING TO SPOT THE THREE SURVIVORS 228 00:12:00,820 --> 00:12:04,991 IN MILES OF OPEN WATER IS A MAMMOTH TASK. 229 00:12:04,991 --> 00:12:06,659 Sumrok: IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT 230 00:12:06,659 --> 00:12:08,528 BECAUSE YOU'RE BASICALLY LOOKING FOR SOMETHING 231 00:12:08,528 --> 00:12:10,496 THAT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BASKETBALL, 232 00:12:10,496 --> 00:12:14,233 AND YOU'RE FLYING 100 TO 300 FEET ABOVE THAT. 233 00:12:15,702 --> 00:12:18,037 THE OUTCRY FROM THE PUBLIC WAS GREAT, 234 00:12:18,037 --> 00:12:20,206 AND THERE WERE PEOPLE GETTING IN THEIR PRIVATE BOATS 235 00:12:20,206 --> 00:12:24,077 TO GO OUT AND HELP SEARCH. 236 00:12:24,077 --> 00:12:26,012 Narrator: AS THE SEARCH EFFORT CONTINUES, 237 00:12:26,012 --> 00:12:28,982 ALL OF AMERICA SEEMS TO HOLD ITS BREATH. 238 00:12:28,982 --> 00:12:30,883 Mehren: PEOPLE WERE CAPTIVATED BY THE STORY 239 00:12:30,883 --> 00:12:33,386 BECAUSE, ON THE ONE HAND, HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN? 240 00:12:33,386 --> 00:12:36,990 ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE WAS THIS KENNEDY CURSE. 241 00:12:38,958 --> 00:12:40,393 Narrator: AS THE HOURS PASS, 242 00:12:40,393 --> 00:12:42,528 MILLIONS ACROSS AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD 243 00:12:42,528 --> 00:12:45,965 BEGIN TO FEAR THE WORST. 244 00:12:45,965 --> 00:12:49,002 JOHN KENNEDY JR. MAY BE LOST FOREVER. 245 00:12:52,805 --> 00:12:56,342 THE DAY AFTER KENNEDY'S PLANE WENT MISSING, 246 00:12:56,342 --> 00:13:00,680 SEARCHERS MAKE A GRIM DISCOVERY-- 247 00:13:00,680 --> 00:13:03,483 PIECES OF AIRCRAFT DEBRIS FLOATING IN THE FAST CURRENTS 248 00:13:03,483 --> 00:13:06,886 OFF MARTHA'S VINEYARD. 249 00:13:06,886 --> 00:13:11,658 Sumrok: THERE WAS PART OF THE NOSE WHEEL, SOME CUSHIONS. 250 00:13:11,658 --> 00:13:13,760 ONE OF THE SUITCASES WAS IN THERE, 251 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:15,294 AND THEN VARIOUS OTHER PARTS 252 00:13:15,294 --> 00:13:19,666 THAT WERE UNIDENTIFIABLE FROM THE AIRCRAFT. 253 00:13:19,666 --> 00:13:21,401 Narrator: THE SHATTERED PIECES LEAVE LITTLE HOPE 254 00:13:21,401 --> 00:13:23,936 THAT ANYONE IS ALIVE. 255 00:13:23,936 --> 00:13:26,539 Sumrok: EVERYONE WAS HOPEFUL THAT THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER OUTCOME, 256 00:13:26,539 --> 00:13:28,775 BUT IT JUST NEVER CAME. 257 00:13:31,377 --> 00:13:33,813 Narrator: MEANWHILE, THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD 258 00:13:33,813 --> 00:13:36,482 IS ALREADY AT WORK TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WENT WRONG. 259 00:13:36,482 --> 00:13:38,384 Robert Pearce: HOW YA DOING? 260 00:13:38,384 --> 00:13:40,687 Narrator: FORMER U.S. ARMY PILOT ROBERT PEARCE 261 00:13:40,687 --> 00:13:44,123 WILL BE THE INVESTIGATOR IN CHARGE. 262 00:13:44,123 --> 00:13:45,992 Pearce: THIS ONE'S A NATIONAL TRAGEDY. 263 00:13:45,992 --> 00:13:49,829 PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE WANTING ANSWERS. 264 00:13:49,829 --> 00:13:51,998 Guzzetti: IN TERMS OF THE VISIBILITY, 265 00:13:51,998 --> 00:13:54,667 THE CURIOSITY BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, 266 00:13:54,667 --> 00:13:57,437 THIS WAS BOB PEARCE'S BIGGEST ASSIGNMENT 267 00:13:57,437 --> 00:14:01,441 AS AN INVESTIGATOR IN CHARGE. 268 00:14:01,441 --> 00:14:05,778 Pearce: LET'S SEE WHAT THE FBI HAS ON HIM. 269 00:14:05,778 --> 00:14:07,914 Narrator: PEARCE IMMEDIATELY FACES THE POSSIBILITY 270 00:14:07,914 --> 00:14:11,084 THE PLANE WAS BROUGHT DOWN BY A DELIBERATE CRIMINAL ACT. 271 00:14:11,084 --> 00:14:14,554 Pearce: WELL, WELL, WELL. 272 00:14:14,554 --> 00:14:17,390 Narrator: FBI FILES REVEAL THAT JOHN F. KENNEDY JR. 273 00:14:17,390 --> 00:14:21,594 HAS BEEN THE TARGET OF AT LEAST THREE KIDNAPPING THREATS, 274 00:14:21,594 --> 00:14:25,164 THE MOST RECENT JUST FOUR YEARS EARLIER IN 1995. 275 00:14:25,164 --> 00:14:27,433 Pearce: NOT EVERYBODY LOVED THE GUY. 276 00:14:30,303 --> 00:14:32,572 Guzzetti: BECAUSE IT WAS A POLITICAL FIGURE ON BOARD, 277 00:14:32,572 --> 00:14:35,742 THERE WERE MANY CAUSES THAT WERE BEING REPEATED 278 00:14:35,742 --> 00:14:39,011 ABOUT POTENTIAL TERRORIST ATTACKS, 279 00:14:39,011 --> 00:14:40,546 A BOMB ON BOARD. 280 00:14:40,546 --> 00:14:42,381 WAS IT SHOT DOWN? 281 00:14:51,724 --> 00:14:53,960 Narrator: THE ANSWERS COULD LIE WITH THE WRECKAGE, 282 00:14:53,960 --> 00:14:58,765 BUT IT'S STILL LOST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ATLANTIC. 283 00:14:58,765 --> 00:15:00,700 NAVY DIVERS SCOUR THE OCEAN FLOOR 284 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:03,569 SEARCHING FOR SUNKEN DEBRIS. 285 00:15:05,438 --> 00:15:07,874 Pearce: LET'S GO. 286 00:15:07,874 --> 00:15:10,543 Narrator: FOR NOW, INVESTIGATORS MUST LEARN WHAT THEY CAN 287 00:15:10,543 --> 00:15:13,012 FROM THE SARATOGA'S FLIGHT PATH. 288 00:15:14,580 --> 00:15:17,116 THEY COMPILE DATA FROM COASTAL RADAR STATIONS 289 00:15:17,116 --> 00:15:20,286 TO BUILD A PICTURE OF HOW THE PLANE WAS FLYING. 290 00:15:22,789 --> 00:15:26,492 Pearce: OKAY. SO FAR, SO GOOD. 291 00:15:26,492 --> 00:15:28,194 THEN JUST AS HE LEAVES THE COAST, 292 00:15:28,194 --> 00:15:32,064 HE SUDDENLY STARTS HEADING AWAY FROM MARTHA'S VINEYARD. 293 00:15:32,064 --> 00:15:34,834 WHY IS HE FLYING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION? 294 00:15:34,834 --> 00:15:38,304 Guzzetti: WE ALWAYS CONSIDER RECORDED RADAR DATA 295 00:15:38,304 --> 00:15:40,339 AS A POOR MAN'S BLACK BOX. 296 00:15:40,339 --> 00:15:43,276 IT'S A WAY TO GET SOME INFORMATION 297 00:15:43,276 --> 00:15:47,246 IN REGARDS TO THE FLIGHT PATH, THE AIRSPEED, THE ALTITUDE, 298 00:15:47,246 --> 00:15:51,517 AND THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL IN THIS INVESTIGATION. 299 00:15:51,517 --> 00:15:53,486 Pearce: LET'S SEE WHAT HE'S DOING OUT THERE. 300 00:15:53,486 --> 00:15:55,655 Narrator: ABOUT 30 MILES FROM MARTHA'S VINEYARD, 301 00:15:55,655 --> 00:15:58,991 THE PLANE MAKES A SERIES OF UNUSUAL MANEUVERS. 302 00:15:58,991 --> 00:16:01,627 Pearce: OKAY. FIRST HE DESCENDS. 303 00:16:01,627 --> 00:16:05,431 THEN HE TURNS RIGHT AND CLIMBS AGAIN. 304 00:16:06,866 --> 00:16:13,673 LEVEL FOR ONE MINUTE, THEN LEFT, THEN RIGHT AGAIN, 305 00:16:13,673 --> 00:16:17,977 FOLLOWED BY A HIGH-SPEED DIVE. 306 00:16:17,977 --> 00:16:19,478 YOU KNOW, HE'S FLYING 307 00:16:19,478 --> 00:16:22,515 LIKE SOMEONE WHO CAN'T CONTROL THE PLANE. 308 00:16:24,217 --> 00:16:26,285 Jim Walters: THE PATTERN THAT WAS INDICATED BY THE RADAR 309 00:16:26,285 --> 00:16:29,488 WAS QUITE UNUSUAL FOR A NORMAL TYPE 310 00:16:29,488 --> 00:16:32,825 OF DESCENT AND APPROACH TO AN AIRPORT. 311 00:16:32,825 --> 00:16:35,728 WE DON'T KNOW AT THAT POINT EXACTLY WHY. 312 00:16:39,098 --> 00:16:41,033 Narrator: FINALLY, ON JULY 20th, 313 00:16:41,033 --> 00:16:44,670 FOUR DAYS AFTER KENNEDY'S PLANE WENT DOWN, 314 00:16:44,670 --> 00:16:48,708 U.S. NAVY DIVERS LOCATE THE SUNKEN WRECKAGE 315 00:16:48,708 --> 00:16:52,912 AND THE BODIES OF THE THREE PEOPLE ON BOARD. 316 00:16:52,912 --> 00:16:56,415 Man: TODAY, UH, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING CLOSURE TO TWO FAMILIES 317 00:16:56,415 --> 00:17:00,586 AND I THINK THAT, WE REALIZE, IS VERY IMPORTANT. 318 00:17:00,586 --> 00:17:03,256 Sumrok: I CAN STILL REMEMBER PICTURES OF HIM SALUTING 319 00:17:03,256 --> 00:17:06,559 AS THE MOTORCADE WENT BY IN THE FUNERAL PROCESSION, 320 00:17:06,559 --> 00:17:08,961 AND, UH, I THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY THE HARDEST PART 321 00:17:08,961 --> 00:17:11,497 IS SEEING THE TRAGIC LOSS 322 00:17:11,497 --> 00:17:15,801 OF SO MANY OF THE GENERATIONS THERE. 323 00:17:15,801 --> 00:17:17,603 Mehren: JOHN F. KENNEDY WAS REALLY THE CROWN PRINCE 324 00:17:17,603 --> 00:17:19,805 OF THIS FAMILY. 325 00:17:19,805 --> 00:17:21,540 IT SEEMS ALMOST SHAKESPEAREAN IN ITS, 326 00:17:21,540 --> 00:17:24,310 IN ITS TRAGEDY TO SEE THE WAY WE LOST HIM. 327 00:17:27,580 --> 00:17:29,982 Guzzetti: HEY. JEFF GUZZETTI. 328 00:17:29,982 --> 00:17:31,584 CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE SO FAR. 329 00:17:31,584 --> 00:17:32,885 BEEN FOLLOWING THIS ON TELEVISION. 330 00:17:32,885 --> 00:17:34,954 Narrator: NTSB INVESTIGATOR JEFF GUZZETTI 331 00:17:34,954 --> 00:17:39,325 FLIES OUT FROM WASHINGTON TO JOIN THE TEAM. 332 00:17:39,325 --> 00:17:42,528 Guzzetti: MY BOSS AT THE TIME CALLED ME, SAYING LISTEN, 333 00:17:42,528 --> 00:17:44,830 IF THEY FIND THE WRECKAGE, YOU'RE GONNA BE THE GUY 334 00:17:44,830 --> 00:17:49,335 THAT'S GOING UP THERE TO LEAD THE EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE. 335 00:17:51,470 --> 00:17:54,440 OKAY, READY WHEN YOU ARE. 336 00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:56,609 Narrator: HE STARTS BY STUDYING VIDEO EVIDENCE, 337 00:17:56,609 --> 00:17:59,912 IMAGES OF THE WRECKAGE CAPTURED BY NAVY DIVERS. 338 00:17:59,912 --> 00:18:02,281 Guzzetti: CAN YOU FAST-FORWARD TO THE MAIN WRECKAGE? 339 00:18:05,718 --> 00:18:08,087 Narrator: FOR GUZZETTI, THE WAY THE PIECES HAVE FALLEN 340 00:18:08,087 --> 00:18:11,290 AND THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM ARE IMPORTANT CLUES. 341 00:18:11,290 --> 00:18:13,826 Guzzetti: YOU HAVE TO ANSWER THE FIRST QUESTION, 342 00:18:13,826 --> 00:18:19,999 DID THE AIRPLANE CRASH AND DISINTEGRATE UPON IMPACT 343 00:18:19,999 --> 00:18:22,702 OR WAS THERE SOME SORT OF INFLIGHT BREAKUP? 344 00:18:28,975 --> 00:18:30,876 Narrator: HE HOPES TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION 345 00:18:30,876 --> 00:18:34,213 BY LOCATING WHAT INVESTIGATORS CALL THE FOUR CORNERS. 346 00:18:34,213 --> 00:18:36,882 Guzzetti: WING. WING. 347 00:18:36,882 --> 00:18:38,484 TAIL. 348 00:18:38,484 --> 00:18:42,154 NOSE. 349 00:18:42,154 --> 00:18:44,023 Narrator: WHEN THE NOSE, THE TAIL AND THE TWO WINGS 350 00:18:44,023 --> 00:18:46,192 ARE FOUND CLOSE TOGETHER, 351 00:18:46,192 --> 00:18:48,394 IT'S POWERFUL EVIDENCE THAT THE PLANE WAS INTACT 352 00:18:48,394 --> 00:18:50,262 WHEN IT HIT THE OCEAN. 353 00:18:50,262 --> 00:18:55,301 Guzzetti: LOOKS LIKE IT WAS IN ONE PIECE TILL IT HIT THE WATER. 354 00:18:55,301 --> 00:18:57,703 ALL THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE AIRPLANE 355 00:18:57,703 --> 00:18:59,505 WERE IN A LOCALIZED AREA 356 00:18:59,505 --> 00:19:02,408 120 FEET BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. 357 00:19:02,408 --> 00:19:04,477 SO WE WERE VERY CONFIDENT 358 00:19:04,477 --> 00:19:08,114 THAT THIS WAS NOT AN INFLIGHT BREAKUP. 359 00:19:08,114 --> 00:19:09,415 Kennedy: AND THAT'S THE BEST VIEW OF NEW YORK 360 00:19:09,415 --> 00:19:12,785 YOU'RE EVER GONNA GET. 361 00:19:12,785 --> 00:19:15,488 Narrator: THE DISCOVERY HELPS PUT TO REST LINGERING FEARS 362 00:19:15,488 --> 00:19:18,190 THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A BOMB ON BOARD. 363 00:19:21,660 --> 00:19:23,095 Guzzetti: OH, THIS IS GREAT. 364 00:19:23,095 --> 00:19:25,931 Narrator: FOR INVESTIGATORS, ELIMINATING ONE POTENTIAL CAUSE 365 00:19:25,931 --> 00:19:29,702 IS A STEP FORWARD, BUT THE JOB HAS ONLY BEGUN. 366 00:19:31,337 --> 00:19:33,672 GUZZETTI KNOWS HE'LL BE FEELING INTENSE PRESSURE 367 00:19:33,672 --> 00:19:37,209 EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. 368 00:19:37,209 --> 00:19:40,413 Guzzetti: THE VISIBILITY, THE CRUSH OF THE MEDIA, 369 00:19:40,413 --> 00:19:42,915 THE EYES OF THE WORLD WERE GONNA BE ON THIS, 370 00:19:42,915 --> 00:19:47,420 SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT I KNEW I HAD TO DO MY JOB BY THE BOOK. 371 00:19:54,460 --> 00:19:55,561 GUYS, THAT'S TAIL. 372 00:19:55,561 --> 00:19:59,331 YOU GOTTA PUT THAT BACK THERE. 373 00:19:59,331 --> 00:20:01,867 AND THE CABLES, GET THE CABLES ALL TOGETHER IN ONE SPOT. 374 00:20:01,867 --> 00:20:05,004 LET'S KEEP THEM OVER THERE. 375 00:20:05,004 --> 00:20:07,506 Narrator: SALVAGE EFFORTS HAVE RECOVERED 75% 376 00:20:07,506 --> 00:20:11,177 OF JOHN F. KENNEDY JR.'S PIPER SARATOGA FROM THE OCEAN. 377 00:20:13,179 --> 00:20:16,816 Guzzetti: IF WE WERE EVER GOING TO PROVIDE A STORY TO THE PUBLIC 378 00:20:16,816 --> 00:20:19,785 AND TO THE AVIATION COMMUNITY AND TO THE FAMILY, 379 00:20:19,785 --> 00:20:24,056 WE NEEDED TO GLEAN AS MUCH EVIDENCE AS WE COULD, 380 00:20:24,056 --> 00:20:25,825 AND THAT MEANT TRYING TO FIND 381 00:20:25,825 --> 00:20:30,362 EVERY PIECE THAT WAS AVAILABLE IN THE WRECKAGE. 382 00:20:30,362 --> 00:20:32,731 EACH AND EVERY PIECE, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, 383 00:20:32,731 --> 00:20:37,303 WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE IT WAS FOUND. 384 00:20:37,303 --> 00:20:41,740 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS BEGIN A METHODICAL ANALYSIS OF THE DEBRIS. 385 00:20:41,740 --> 00:20:43,175 Guzzetti: I WANT TO SEE EVERY PIECE. 386 00:20:43,175 --> 00:20:45,911 WE START AT THE WING TIPS. WE WORK OUR WAY IN. 387 00:20:48,013 --> 00:20:51,317 Narrator: THE SMALL PLANE WAS NOT REQUIRED TO CARRY FLIGHT RECORDERS. 388 00:20:51,317 --> 00:20:54,019 GUZZETTI WILL HAVE TO UNCOVER THE STORY BEHIND THIS CRASH 389 00:20:54,019 --> 00:20:55,554 BY INTERPRETING THE CLUES 390 00:20:55,554 --> 00:20:58,424 IMPRINTED ON THE CRUMPLED DEBRIS. 391 00:20:58,424 --> 00:21:02,628 Guzzetti: OKAY, LET'S SEE HOW YOU HIT THE WATER. 392 00:21:02,628 --> 00:21:03,929 Narrator: IF GUZZETTI CAN UNDERSTAND 393 00:21:03,929 --> 00:21:06,165 EXACTLY HOW THE PLANE HIT THE WATER, 394 00:21:06,165 --> 00:21:08,467 IT MIGHT TELL HIM WHAT WENT WRONG. 395 00:21:10,703 --> 00:21:14,907 Guzzetti: THE RIGHT WING IS MUCH MORE DAMAGED THAN THE LEFT WING. 396 00:21:14,907 --> 00:21:19,879 Narrator: BIT BY BIT, THE DAMAGE REVEALS HOW THE PLANE CAME DOWN. 397 00:21:19,879 --> 00:21:22,014 Guzzetti: WHEN YOU LOOK AT CRUSH MARKS ON A STRUCTURE, 398 00:21:22,014 --> 00:21:23,916 THEY CAN TELL YOU A LOT. 399 00:21:23,916 --> 00:21:26,385 THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED ACCORDION CRUSH DAMAGE, 400 00:21:26,385 --> 00:21:27,987 WHERE YOU JUST TAKE THE STRUCTURE 401 00:21:27,987 --> 00:21:29,989 AND THE IMPACT JUST CRUSHES IT DOWN 402 00:21:29,989 --> 00:21:32,625 AND IT LOOKS LIKE AN ACCORDION, 403 00:21:32,625 --> 00:21:36,929 WHICH GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE ANGLE OF IMPACT WAS. 404 00:21:40,466 --> 00:21:41,867 HUH. 405 00:21:41,867 --> 00:21:44,136 I WASN'T EXPECTING THAT. 406 00:21:44,136 --> 00:21:48,941 THE ROOF'S BADLY DAMAGED, BUT NO DAMAGE ON THE FLOOR. 407 00:21:53,179 --> 00:21:55,981 I THINK THEY WERE UPSIDE DOWN. 408 00:21:55,981 --> 00:22:00,386 HE'S BANKING RIGHT, HIT THE WATER LIKE THIS. 409 00:22:05,157 --> 00:22:07,393 Narrator: THE DISCOVERY PAINTS A TERRIFYING PICTURE 410 00:22:07,393 --> 00:22:10,062 OF THE FLIGHT'S FINAL MOMENTS. 411 00:22:10,062 --> 00:22:12,598 Kennedy: DAMN IT. COME ON! 412 00:22:12,598 --> 00:22:13,732 LEVEL OFF! 413 00:22:33,285 --> 00:22:36,088 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS KNOW HOW THE PLANE HIT THE WATER, 414 00:22:36,088 --> 00:22:38,524 BUT THEY STILL DON'T KNOW WHY. 415 00:22:38,524 --> 00:22:43,329 AND MOUNTING PUBLIC PRESSURE IS NEVER FAR FROM THEIR MINDS. 416 00:22:43,329 --> 00:22:46,932 Guzzetti: I HAD HEARD THAT THERE WAS A NEWSPAPER 417 00:22:46,932 --> 00:22:50,002 THAT WAS OFFERING A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS 418 00:22:50,002 --> 00:22:54,006 FOR ANY PHOTOGRAPH OF THE WRECKAGE. 419 00:22:54,006 --> 00:22:56,041 AND SINCE I WAS IN CHARGE OF TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS 420 00:22:56,041 --> 00:22:57,576 OF THE WRECKAGE, 421 00:22:57,576 --> 00:23:00,813 I HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE PHOTOGRAPHS 422 00:23:00,813 --> 00:23:03,882 WERE GONNA BE SECURED AND NOT LEAKING OUT. 423 00:23:06,986 --> 00:23:11,890 Pearce: AH, DAMN. IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER NEWS CONFERENCE. 424 00:23:11,890 --> 00:23:15,027 Walters: YOU HAVE PRESSURE FROM THE MEDIA. 425 00:23:15,027 --> 00:23:16,562 THEY REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, 426 00:23:16,562 --> 00:23:18,264 AND IF YOU'RE A MID-LEVEL INVESTIGATOR, 427 00:23:18,264 --> 00:23:21,734 YOU HAVE THE PRESSURE FROM YOUR BOSS TO GET THINGS DONE 428 00:23:21,734 --> 00:23:23,135 SO THAT THE MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC 429 00:23:23,135 --> 00:23:26,138 CAN ACTUALLY BE INFORMED AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON. 430 00:23:28,941 --> 00:23:32,378 Narrator: THE SARATOGA IS A SINGLE-ENGINE PROPELLER PLANE. 431 00:23:35,214 --> 00:23:36,615 IF THAT ENGINE FAILED, 432 00:23:36,615 --> 00:23:40,819 IT MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY KENNEDY LOST CONTROL OF HIS PLANE. 433 00:23:40,819 --> 00:23:44,623 GUZZETTI EXAMINES THE PROPELLER BLADES. 434 00:23:44,623 --> 00:23:46,325 THE WAY THEY'RE BENT AND TWISTED 435 00:23:46,325 --> 00:23:48,961 TELLS HIM THEY WERE SPINNING WHEN THEY HIT THE WATER. 436 00:23:48,961 --> 00:23:50,496 Guzzetti: THE ONLY WAY TO GET THAT TO HAPPEN 437 00:23:50,496 --> 00:23:54,433 IS TO HAVE A PROPELLER UNDER POWER, 438 00:23:54,433 --> 00:23:55,834 BEING PROPELLED BY THE ENGINE, 439 00:23:55,834 --> 00:23:58,604 SO HE DIDN'T HAVE A POWER PLANT PROBLEM. 440 00:23:58,604 --> 00:24:00,706 Narrator: THE EVIDENCE IS CLEAR. 441 00:24:00,706 --> 00:24:04,443 Guzzetti: THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT ENGINE. 442 00:24:04,443 --> 00:24:06,211 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS SHIFT THEIR ATTENTION 443 00:24:06,211 --> 00:24:10,382 TO THE COMPLEX MECHANISMS THAT CONTROL THE MOTION OF THE PLANE. 444 00:24:10,382 --> 00:24:11,917 Pearce: ALL RIGHT. 445 00:24:11,917 --> 00:24:14,386 LET'S RUN THE CABLES AND SEE WHAT KIND OF SHAPE THEY'RE IN. 446 00:24:14,386 --> 00:24:16,088 THAT'S IT. 447 00:24:16,088 --> 00:24:18,657 RUN IT RIGHT THROUGH THE PULLEY, STRAIGHT BACK TO THE AILERON. 448 00:24:22,161 --> 00:24:24,863 Narrator: A SYSTEM OF CABLES AND RODS CONNECTS THE YOKE 449 00:24:24,863 --> 00:24:27,533 TO THE AILERONS AND FLAPS, ELEVATORS AND RUDDER 450 00:24:27,533 --> 00:24:31,036 THAT STEER THE AIRPLANE IN FLIGHT. 451 00:24:31,036 --> 00:24:32,738 Walters: WHAT ABOUT FLIGHT CONTROLS? 452 00:24:32,738 --> 00:24:35,541 WAS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY THE AIRPLANE WAS FLYING 453 00:24:35,541 --> 00:24:37,176 THAT WAS NOT PILOT-INDUCED 454 00:24:37,176 --> 00:24:41,613 BUT WAS ACTUALLY A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRPLANE ITSELF? 455 00:24:41,613 --> 00:24:45,684 Narrator: IF A CONTROL CABLE BREAKS MID-FLIGHT... 456 00:24:45,684 --> 00:24:47,686 Kennedy: WHAT THE HELL? 457 00:24:47,686 --> 00:24:52,458 Narrator: IT CAN LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF CONTROL. 458 00:24:52,458 --> 00:24:54,560 Kennedy: NOTHING'S WORKING. 459 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:55,861 Lauren: JOHN, WHAT'S GOING ON? 460 00:24:55,861 --> 00:24:56,795 Kennedy: IT'S OKAY. 461 00:24:56,795 --> 00:24:58,464 IT'S OKAY. 462 00:24:58,464 --> 00:25:01,533 Narrator: THE ENTIRE WORLD WANTS TO KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED 463 00:25:01,533 --> 00:25:05,037 IN THE NIGHT SKY OFF THE COAST OF MARTHA'S VINEYARD. 464 00:25:09,208 --> 00:25:11,877 A CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM 465 00:25:11,877 --> 00:25:14,146 FROM JFK JR.'S PIPER SARATOGA... 466 00:25:14,146 --> 00:25:15,481 Pearce: UP... 467 00:25:15,481 --> 00:25:17,082 Narrator: PROVIDES CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE. 468 00:25:17,082 --> 00:25:18,384 Pearce: ...AND DOWN. 469 00:25:18,384 --> 00:25:20,686 Narrator: NONE OF THE CONTROL SURFACES MALFUNCTIONED. 470 00:25:20,686 --> 00:25:24,089 Pearce: THE AILERON CABLES ALSO SEEM FINE. 471 00:25:24,089 --> 00:25:27,559 THE CABLE SYSTEM WAS WORKING. 472 00:25:27,559 --> 00:25:28,894 Narrator: THERE'S ALSO NO SIGN 473 00:25:28,894 --> 00:25:33,031 THAT THE CABLES SNAPPED BEFORE THE CRASH. 474 00:25:33,031 --> 00:25:36,402 Guzzetti: WE FOUND CONTROL CABLES THAT WERE SEPARATED, 475 00:25:36,402 --> 00:25:39,271 BUT THEY WERE SEPARATED IN WHAT WE CALL TENSILE OVERLOAD 476 00:25:39,271 --> 00:25:41,273 WHERE IT WAS JUST DUE TO IMPACT FORCES, 477 00:25:41,273 --> 00:25:43,142 AS OPPOSED TO A CORRODED CABLE 478 00:25:43,142 --> 00:25:45,778 OR SOME SORT OF PRE-EXISTING FAILURE. 479 00:25:48,046 --> 00:25:49,882 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ARE LEFT TO WONDER-- 480 00:25:49,882 --> 00:25:53,719 WHAT ELSE COULD HAVE BROUGHT DOWN JFK JR.'S PLANE? 481 00:25:57,723 --> 00:25:59,358 Guzzetti: ALL RIGHT. 482 00:25:59,358 --> 00:26:03,662 NOW LET'S CHECK IF THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR FAILED SOMEHOW. 483 00:26:04,797 --> 00:26:06,331 Narrator: THERE'S ANOTHER FAILURE 484 00:26:06,331 --> 00:26:08,967 THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN THE BIZARRE FLIGHT PATH. 485 00:26:14,206 --> 00:26:17,443 Kennedy: LOOKING GOOD. 486 00:26:17,443 --> 00:26:20,078 Narrator: PILOTS RELY ON ONE INSTRUMENT MORE THAN ANY OTHER 487 00:26:20,078 --> 00:26:24,716 TO WARN THEM WHEN THEY AREN'T FLYING STRAIGHT AND LEVEL. 488 00:26:24,716 --> 00:26:28,420 THE ATTITUDE INDICATOR TRACKS THE PLANE'S MOTION IN SPACE-- 489 00:26:28,420 --> 00:26:31,557 UP AND DOWN, LEFT AND RIGHT. 490 00:26:35,627 --> 00:26:39,531 IF IT MALFUNCTIONED AND GAVE KENNEDY FAULTY INFORMATION, 491 00:26:39,531 --> 00:26:40,999 IT MIGHT HAVE FOOLED HIM 492 00:26:40,999 --> 00:26:42,701 INTO STEERING THE PLANE INTO THE OCEAN. 493 00:26:42,701 --> 00:26:43,569 Kennedy: DAMN IT. 494 00:26:43,569 --> 00:26:45,170 COME ON! 495 00:26:45,170 --> 00:26:46,972 LEVEL OFF! 496 00:26:49,641 --> 00:26:52,845 Guzzetti: WE HARVESTED ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS. 497 00:26:52,845 --> 00:26:55,214 WE TOOK THEM TO THE NTSB MATERIALS LABORATORY 498 00:26:55,214 --> 00:26:56,715 AND PHOTOGRAPHED MANY OF THEM 499 00:26:56,715 --> 00:27:00,719 AND DISASSEMBLED THEM AND LOOKED INSIDE. 500 00:27:00,719 --> 00:27:02,721 THERE GOES THAT IDEA. 501 00:27:02,721 --> 00:27:04,256 Narrator: BUT AFTER A THOROUGH EXAMINATION 502 00:27:04,256 --> 00:27:06,258 OF ALL THE AIRCRAFT'S INSTRUMENTS, 503 00:27:06,258 --> 00:27:08,894 THE SEARCH FOR CLUES COMES UP EMPTY. 504 00:27:08,894 --> 00:27:13,098 Guzzetti: THE INSTRUMENTS WERE WORKING PERFECTLY. 505 00:27:13,098 --> 00:27:15,534 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONCLUDE THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG 506 00:27:15,534 --> 00:27:18,604 WITH THE PIPER SARATOGA. 507 00:27:18,604 --> 00:27:19,972 Guzzetti: WE FOUND NO EVIDENCE 508 00:27:19,972 --> 00:27:23,609 OF ANY KIND OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. 509 00:27:23,609 --> 00:27:24,977 Pearce: ALL RIGHT. 510 00:27:24,977 --> 00:27:28,413 SO YOU SAW HIM OUT ON THE TARMAC. 511 00:27:28,413 --> 00:27:31,116 Narrator: THE FOCUS NOW SHIFTS TO THE PILOT. 512 00:27:31,116 --> 00:27:33,185 Pearce: DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME THAT WAS? 513 00:27:33,185 --> 00:27:35,888 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ASK WITNESSES TO HELP THEM PIECE TOGETHER 514 00:27:35,888 --> 00:27:39,057 THE FINAL DAYS OF JOHN KENNEDY JR.'S LIFE. 515 00:27:39,057 --> 00:27:40,893 Pearce: NOW, DID YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH MR. KENNEDY? 516 00:27:40,893 --> 00:27:42,828 Narrator: THEY HOPE SOMEONE WILL TELL THEM SOMETHING 517 00:27:42,828 --> 00:27:46,031 THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN WHY HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS PLANE. 518 00:27:46,031 --> 00:27:47,566 Pearce: AND WHEN HE SPOKE TO YOU, DID HE... 519 00:27:47,566 --> 00:27:50,302 Walters: YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO DO KIND OF A 72-HOUR ANALYSIS 520 00:27:50,302 --> 00:27:53,872 OF WHAT THE PILOT WAS GOING THROUGH PRIOR TO THE EVENT, 521 00:27:53,872 --> 00:27:57,543 WHAT HIS ACTIONS WERE, WHAT HIS STRESSORS MIGHT HAVE BEEN, 522 00:27:57,543 --> 00:28:00,078 WHO HE TALKED TO, WHAT WAS ON HIS MIND, 523 00:28:00,078 --> 00:28:01,813 WHAT HIS PHYSICAL CONDITION MIGHT HAVE BEEN. 524 00:28:01,813 --> 00:28:03,315 THOSE KIND OF THINGS BECOME VERY IMPORTANT 525 00:28:03,315 --> 00:28:05,617 IN AN ACCIDENT LIKE THIS. 526 00:28:05,617 --> 00:28:07,119 Guzzetti: WHY DID THE PILOT 527 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:10,088 FAIL TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE? 528 00:28:10,088 --> 00:28:13,225 Pearce: WAS THERE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY? 529 00:28:15,627 --> 00:28:17,129 Narrator: THEY LEARN THAT KENNEDY WAS SEEN 530 00:28:17,129 --> 00:28:21,667 LEANING ON CRUTCHES JUST BEFORE THE FLIGHT. 531 00:28:21,667 --> 00:28:24,136 Walters: HE HAD HAD SURGERY DONE ON HIS ANKLE, 532 00:28:24,136 --> 00:28:27,806 AND HE HAD JUST HAD A WALKING TYPE OF CAST REMOVED 533 00:28:27,806 --> 00:28:29,441 THE DAY BEFORE. 534 00:28:35,414 --> 00:28:37,616 Narrator: PILOTS NEED BOTH THEIR HANDS AND THEIR FEET 535 00:28:37,616 --> 00:28:40,285 TO FLY A PLANE. 536 00:28:40,285 --> 00:28:42,321 Walters: WHEN YOU APPLY RUDDERS, 537 00:28:42,321 --> 00:28:44,456 THE RUDDER PEDAL PRESSURE IN AN AIRPLANE, 538 00:28:44,456 --> 00:28:49,661 IT OBVIOUSLY GOES THROUGH THE LEG AND THROUGH THE ANKLE. 539 00:28:49,661 --> 00:28:52,965 Narrator: COULD KENNEDY'S INJURY EXPLAIN THE FATAL FLIGHT PATH? 540 00:28:56,602 --> 00:28:58,770 A CHECK OF MEDICAL RECORDS PROVIDES THE ANSWER. 541 00:28:58,770 --> 00:29:00,906 Pearce: THERE WE HAVE THE X-RAY OF THE LEFT ANKLE. 542 00:29:00,906 --> 00:29:03,642 Narrator: THOUGH HE WAS STILL USING CRUTCHES SOME OF THE TIME, 543 00:29:03,642 --> 00:29:08,213 HIS RECORDS SHOW HIS ANKLE WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO FLY THE PLANE. 544 00:29:08,213 --> 00:29:10,482 Pearce: HE WAS FIT TO FLY. 545 00:29:10,482 --> 00:29:13,518 THAT ANKLE SHOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN HIM ANY TROUBLE AT ALL. 546 00:29:13,518 --> 00:29:15,187 Narrator: IT'S ANOTHER DEAD END. 547 00:29:15,187 --> 00:29:18,490 Pearce: NEXT. 548 00:29:18,490 --> 00:29:20,392 Narrator: THE SEARCH FOR CLUES CONTINUES, 549 00:29:20,392 --> 00:29:23,328 UNCOVERING WORRISOME DETAILS ABOUT A ROCKY MARRIAGE 550 00:29:23,328 --> 00:29:26,098 AND MOUNTING STRESS IN KENNEDY'S LIFE. 551 00:29:26,098 --> 00:29:29,334 Pearce: I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF HIS STATE OF MIND. 552 00:29:29,334 --> 00:29:33,271 NOW, I UNDERSTAND HIS MARRIAGE WAS GOING THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH? 553 00:29:35,340 --> 00:29:38,076 Narrator: FOR MONTHS, JOHN AND CAROLYN'S TROUBLED RELATIONSHIP 554 00:29:38,076 --> 00:29:41,913 HAS BEEN FODDER FOR THE TABLOIDS. 555 00:29:41,913 --> 00:29:43,915 PERHAPS THE STRAIN DISTRACTED KENNEDY 556 00:29:43,915 --> 00:29:48,020 FROM THE CHALLENGING TASK OF PILOTING HIS PLANE. 557 00:29:48,020 --> 00:29:49,454 Mehren: EVERYONE COMES OUT AFTERWARDS 558 00:29:49,454 --> 00:29:51,256 AND TALKS ABOUT THE THIS SPAT AND THE THAT SPAT 559 00:29:51,256 --> 00:29:54,593 AND THAT SHE WAS VERY DIFFICULT AND THAT SHE WAS DEMANDING... 560 00:29:54,593 --> 00:29:57,729 Paparazzi: BACK UP AND LOOK THIS WAY, CAROLYN! 561 00:29:57,729 --> 00:29:59,297 Mehren: BUT YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH OF THAT 562 00:29:59,297 --> 00:30:02,334 IS JUST KIND OF PEOPLE SPECULATING. 563 00:30:02,334 --> 00:30:04,336 Kennedy: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MEET GEORGE. 564 00:30:06,705 --> 00:30:08,707 Narrator: AFTER A HIGH PROFILE LAUNCH, 565 00:30:08,707 --> 00:30:12,244 KENNEDY'S MAGAZINE IS ALSO IN TROUBLE. 566 00:30:12,244 --> 00:30:13,879 Kennedy: NO, YOU SHOULDN'T WORRY. 567 00:30:13,879 --> 00:30:17,215 NO, WE'VE GOT A GREAT PLAN IN PLACE GOING FORWARD. 568 00:30:17,215 --> 00:30:19,785 YEAH. 569 00:30:19,785 --> 00:30:22,621 NO, IT'S GONNA BE FINE. YEAH. 570 00:30:22,621 --> 00:30:25,157 Mehren: HE GENUINELY LAUNCHED THAT MAGAZINE, GEORGE, 571 00:30:25,157 --> 00:30:28,393 WITH AN INTEREST IN PROVIDING A VOICE AND VEHICLE 572 00:30:28,393 --> 00:30:30,896 TO BRING POLITICS TO HIS GENERATION. 573 00:30:30,896 --> 00:30:32,564 Kennedy: NO, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. 574 00:30:32,564 --> 00:30:35,801 Mehren: MAGAZINES ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE AND HARD TO RUN. 575 00:30:35,801 --> 00:30:40,072 IT WASN'T DOING TOO WELL BY THE END. 576 00:30:40,072 --> 00:30:44,242 Pearce: NOW, MR. KENNEDY LED A VERY BUSY LIFE. 577 00:30:44,242 --> 00:30:47,879 I'M SURE HE HAD A LOT ON HIS MIND THAT NIGHT. 578 00:30:47,879 --> 00:30:51,583 MAYBE THAT'S WHAT RATTLED HIM WHEN HE WAS UP THERE. 579 00:30:51,583 --> 00:30:53,385 Walters: AS IN ANY ACTIVITY, 580 00:30:53,385 --> 00:30:55,687 YOUR STATE OF MIND AFFECTS YOUR BEHAVIOR, 581 00:30:55,687 --> 00:30:57,222 AND FOR A PILOT, 582 00:30:57,222 --> 00:31:00,559 THAT PILOT MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THE STRESS HE'S UNDER 583 00:31:00,559 --> 00:31:02,227 CAN AFFECT HOW HE FLIES 584 00:31:02,227 --> 00:31:04,996 AND WHAT HIS DECISION-MAKING SKILLS ARE AT THAT POINT 585 00:31:04,996 --> 00:31:08,200 IN RELATION TO HOW SAFE IS IT TO GO FLY TODAY. 586 00:31:11,303 --> 00:31:12,971 Kennedy: SARATOGA NINER-2-5-3, 587 00:31:12,971 --> 00:31:16,508 READY FOR TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 2-2. 588 00:31:16,508 --> 00:31:19,111 Narrator: JOHN KENNEDY JR. APPEARED TO BE THE DEFINITION 589 00:31:19,111 --> 00:31:21,046 OF GRACE UNDER PRESSURE, 590 00:31:21,046 --> 00:31:23,014 BUT WHAT WAS THE REAL STORY? 591 00:31:23,014 --> 00:31:24,916 DID HE HAVE THE PILOTING SKILLS 592 00:31:24,916 --> 00:31:28,487 TO HANDLE THE ADDED PRESSURE OF FLYING HIS OWN PLANE? 593 00:31:37,863 --> 00:31:40,031 Pearce: OVER 300 FLIGHT HOURS. 594 00:31:40,031 --> 00:31:41,299 HE WASN'T A TOTAL ROOKIE. 595 00:31:41,299 --> 00:31:45,904 HE HAD A FAIR NUMBER OF FLIGHT HOURS UNDER HIS BELT. 596 00:31:45,904 --> 00:31:48,640 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CHECK JOHN KENNEDY'S TRAINING RECORDS 597 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:52,144 TO LEARN ALL THEY CAN ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE AS A PILOT. 598 00:31:52,144 --> 00:31:56,982 Pearce: SO WHAT DID HE LEARN IN 300 HOURS? 599 00:31:56,982 --> 00:31:59,885 Kennedy: I'D LIKE TO TRY A FEW ILS APPROACHES AGAIN TODAY. 600 00:32:02,220 --> 00:32:04,222 Narrator: KENNEDY HAD BEEN TAKING LESSONS ON AND OFF 601 00:32:04,222 --> 00:32:06,024 FOR 17 YEARS, 602 00:32:06,024 --> 00:32:10,729 BUT HE HAD RELATIVELY LITTLE EXPERIENCE FLYING ON HIS OWN. 603 00:32:10,729 --> 00:32:15,167 Kennedy: UH, STARTING MY DESCENT NOW? 604 00:32:15,167 --> 00:32:19,070 Walters: IN MR. KENNEDY'S CASE, OF THE 310 HOURS HE HAD, 605 00:32:19,070 --> 00:32:24,276 ONLY ABOUT 70 TO 75 WERE BY HIMSELF FLYING SOLO. 606 00:32:26,011 --> 00:32:30,816 Pearce: ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX... 607 00:32:30,816 --> 00:32:33,585 Narrator: THERE'S ANOTHER TROUBLING DETAIL. 608 00:32:33,585 --> 00:32:37,322 Pearce: 11 DIFFERENT INSTRUCTORS. 609 00:32:37,322 --> 00:32:41,226 I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY OF THEM GOT TO KNOW THE GUY TOO WELL. 610 00:32:41,226 --> 00:32:42,627 Narrator: KENNEDY TRAINED 611 00:32:42,627 --> 00:32:46,097 WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT INSTRUCTORS DURING THOSE YEARS. 612 00:32:46,097 --> 00:32:48,633 Kennedy: SHOULD I THROTTLE BACK MORE? 613 00:32:48,633 --> 00:32:50,101 Walters: I WOULD NOT WANT TO TRAIN 614 00:32:50,101 --> 00:32:52,037 THE WAY MR. KENNEDY ENDED UP TRAINING. 615 00:32:52,037 --> 00:32:54,406 I WOULD PREFER TO STICK WITH ONE INSTRUCTOR, 616 00:32:54,406 --> 00:32:58,343 ESPECIALLY DURING THE INSTRUMENT PORTION OF THAT TRAINING. 617 00:32:59,511 --> 00:33:00,979 Kennedy: HEY. 618 00:33:00,979 --> 00:33:02,080 SORRY, I'M LATE. 619 00:33:02,080 --> 00:33:03,615 ARE YOU WITH ME TODAY? 620 00:33:06,184 --> 00:33:09,888 Narrator: TIM O'NEILL WAS ONE OF JOHN KENNEDY'S INSTRUCTORS. 621 00:33:09,888 --> 00:33:11,857 O'Neill: HE WAS A VERY BUSY PERSON, 622 00:33:11,857 --> 00:33:13,959 SO HE'D BE RUNNING IN AND RUNNING OUT. 623 00:33:13,959 --> 00:33:15,660 SOMETIMES HE'D BE RUNNING LATE. 624 00:33:15,660 --> 00:33:18,630 Kennedy: HATE THAT HIGHWAY. IT'S ALWAYS PACKED. 625 00:33:18,630 --> 00:33:22,200 O'Neill: IT'S NOT VERY HELPFUL IN THE LEARNING PROCESS 626 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:24,536 TO HAVE OTHER THINGS ON YOUR MIND. 627 00:33:28,740 --> 00:33:31,910 Pearce: SO I READ WHAT YOU TOLD MY COLLEAGUE. 628 00:33:31,910 --> 00:33:36,214 I JUST NEED TO CONFIRM A FEW THINGS. 629 00:33:36,214 --> 00:33:39,384 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS LEARN OF ANOTHER TRAGIC PRE-FLIGHT CHOICE-- 630 00:33:39,384 --> 00:33:41,086 ONE THAT MIGHT HAVE MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. 631 00:33:41,086 --> 00:33:43,188 Pearce: YOU ACTUALLY OFFERED TO MAKE THE FLIGHT WITH HIM 632 00:33:43,188 --> 00:33:45,857 ON THAT NIGHT? 633 00:33:45,857 --> 00:33:48,093 Narrator: ONE OF HIS INSTRUCTORS OFFERED TO FLY WITH HIM 634 00:33:48,093 --> 00:33:50,829 THE DAY OF THE CRASH. 635 00:33:50,829 --> 00:33:53,999 Kennedy: THANKS FOR THE OFFER, BUT I WANT TO DO IT ALONE. 636 00:33:53,999 --> 00:33:55,967 YEAH. NO, I APPRECIATE IT, THOUGH. THANKS. 637 00:33:55,967 --> 00:33:59,337 Walters: THAT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST POINT RIGHT HERE 638 00:33:59,337 --> 00:34:01,973 IS HE MADE THE DECISION TO CONTINUE, 639 00:34:01,973 --> 00:34:04,109 NOT REALIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STRESSORS 640 00:34:04,109 --> 00:34:08,813 THAT WERE ON HIM HIMSELF AND HIS OWN LIMITATIONS. 641 00:34:08,813 --> 00:34:12,083 Pearce: HE'S ONLY QUALIFIED FOR VISUAL FLYING. 642 00:34:12,083 --> 00:34:14,886 HE HADN'T FINISHED HIS TRAINING FOR INSTRUMENT-ONLY FLIGHTS. 643 00:34:14,886 --> 00:34:16,488 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ALSO LEARN 644 00:34:16,488 --> 00:34:19,224 KENNEDY WAS STILL WORKING TOWARDS HIS INSTRUMENT RATING, 645 00:34:19,224 --> 00:34:22,093 A CRUCIAL QUALIFICATION FOR FLYING IN LOW VISIBILITY, 646 00:34:22,093 --> 00:34:24,362 INCLUDING THE OFTEN PROBLEMATIC CONDITIONS FOUND 647 00:34:24,362 --> 00:34:26,498 WHEN FLYING OVER OPEN WATER AT NIGHT. 648 00:34:26,498 --> 00:34:27,666 O'Neill: INSTRUMENT FLIGHT 649 00:34:27,666 --> 00:34:29,234 IS ONE OF THE HARDEST RATINGS TO GET 650 00:34:29,234 --> 00:34:33,171 WHEN YOU'RE MOVING UP THROUGH YOUR LICENSES AND RATINGS, 651 00:34:33,171 --> 00:34:36,207 AND IT INVOLVES FLYING WITHOUT LOOKING OUTSIDE THE AIRCRAFT 652 00:34:36,207 --> 00:34:37,609 SO THAT WHEN YOU'RE IN CLOUDS 653 00:34:37,609 --> 00:34:40,111 YOU CAN MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. 654 00:34:40,111 --> 00:34:44,316 Pearce: SO HE WASN'T READY TO FLY IF HE COULDN'T SEE. 655 00:34:44,316 --> 00:34:48,286 SO COULD HE SEE OR NOT? 656 00:34:48,286 --> 00:34:52,624 I'LL NEED THE MOST DETAILED WEATHER AVAILABLE. 657 00:34:52,624 --> 00:34:55,093 O'Neill: WITH AN INSTRUMENT RATING YOU'RE ABLE TO TAKE OFF, 658 00:34:55,093 --> 00:35:00,231 FLY INTO, THROUGH THE CLOUDS AND, UH, AND CONTINUE ON, 659 00:35:00,231 --> 00:35:05,570 WHERE VISUAL FLIGHT RULES, YOU WOULD BE UNABLE TO TAKE OFF. 660 00:35:05,570 --> 00:35:07,505 Narrator: COMPUTER RECORDS REVEAL THAT KENNEDY 661 00:35:07,505 --> 00:35:10,775 CHECKED THE WEATHER ONLINE AT 6:34 P.M. 662 00:35:10,775 --> 00:35:15,280 IT WAS A CLEAR DAY WITH GOOD VISIBILITY. 663 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:17,015 BUT CAROLYN'S LAST-MINUTE SHOPPING 664 00:35:17,015 --> 00:35:18,516 AND THE HEAVY RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC 665 00:35:18,516 --> 00:35:21,886 PUSHED THEIR DEPARTURE TIME BACK BY MORE THAN TWO HOURS. 666 00:35:24,222 --> 00:35:25,557 Kennedy: ANY WORD FROM YOUR SISTER? 667 00:35:25,557 --> 00:35:28,259 Lauren: NO. STUCK IN TRAFFIC, I GUESS. 668 00:35:28,259 --> 00:35:29,561 Kennedy: YOU KNOW, IT'S FRIDAY. 669 00:35:29,561 --> 00:35:33,031 I TOLD HER IT WAS GONNA BE JAMMED. 670 00:35:33,031 --> 00:35:36,368 Narrator: BY THAT TIME, WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DETERIORATING, 671 00:35:36,368 --> 00:35:39,604 WITH HAZE MAKING IT HARD TO SEE THE HORIZON. 672 00:35:39,604 --> 00:35:41,639 Pearce: I JUST NEED TO CONFIRM WHAT CONDITIONS WERE LIKE. 673 00:35:41,639 --> 00:35:43,975 Narrator: INTERVIEWS WITH PILOTS FLYING THAT EVENING 674 00:35:43,975 --> 00:35:46,211 REVEAL THAT VISIBILITY WAS ESPECIALLY BAD 675 00:35:46,211 --> 00:35:50,715 BELOW 6,000 FEET, THE ALTITUDE AT WHICH KENNEDY WAS FLYING. 676 00:35:50,715 --> 00:35:53,184 Pearce: IT MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY HARD TO SEE. 677 00:35:53,184 --> 00:35:55,286 Walters: THERE WAS SOME HAZE COMING AND GOING, 678 00:35:55,286 --> 00:35:58,256 AND SOME STATIONS REPORTED SOME MIST. 679 00:36:01,893 --> 00:36:04,662 Kennedy: STARTING TO GET A BIT SOCKED IN. 680 00:36:04,662 --> 00:36:08,366 HOPE IT CLEARS UP FOR THE WEEKEND. 681 00:36:08,366 --> 00:36:10,802 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE KENNEDY FOUND HIMSELF 682 00:36:10,802 --> 00:36:14,806 FLYING IN DIFFICULT VISUAL CONDITIONS, 683 00:36:14,806 --> 00:36:16,508 CONDITIONS TOO DARK AND HAZY 684 00:36:16,508 --> 00:36:19,144 FOR A PILOT USED TO RELYING ON VISUAL CUES 685 00:36:19,144 --> 00:36:21,546 INSTEAD OF INSTRUMENTS. 686 00:36:25,083 --> 00:36:28,219 Pearce: NOT A GREAT NIGHT FOR THIS GUY TO BE FLYING. 687 00:36:30,388 --> 00:36:32,190 Walters: WEATHER PLAYS AN IMMENSE ROLE 688 00:36:32,190 --> 00:36:33,725 IN ALL AVIATION ACCIDENTS, 689 00:36:33,725 --> 00:36:38,029 EVEN THE ONES THAT YOU MIGHT NOT THINK IT WOULD. 690 00:36:38,029 --> 00:36:39,431 Narrator: THEY WONDER IF KENNEDY 691 00:36:39,431 --> 00:36:43,234 WAS GETTING WEATHER UPDATES DURING THE FLIGHT. 692 00:36:43,234 --> 00:36:47,372 Kennedy: 127.25. 693 00:36:47,372 --> 00:36:49,107 Narrator: TO GET ACCURATE INFORMATION, 694 00:36:49,107 --> 00:36:50,542 HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO TUNE HIS RADIO 695 00:36:50,542 --> 00:36:53,545 TO THE WEATHER TRANSMISSION FROM MARTHA'S VINEYARD. 696 00:36:55,780 --> 00:36:57,415 THE RADIO FROM KENNEDY'S PLANE 697 00:36:57,415 --> 00:37:00,785 IS AMONG THE MANY PARTS SALVAGED FROM THE OCEAN. 698 00:37:02,554 --> 00:37:06,691 INVESTIGATORS TEST THE RADIO TO CONFIRM THAT IT WAS WORKING. 699 00:37:06,691 --> 00:37:10,662 THEN THEY CHECK TO SEE IF IT WAS SET AT THE RIGHT FREQUENCY. 700 00:37:10,662 --> 00:37:11,996 Guzzetti: FINGERS CROSSED, 701 00:37:11,996 --> 00:37:13,898 WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT HE HAD DIALED IN. 702 00:37:18,369 --> 00:37:21,339 SHOW ME THAT FREQUENCY AGAIN. 703 00:37:21,339 --> 00:37:24,042 126.25. 704 00:37:24,042 --> 00:37:27,278 HE WAS OFF BY ONE DIGIT. 705 00:37:27,278 --> 00:37:31,015 Narrator: KENNEDY HAD TUNED HIS RADIO TO THE WRONG FREQUENCY. 706 00:37:31,015 --> 00:37:34,819 Walters: IN THIS CASE, THE FREQUENCY WAS OFF BY ONE NUMBER. 707 00:37:36,754 --> 00:37:38,590 Narrator: THE DISCOVERY TELLS INVESTIGATORS 708 00:37:38,590 --> 00:37:40,191 THAT KENNEDY LIKELY WASN'T GETTING 709 00:37:40,191 --> 00:37:43,561 THE WEATHER UPDATES HE NEEDED. 710 00:37:43,561 --> 00:37:46,030 BUT IT TELLS THEM SOMETHING ELSE AS WELL-- 711 00:37:46,030 --> 00:37:48,967 SOMETHING THAT MAY FINALLY EXPLAIN THE FATAL CRASH 712 00:37:48,967 --> 00:37:51,102 THAT SADDENED AN ENTIRE NATION. 713 00:37:58,643 --> 00:38:00,845 INVESTIGATORS ZERO IN ON A THEORY 714 00:38:00,845 --> 00:38:02,614 THAT MAY EXPLAIN THE FATAL ACCIDENT 715 00:38:02,614 --> 00:38:04,315 THAT KILLED JOHN F. KENNEDY JR., 716 00:38:04,315 --> 00:38:07,919 HIS WIFE CAROLYN AND HER SISTER LAUREN. 717 00:38:07,919 --> 00:38:11,122 AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL, A PILOT IN OVER HIS HEAD 718 00:38:11,122 --> 00:38:13,691 BATTLING A MOUNTING LIST OF PRESSURES. 719 00:38:15,360 --> 00:38:16,628 Kennedy: NO. YOU SHOULDN'T WORRY. 720 00:38:16,628 --> 00:38:17,996 NO, WE'VE GOT IT... 721 00:38:17,996 --> 00:38:19,030 Walters: I'M HAVING PROBLEMS AT WORK. 722 00:38:19,030 --> 00:38:20,798 I NEED TO GET TO THIS WEDDING. 723 00:38:20,798 --> 00:38:22,667 MY ANKLE HURTS. 724 00:38:22,667 --> 00:38:24,636 I GET IN THE AIRPLANE, THAT'S WHY I BOUGHT THIS AIRPLANE. 725 00:38:24,636 --> 00:38:26,171 I NEED TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B. 726 00:38:26,171 --> 00:38:28,306 THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF HAVING THIS AIRPLANE 727 00:38:28,306 --> 00:38:32,076 AND LEARNING TO FLY, SO WE'RE GONNA GO. 728 00:38:32,076 --> 00:38:37,215 Guzzetti: I THINK I KNOW WHY THINGS STARTED TO GO WRONG. 729 00:38:37,215 --> 00:38:41,686 Kennedy: 127.25. 730 00:38:41,686 --> 00:38:45,256 Narrator: A BADLY TUNED RADIO AND A HAZY NIGHT 731 00:38:45,256 --> 00:38:47,692 ALLOW INVESTIGATORS TO IMAGINE A SCENARIO 732 00:38:47,692 --> 00:38:50,495 THAT MAY EXPLAIN THE FLIGHT'S TRAGIC END. 733 00:38:50,495 --> 00:38:52,897 Guzzetti: IT STARTED AFTER HE CLEARED NEW YORK. 734 00:38:56,868 --> 00:38:58,937 Narrator: IN HAZY CONDITIONS, KENNEDY WOULD HAVE 735 00:38:58,937 --> 00:39:02,640 NO VISUAL REFERENCE TO TELL HIM WHICH WAY IS UP. 736 00:39:05,076 --> 00:39:08,880 Guzzetti: VISIBILITY WAS BAD, AND IT'S GETTING WORSE. 737 00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:10,982 HE STARTS HIS DESCENT. 738 00:39:14,385 --> 00:39:16,955 O'Neill: AS IT WAS GETTING DARK IN MARGINAL CONDITIONS, 739 00:39:16,955 --> 00:39:19,190 HE WAS IN A VERY PRECARIOUS AREA 740 00:39:19,190 --> 00:39:23,394 FOR VISUAL FLIGHT RULE, OR VFR, FLYING. 741 00:39:23,394 --> 00:39:25,897 AS HE HEADED OUT OVER THE WATER 742 00:39:25,897 --> 00:39:28,733 AND ALL THOSE LIGHTS WERE BEHIND HIM, 743 00:39:28,733 --> 00:39:31,469 ALL THAT VISUAL REFERENCE WAS GONE. 744 00:39:31,469 --> 00:39:32,937 Guzzetti: HE LOOKS AWAY FROM HIS INSTRUMENTS 745 00:39:32,937 --> 00:39:35,006 FOR LIKE A SECOND. 746 00:39:38,676 --> 00:39:43,181 Kennedy: 127.25. 747 00:39:43,181 --> 00:39:45,016 Guzzetti: REMEMBER, HIS FREQUENCY WAS OFF. 748 00:39:45,016 --> 00:39:49,420 MAYBE HE WAS TRYING TO TUNE THE RADIO. 749 00:39:49,420 --> 00:39:52,790 Walters: HE MIGHT LOOK TO SEE IF THE FREQUENCY HAD CHANGED 750 00:39:52,790 --> 00:39:55,460 OR IF HE HAD GOT IT WRONG IN HIS MIND. 751 00:39:55,460 --> 00:39:58,796 Kennedy: STILL NOTHING. 752 00:39:58,796 --> 00:40:00,231 JUST SOMETHING WEIRD WITH THE RADIO. 753 00:40:00,231 --> 00:40:02,800 NO BIG DEAL. 754 00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:04,102 Walters: WHILE ALL OF THAT'S GOING ON, 755 00:40:04,102 --> 00:40:05,670 IT'S QUITE EASY FOR THE AIRPLANE 756 00:40:05,670 --> 00:40:07,605 TO SLIP INTO A LITTLE BIT OF A BANK 757 00:40:07,605 --> 00:40:09,807 ONE DIRECTION OR ANOTHER. 758 00:40:13,044 --> 00:40:17,415 O'Neill: IF YOU'RE IN A TURN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, 759 00:40:17,415 --> 00:40:20,385 YOUR INNER EAR CAN FEEL A REVERSE OF THE TURN 760 00:40:20,385 --> 00:40:23,721 AND YOU CAN BECOME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED VERY EASILY. 761 00:40:25,723 --> 00:40:27,058 Kennedy: WHAT THE? 762 00:40:27,058 --> 00:40:28,760 WHAT? 763 00:40:28,760 --> 00:40:31,029 THAT CAN'T BE. 764 00:40:31,029 --> 00:40:32,497 Guzzetti: WHEN HE LOOKS BACK, 765 00:40:32,497 --> 00:40:35,433 HIS INSTRUMENTS ARE TELLING HIM ONE THING, HIS SENSES ANOTHER. 766 00:40:35,433 --> 00:40:36,834 Kennedy: WHAT THE? 767 00:40:41,973 --> 00:40:43,608 O'Neill: YOU HAVE TO BE WELL-TRAINED 768 00:40:43,608 --> 00:40:45,943 TO DISREGARD WHAT YOUR BRAIN IS SAYING 769 00:40:45,943 --> 00:40:49,047 AND LOOK AT YOUR INSTRUMENTS, WORK ON YOUR SCAN 770 00:40:49,047 --> 00:40:51,115 AND FLY BY YOUR INSTRUMENTS. 771 00:40:56,454 --> 00:40:57,622 Kennedy: WHAT THE HELL? 772 00:40:57,622 --> 00:40:59,123 Carolyn: JOHN? 773 00:40:59,123 --> 00:41:00,925 JOHN! 774 00:41:00,925 --> 00:41:02,660 Kennedy: JUST WAIT. 775 00:41:02,660 --> 00:41:04,195 COME ON. 776 00:41:04,195 --> 00:41:05,797 LEVEL OFF! 777 00:41:05,797 --> 00:41:07,765 WHAT ARE YOU DOING? CLIMB! 778 00:41:13,838 --> 00:41:15,640 Narrator: ONCE HE BECOMES DISORIENTED, 779 00:41:15,640 --> 00:41:17,475 KENNEDY IS TOO INEXPERIENCED 780 00:41:17,475 --> 00:41:19,644 TO FORCE HIMSELF TO BELIEVE HIS INSTRUMENTS, 781 00:41:19,644 --> 00:41:22,780 NO MATTER WHAT HIS SENSES ARE TELLING HIM. 782 00:41:22,780 --> 00:41:24,882 Kennedy: NOTHING'S WORKING. 783 00:41:26,884 --> 00:41:28,886 Guzzetti: HE MAY NOT EVEN HAVE KNOWN 784 00:41:28,886 --> 00:41:31,155 WHAT TYPE OF UNUSUAL ATTITUDE HE WAS IN 785 00:41:31,155 --> 00:41:35,026 AND THAT HE WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE WATER. 786 00:41:35,026 --> 00:41:37,295 SO IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT FITS. 787 00:41:40,565 --> 00:41:44,001 SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. 788 00:41:44,001 --> 00:41:47,472 YOU'RE REALLY LEFT WITH THE GAPING POSSIBILITY 789 00:41:47,472 --> 00:41:49,240 THAT WAS ALWAYS THERE, 790 00:41:49,240 --> 00:41:53,010 WHICH WAS THE CLASSIC CASE OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, 791 00:41:53,010 --> 00:41:57,815 WHICH UNFORTUNATELY HAS KILLED SO MANY PILOTS. 792 00:42:04,055 --> 00:42:05,056 Carolyn: OH, GOD! 793 00:42:21,072 --> 00:42:24,375 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONCLUDE THAT KENNEDY'S STRANGE FLIGHT PATH 794 00:42:24,375 --> 00:42:27,979 IS THE RESULT OF HIS CONFUSED EFFORTS TO LEVEL THE PLANE. 795 00:42:27,979 --> 00:42:31,616 Guzzetti: THAT IS ONE SORRY FLIGHT PATH. 796 00:42:31,616 --> 00:42:34,018 TEXTBOOK DISORIENTATION. 797 00:42:40,291 --> 00:42:42,260 Narrator: THE NTSB'S OFFICIAL REPORT 798 00:42:42,260 --> 00:42:45,663 CITES KENNEDY'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE 799 00:42:45,663 --> 00:42:50,535 DURING A DESCENT OVER WATER AT NIGHT. 800 00:42:50,535 --> 00:42:53,104 THE HIGH PROFILE OF THE ACCIDENT BRINGS NEW ATTENTION 801 00:42:53,104 --> 00:42:55,907 TO THE DANGERS OF SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, 802 00:42:55,907 --> 00:43:00,445 ESPECIALLY FOR PILOTS WHO ARE NEW TO INSTRUMENT FLYING. 803 00:43:00,445 --> 00:43:02,246 O'Neill: I ALWAYS TRY TO TEACH STUDENTS, 804 00:43:02,246 --> 00:43:04,615 BE READY TO BUY AN AIRLINE TICKET, 805 00:43:04,615 --> 00:43:06,284 AND THERE WAS NUMEROUS CASES 806 00:43:06,284 --> 00:43:09,086 WHERE MY STUDENTS LEFT THEIR PLANE WHERE IT WAS 807 00:43:09,086 --> 00:43:11,656 AND THEY'D CALL ME AND I'D GO PICK IT UP FOR THEM. 808 00:43:11,656 --> 00:43:14,158 YOU NEED TO ALWAYS HAVE AN OUT, 809 00:43:14,158 --> 00:43:18,896 AND AN AIRLINE TICKET IS YOUR BEST OUT. 810 00:43:18,896 --> 00:43:21,432 Mehren: I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC WANTED TO ACCEPT 811 00:43:21,432 --> 00:43:24,602 SORT OF PILOT ERROR AS THE-- OR PILOT ARROGANCE, 812 00:43:24,602 --> 00:43:26,904 WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE SAME THING IN THIS CASE-- 813 00:43:26,904 --> 00:43:29,907 AS THE CAUSE. 814 00:43:29,907 --> 00:43:31,375 LOSING HIM WAS ONE THING, 815 00:43:31,375 --> 00:43:34,579 BUT LOSING HIM ESSENTIALLY TO HIS OWN MISTAKE 816 00:43:34,579 --> 00:43:37,615 MADE IT MUCH WORSE. 817 00:43:37,615 --> 00:43:40,485 Guzzetti: A YOUNG PERSON WITH SUCH PROMISE. 818 00:43:40,485 --> 00:43:42,420 SOME PEOPLE WERE THINKING HE'D HAVE A SHOT 819 00:43:42,420 --> 00:43:45,122 AT BEING A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 820 00:43:45,122 --> 00:43:46,257 Kennedy: GOOD MORNING. 821 00:43:46,257 --> 00:43:48,259 Guzzetti: IN THE END, WE LOST A PIECE 822 00:43:48,259 --> 00:43:51,095 OF OUR AMERICAN INNOCENCE. 823 00:43:51,095 --> 00:43:53,431 IT, UH, IT WAS A TRAGEDY.