1 00:00:03,002 --> 00:00:04,604 NARRATOR: Scorched wreckage is all 2 00:00:04,671 --> 00:00:07,907 that's left after a fatal air disaster in Illinois. 3 00:00:07,974 --> 00:00:10,610 TOM HAUETER: It was really a molten mess to be frank. 4 00:00:10,677 --> 00:00:13,513 NARRATOR: Witnesses recount a stunning detail. 5 00:00:13,580 --> 00:00:16,549 I could hear passengers shouting out. 6 00:00:16,616 --> 00:00:20,820 NARRATOR: Everyone who died survived the initial impact. 7 00:00:20,887 --> 00:00:22,355 You evacuate. 8 00:00:22,422 --> 00:00:23,857 I'll shut down. 9 00:00:23,923 --> 00:00:26,493 NORA MARSHALL: To know that they survived an accident 10 00:00:26,559 --> 00:00:29,429 and weren't able to get out is hard. 11 00:00:29,496 --> 00:00:30,864 Open the door! 12 00:00:30,930 --> 00:00:32,532 PAUL WALKER: I tried everything that I could do in the world, 13 00:00:32,599 --> 00:00:34,768 and I could not get that door to unlatch. 14 00:00:34,834 --> 00:00:38,104 NARRATOR: Investigators face a tragic and puzzling question. 15 00:00:38,171 --> 00:00:39,572 Why didn't that door open? 16 00:00:39,639 --> 00:00:41,374 Hurry! 17 00:00:41,441 --> 00:00:42,409 Oh God. 18 00:00:42,475 --> 00:00:44,711 I'm sorry, Kate. 19 00:00:44,778 --> 00:00:46,913 I was literally their last hope. 20 00:00:48,748 --> 00:00:50,917 Ladies and gentlemen, we are starting our approach. 21 00:00:50,984 --> 00:00:52,118 We lost both engines. 22 00:00:52,185 --> 00:00:53,787 Put the mask over your nose. Emergency descent. 23 00:00:53,853 --> 00:00:54,788 Mayday, Mayday. 24 00:00:54,854 --> 00:01:01,528 Brace for impact! 25 00:01:01,594 --> 00:01:08,601 He's going to crash! 26 00:01:18,611 --> 00:01:20,180 NARRATOR: It's late afternoon. 27 00:01:20,246 --> 00:01:23,316 The crew of United Express Flight 5925 28 00:01:23,383 --> 00:01:27,187 is nearing the end of a long workday. 29 00:01:27,253 --> 00:01:31,257 Doors and windows are closed and locked. 30 00:01:31,324 --> 00:01:33,393 Load's checked. 31 00:01:33,460 --> 00:01:35,995 NARRATOR: Captain Kate Gathje and First Officer Darren 32 00:01:36,062 --> 00:01:38,998 McCombs have been on the job for 12 hours, 33 00:01:39,065 --> 00:01:43,636 piloting a string of commuter flights across the Midwest. 34 00:01:43,703 --> 00:01:45,805 Battery is on. 35 00:01:45,872 --> 00:01:48,107 Avionics are off. 36 00:01:48,174 --> 00:01:50,176 NARRATOR: They're about to start their final leg, 37 00:01:50,243 --> 00:01:55,648 a short 20-minute flight. 38 00:01:55,715 --> 00:01:58,451 There are 10 passengers in the cabin, 39 00:01:58,518 --> 00:02:03,056 but on a short hop like this, no flight attendants. 40 00:02:03,122 --> 00:02:06,593 The pre-flight announcement is automated. 41 00:02:06,659 --> 00:02:08,795 AUTOMATED VOICE: Welcome aboard. 42 00:02:08,862 --> 00:02:10,897 Before we begin our flight, we'd 43 00:02:10,964 --> 00:02:13,833 like to review some important safety features. 44 00:02:13,900 --> 00:02:15,168 Please observe this-- 45 00:02:15,235 --> 00:02:17,237 PAUL WALKER: The automated message, it's human nature. 46 00:02:17,303 --> 00:02:19,739 Most of us really aren't paying that much of attention. 47 00:02:19,806 --> 00:02:22,842 When it's a recording, it's like a commercial 48 00:02:22,909 --> 00:02:24,110 in the background. 49 00:02:24,177 --> 00:02:26,246 Who's really paying attention at all? 50 00:02:26,312 --> 00:02:29,482 AUTOMATED VOICE: There are four exits aboard this aircraft, 51 00:02:29,549 --> 00:02:33,386 please take a few moments to familiarize-- 52 00:02:33,453 --> 00:02:35,855 NARRATOR: The Beechcraft 1900C is 53 00:02:35,922 --> 00:02:38,191 a twin engine turboprop often used 54 00:02:38,258 --> 00:02:42,729 as a regional commuter plane. 55 00:02:42,795 --> 00:02:47,333 V1. 56 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:48,334 V2. 57 00:02:48,401 --> 00:02:50,436 Positive rate. 58 00:02:50,503 --> 00:02:51,738 NARRATOR: This is the eighth takeoff 59 00:02:51,804 --> 00:02:55,375 of the day for the pilots. 60 00:02:55,441 --> 00:02:56,576 Gears up. 61 00:02:56,643 --> 00:02:59,579 Lights are up. 62 00:02:59,646 --> 00:03:01,314 NARRATOR: Starting in Quincy, Illinois, 63 00:03:01,381 --> 00:03:03,216 they've puddle-jumped from one airport 64 00:03:03,283 --> 00:03:05,652 to the next across three states. 65 00:03:05,718 --> 00:03:09,122 They switched planes in Chicago and now they're on their way 66 00:03:09,188 --> 00:03:12,825 back to where they started, Quincy. 67 00:03:12,892 --> 00:03:14,160 PAUL WALKER: takeoffs and landings is 68 00:03:14,227 --> 00:03:15,962 very challenging for a pilot. 69 00:03:16,029 --> 00:03:18,531 You're increasing your chance of an accident much more than, 70 00:03:18,598 --> 00:03:21,200 let's say, a captain on a major airline who's 71 00:03:21,267 --> 00:03:23,703 flying a large airliner or in flying to Asia, 72 00:03:23,770 --> 00:03:26,806 he takes off once, 14 hours later, he lands once 73 00:03:26,873 --> 00:03:29,008 and he gets two days off and he comes home. 74 00:03:29,075 --> 00:03:31,044 In those last three days, the commuter pilot's 75 00:03:31,110 --> 00:03:37,216 done 30 landings. 76 00:03:37,283 --> 00:03:39,052 Climb power set. 77 00:03:39,118 --> 00:03:40,753 Checks complete. 78 00:03:40,820 --> 00:03:43,856 NARRATOR: 30-year-old Kate Gathje was born to fly. 79 00:03:43,923 --> 00:03:46,526 Her family runs a flight school in Minnesota, 80 00:03:46,593 --> 00:03:50,697 where she made her first solo flight when she was just 16. 81 00:03:50,763 --> 00:03:52,999 She's recently been promoted to captain, 82 00:03:53,066 --> 00:03:57,070 a big step towards her dream of flying for the majors. 83 00:03:57,136 --> 00:03:58,905 What's the winds down there? 84 00:03:58,972 --> 00:04:00,340 NARRATOR: First Officer McCombs is 85 00:04:00,406 --> 00:04:04,544 nearly 24 years old with nearly 2,000 hours of flight time. 86 00:04:04,611 --> 00:04:07,180 For this final leg, he's at the controls 87 00:04:07,246 --> 00:04:10,350 and the captain is handling the radio. 88 00:04:10,416 --> 00:04:13,119 PAUL WALKER: That's done a lot to get the first officers more 89 00:04:13,186 --> 00:04:15,555 experience and get them up to speed 90 00:04:15,622 --> 00:04:17,357 so that they can transition into being 91 00:04:17,423 --> 00:04:19,192 a full-time captain. 92 00:04:19,258 --> 00:04:25,365 Winds are 060 at 8, 12 miles visibility. 93 00:04:25,431 --> 00:04:27,634 NARRATOR: Their final destination is Quincy Regional 94 00:04:27,700 --> 00:04:30,570 Airport where Paul Walker is working as chief pilot 95 00:04:30,637 --> 00:04:32,538 for a flight school. 96 00:04:32,605 --> 00:04:34,107 PAUL WALKER: It's not real busy, 97 00:04:34,173 --> 00:04:36,342 but it's not completely quiet either. 98 00:04:36,409 --> 00:04:38,411 You're able to see anything from a little single place 99 00:04:38,478 --> 00:04:43,816 home-built airplane to a C-5 Galaxy sitting on the ramp. 100 00:04:43,883 --> 00:04:45,318 NARRATOR: There are three intersecting 101 00:04:45,385 --> 00:04:46,886 runways at Quincy. 102 00:04:46,953 --> 00:04:51,157 Most planes take off and land on runway 13 or runway 103 00:04:51,224 --> 00:04:54,027 number 4. 104 00:04:54,093 --> 00:04:56,863 The small airport is one of thousands across the country 105 00:04:56,929 --> 00:04:58,831 without a control tower. 106 00:04:58,898 --> 00:05:02,135 That means there are no controllers to direct traffic, 107 00:05:02,201 --> 00:05:04,504 pilots must communicate directly with each other 108 00:05:04,570 --> 00:05:11,577 during takeoff and landing. 109 00:05:14,747 --> 00:05:18,184 It's now 9 minutes before touchdown. 110 00:05:18,251 --> 00:05:20,353 About 30 miles to the North of the field. 111 00:05:20,420 --> 00:05:24,190 Inbound for landing runway 13 at Quincy. 112 00:05:24,257 --> 00:05:26,659 Any traffic in the area, please advise. 113 00:05:26,726 --> 00:05:29,395 NARRATOR: Captain Gathje radios in on an open frequency 114 00:05:29,462 --> 00:05:32,298 used by all pilots at Quincy. 115 00:05:32,365 --> 00:05:35,568 All right. 116 00:05:35,635 --> 00:05:37,103 Power is set. 117 00:05:37,170 --> 00:05:39,005 At an airport like Quincy that is non-towered, 118 00:05:39,072 --> 00:05:42,742 you cannot be too vigilant when you're flying an airplane. 119 00:05:42,809 --> 00:05:44,877 You have to have a situational awareness 120 00:05:44,944 --> 00:05:48,114 to realize what's probably going to be coming next 121 00:05:48,181 --> 00:05:51,284 and where other aircraft are. 122 00:05:51,350 --> 00:05:52,685 Look at that sunset, man. 123 00:05:52,752 --> 00:05:55,888 That's gorgeous. 124 00:05:55,955 --> 00:05:58,057 NARRATOR: As they begin their descent with no tower 125 00:05:58,124 --> 00:06:00,226 to guide them, Captain Gathje's radio 126 00:06:00,293 --> 00:06:04,764 communications are critical, but she's used to it. 127 00:06:04,831 --> 00:06:06,599 Uncontrolled airports are a commuter 128 00:06:06,666 --> 00:06:08,768 pilot's bread and butter. 129 00:06:08,835 --> 00:06:09,936 PAUL WALKER: Well, there's rules 130 00:06:10,002 --> 00:06:12,638 and there's regulations under proper procedures 131 00:06:12,705 --> 00:06:15,241 to fly in and out of airports without towers, 132 00:06:15,308 --> 00:06:16,909 non-towered airports. 133 00:06:16,976 --> 00:06:20,513 There is still control, but there's just not somebody 134 00:06:20,580 --> 00:06:24,250 there sitting watching. 135 00:06:24,317 --> 00:06:28,121 LAURA BROOKS (ON RADIO): King Air 1127, delta's taxiing out. 136 00:06:28,187 --> 00:06:31,124 Takeoff on runway 4. 137 00:06:31,190 --> 00:06:34,227 They're using 4. 138 00:06:34,293 --> 00:06:37,764 NARRATOR: A King Air A90, a much smaller twin turboprop, 139 00:06:37,830 --> 00:06:41,901 is taxiing out to runway 4. 140 00:06:41,968 --> 00:06:46,773 The pilot is Neal Reinwald, a retired TWA captain. 141 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:51,010 Today, he's instructing Laura Brooks. 142 00:06:51,077 --> 00:06:54,046 OK, let's review procedures before takeoff. 143 00:06:54,113 --> 00:06:56,349 What's our takeoff weight? 144 00:06:56,415 --> 00:06:58,284 NARRATOR: A far less experienced pilot, 145 00:06:58,351 --> 00:07:00,119 Brooks is looking to build up her flight 146 00:07:00,186 --> 00:07:02,421 hours on multi-engine planes. 147 00:07:02,488 --> 00:07:09,495 It's her first time in a King Air. 148 00:07:12,532 --> 00:07:15,001 You'll be using 13 still, right? 149 00:07:15,067 --> 00:07:18,871 Yeah, unless it doesn't look good. 150 00:07:18,938 --> 00:07:21,207 PAUL WALKER: Aviation, just as when you drive a vehicle, 151 00:07:21,274 --> 00:07:23,609 is a see and be seen world. 152 00:07:23,676 --> 00:07:25,611 Pilots are taught to look out the windows, 153 00:07:25,678 --> 00:07:32,652 and this works well every day all over the world. 154 00:07:34,654 --> 00:07:40,359 King Air 1127, delta holding short of runway 4 155 00:07:40,426 --> 00:07:44,630 to taking the runway for departure. 156 00:07:44,697 --> 00:07:48,100 NARRATOR: The commuter plane is now 90 seconds to touchdown. 157 00:07:48,167 --> 00:07:51,170 The King Air is in position and holding. 158 00:07:51,237 --> 00:07:53,472 Position hold is when an aircraft 159 00:07:53,539 --> 00:07:54,941 pulls onto the end of the runway, 160 00:07:55,007 --> 00:07:57,877 turns, points down the runway prepared for takeoff, 161 00:07:57,944 --> 00:08:00,746 and just what it says, holds its position. 162 00:08:00,813 --> 00:08:07,520 5-mile final for runway 13 at Quincy. 163 00:08:08,521 --> 00:08:11,324 You're down. 164 00:08:11,390 --> 00:08:15,394 3 green. 165 00:08:15,461 --> 00:08:16,762 Fuel check. 166 00:08:16,829 --> 00:08:18,297 OK. 167 00:08:18,364 --> 00:08:24,203 Navigation is set, and radar is set for takeoff. 168 00:08:24,270 --> 00:08:25,972 PAUL WALKER: For Captain, it was a nice day. 169 00:08:26,038 --> 00:08:27,373 The winds were light. 170 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,542 He's thinking about, OK, we got a nice, easy flight home. 171 00:08:29,609 --> 00:08:31,010 The first officer's going to do some flying. 172 00:08:31,077 --> 00:08:35,915 I'm going to do some instructing. 173 00:08:35,982 --> 00:08:37,750 NARRATOR: As the commuter plane descends-- 174 00:08:37,817 --> 00:08:39,118 AUTOMATED VOICE: 500. 175 00:08:39,185 --> 00:08:40,953 NARRATOR: --an automated voice in the cockpit 176 00:08:41,020 --> 00:08:42,855 gives the pilots their altitude. 177 00:08:42,922 --> 00:08:44,924 On short final for runway 13. 178 00:08:44,991 --> 00:08:48,027 AUTOMATED VOICE: 400. 179 00:08:48,094 --> 00:08:50,830 The aircraft going to hold in position on runway 4 or you 180 00:08:50,897 --> 00:08:52,331 guys are going to take off? AUTOMATED VOICE: 300. 181 00:08:52,398 --> 00:08:54,033 LARRY BEDFORD (ON RADIO): 7646 Juliet, 182 00:08:54,100 --> 00:08:55,568 holding for departure on runway 4-- 183 00:08:55,635 --> 00:08:56,869 AUTOMATED VOICE: 200. 184 00:08:56,936 --> 00:08:59,605 LARRY BEDFORD (ON RADIO): --behind on the King Air. 185 00:08:59,672 --> 00:09:00,973 OK, we'll get through your intersection 186 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:02,308 in just a second, sir. 187 00:09:02,375 --> 00:09:04,410 We appreciate that. 188 00:09:04,477 --> 00:09:07,613 Finals are complete. 189 00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:09,115 NARRATOR: At the same moment, flight 190 00:09:09,181 --> 00:09:12,785 instructor Paul Walker is in a hangar at Quincy airport. 191 00:09:12,852 --> 00:09:16,122 PAUL WALKER: I'd walked about 10, 15 feet inside the door. 192 00:09:16,188 --> 00:09:17,690 While all this had been going on, 193 00:09:17,757 --> 00:09:23,396 the King Air had been starting taxiing out. 194 00:09:23,462 --> 00:09:25,064 Max reverse. 195 00:09:25,131 --> 00:09:26,065 Oh, Christ! 196 00:09:26,132 --> 00:09:29,835 What the hell? 197 00:09:31,804 --> 00:09:35,074 We heard this explosion that-- that rattled the walls 198 00:09:35,141 --> 00:09:36,976 and the windows shook. 199 00:09:37,043 --> 00:09:38,577 I ran for the door. 200 00:09:38,644 --> 00:09:41,814 And as I came outside, what I saw 201 00:09:41,881 --> 00:09:44,183 looked like a mushroom cloud from when you see the films 202 00:09:44,250 --> 00:09:47,320 of the atomic bombs going off. 203 00:09:47,386 --> 00:09:49,655 I thought the King Air had had some sort of malfunction 204 00:09:49,722 --> 00:09:51,958 and crashed on takeoff. 205 00:09:52,024 --> 00:09:54,894 NARRATOR: But the disaster unfolding in Quincy, Illinois, 206 00:09:54,961 --> 00:10:01,767 is far worse than Paul Walker imagines. 207 00:10:01,834 --> 00:10:05,037 At Quincy Airport, Paul Walker rushes toward burning 208 00:10:05,104 --> 00:10:06,739 wreckage on the runway. 209 00:10:06,806 --> 00:10:10,209 I would say I was at the crash site in less 210 00:10:10,276 --> 00:10:17,283 than a minute and a half. 211 00:10:18,784 --> 00:10:20,686 NARRATOR: As he draws closer to the fire, 212 00:10:20,753 --> 00:10:23,322 Walker makes a bone-chilling discovery. 213 00:10:23,389 --> 00:10:26,325 It's not only the King Air engulfed in flames, 214 00:10:26,392 --> 00:10:28,194 two planes are on fire. 215 00:10:28,260 --> 00:10:31,530 I could see through the smoke the Beech 1900 said United 216 00:10:31,597 --> 00:10:35,134 Express on it, at which time I had the most sickening feeling 217 00:10:35,201 --> 00:10:38,204 in the world that that airplane could be completely full 218 00:10:38,270 --> 00:10:39,839 of people. 219 00:10:39,905 --> 00:10:41,007 You evacuate. 220 00:10:41,073 --> 00:10:43,009 I'll shut down. 221 00:10:43,075 --> 00:10:45,478 NARRATOR: The lives of 4 pilots and 10 passengers 222 00:10:45,544 --> 00:10:48,114 are now at risk with no firefighters 223 00:10:48,180 --> 00:10:51,317 at the tiny airport to help with the rescue. 224 00:10:51,384 --> 00:10:52,718 TOM HAUETER: Well, as an investigator, 225 00:10:52,785 --> 00:10:56,522 always was worried about, is this going to happen and when? 226 00:10:56,589 --> 00:10:58,257 And we've been lucky many times. 227 00:10:58,324 --> 00:11:00,393 At Quincy, the luck ran out. 228 00:11:00,459 --> 00:11:04,764 Open the door! 229 00:11:04,830 --> 00:11:05,765 Please! 230 00:11:05,831 --> 00:11:06,932 Someone help! 231 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:12,471 Open the door! 232 00:11:12,538 --> 00:11:15,174 NARRATOR: Another pilot comes to help Walker on the runway. 233 00:11:15,241 --> 00:11:17,043 Where's the door? 234 00:11:17,109 --> 00:11:18,244 PAUL WALKER: It appeared to me to be 235 00:11:18,310 --> 00:11:20,846 that he was just in shock. 236 00:11:20,913 --> 00:11:21,981 Hey, I hear people in there. 237 00:11:22,048 --> 00:11:24,050 We have to get inside that plane. 238 00:11:24,116 --> 00:11:26,252 The main door, it's over here. 239 00:11:26,318 --> 00:11:27,953 NARRATOR: United Express pilot Mike 240 00:11:28,020 --> 00:11:30,289 Rowe was supposed to fly the 1900 241 00:11:30,356 --> 00:11:36,729 on its next scheduled flight. 242 00:11:36,796 --> 00:11:38,998 The main exit, an airstair door, 243 00:11:39,065 --> 00:11:42,134 is directly behind the cockpit. 244 00:11:42,201 --> 00:11:43,402 PAUL WALKER: I grabbed the handle 245 00:11:43,469 --> 00:11:47,373 and attempted to open the door. 246 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:49,508 The heat was just very intense. 247 00:11:49,575 --> 00:11:51,977 Obviously, the most heat I have ever felt in my life. 248 00:11:52,044 --> 00:11:53,379 Tremendous amount of smoke. 249 00:11:55,581 --> 00:12:00,653 The aircraft was rapidly being consumed by the fire. 250 00:12:05,925 --> 00:12:07,393 When I wiggled the handle a little bit, 251 00:12:07,460 --> 00:12:14,100 somebody on the inside wiggled it the other way. 252 00:12:16,102 --> 00:12:17,603 I can't get it open. 253 00:12:17,670 --> 00:12:21,774 Open the door. 254 00:12:21,841 --> 00:12:23,075 Help! 255 00:12:23,142 --> 00:12:25,277 NARRATOR: As he hears the captain's desperate cries, 256 00:12:25,344 --> 00:12:27,313 Walker suddenly realizes-- 257 00:12:27,379 --> 00:12:28,280 Oh, God. 258 00:12:28,347 --> 00:12:29,515 It's you. 259 00:12:29,582 --> 00:12:30,683 Hang in there, Kate. 260 00:12:30,749 --> 00:12:33,986 NARRATOR: --he's met Kate Gathje before. 261 00:12:34,053 --> 00:12:36,288 Open the door. 262 00:12:36,355 --> 00:12:38,691 PAUL WALKER: When I came around the wing of the commuter, 263 00:12:38,757 --> 00:12:40,993 I did not expect there'd be someone in it 264 00:12:41,060 --> 00:12:42,394 that I actually knew. 265 00:12:42,461 --> 00:12:44,530 Please help! 266 00:12:44,597 --> 00:12:45,798 The fact that you actually know 267 00:12:45,865 --> 00:12:47,967 somebody in that situation at that time 268 00:12:48,033 --> 00:12:49,835 just added more to it. 269 00:12:49,902 --> 00:12:51,237 Hang in there, Kate. 270 00:12:52,304 --> 00:12:53,472 Just hurry. 271 00:12:53,539 --> 00:12:55,007 Open the door. 272 00:12:55,074 --> 00:12:57,843 OK, OK, hang on. 273 00:12:57,910 --> 00:12:59,478 Here. 274 00:12:59,545 --> 00:13:04,350 You have to push the button before turning the handle. 275 00:13:04,416 --> 00:13:05,417 PAUL WALKER: The other gentleman 276 00:13:05,484 --> 00:13:06,952 goes up and pushes the button. 277 00:13:07,019 --> 00:13:09,455 I thought, aha, I didn't push the button. 278 00:13:09,522 --> 00:13:13,092 Oh, God, I can't. 279 00:13:13,159 --> 00:13:15,461 NARRATOR: Mike Rowe rushes to get more help, 280 00:13:15,528 --> 00:13:18,497 leaving Paul Walker yanking desperately on the door 281 00:13:18,564 --> 00:13:19,899 of the burning plane. 282 00:13:19,965 --> 00:13:22,268 PAUL WALKER: When I went back to the door the second time, 283 00:13:22,334 --> 00:13:24,336 there was no doubt in my mind I was 284 00:13:24,403 --> 00:13:26,839 going to get that door open. 285 00:13:26,906 --> 00:13:30,209 I'm 6 foot 3 20 years ago and thought I was 286 00:13:30,276 --> 00:13:33,879 10 foot tall and bulletproof. 287 00:13:33,946 --> 00:13:35,614 I tried everything that I could do in the world, 288 00:13:35,681 --> 00:13:37,950 and I could not get that door to unlatch. 289 00:13:40,119 --> 00:13:41,053 Oh, God. 290 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:42,555 I'm sorry, Kate. 291 00:13:42,621 --> 00:13:44,190 I can't do this. 292 00:13:44,256 --> 00:13:46,692 I'm going to get help. 293 00:13:46,759 --> 00:13:47,793 PAUL WALKER: Leaving the airplane 294 00:13:47,860 --> 00:13:49,528 was one of the more difficult things 295 00:13:49,595 --> 00:13:51,096 I've ever done in my life. 296 00:13:51,163 --> 00:13:53,065 When I looked at the captain, there 297 00:13:53,132 --> 00:13:55,868 was part of me that knows that she knew that by the time 298 00:13:55,935 --> 00:13:57,870 I got back it would be-- 299 00:13:57,937 --> 00:14:00,773 it would be too late, that-- that I 300 00:14:00,839 --> 00:14:07,746 was literally their last hope. 301 00:14:08,747 --> 00:14:12,518 Please! 302 00:14:12,585 --> 00:14:15,487 NARRATOR: Moments later, all hope for the crash survivors 303 00:14:15,554 --> 00:14:21,727 is lost. 304 00:14:21,794 --> 00:14:23,896 PAUL WALKER: It was easily less than 2 minutes 305 00:14:23,963 --> 00:14:26,065 from the time I was standing by the left wing 306 00:14:26,131 --> 00:14:30,035 till it exploded. 307 00:14:30,102 --> 00:14:36,742 I felt like I failed. 308 00:14:38,711 --> 00:14:41,547 NARRATOR: Despite Paul Walker's heroic efforts, 309 00:14:41,614 --> 00:14:45,484 4 pilots and 10 passengers are dead. 310 00:14:45,551 --> 00:14:47,486 It's one of the worst runway accidents 311 00:14:47,553 --> 00:14:50,189 in North American history. 312 00:14:50,256 --> 00:14:51,423 PAUL WALKER: Over the years, I've 313 00:14:51,490 --> 00:14:55,394 come to rationalize it in my mind that, you know, 314 00:14:55,461 --> 00:14:57,162 there were 10 or 12 people at the airport. 315 00:14:57,229 --> 00:14:59,865 And of 10 or 12 people, only 2 of us went to the crash scene, 316 00:14:59,932 --> 00:15:01,267 and I was the first one to it, and I 317 00:15:01,333 --> 00:15:02,601 was the last one to leave. 318 00:15:02,668 --> 00:15:04,003 And that's helped me. 319 00:15:04,069 --> 00:15:05,037 At least I tried. 320 00:15:05,104 --> 00:15:11,744 I may have failed, but I tried. 321 00:15:12,845 --> 00:15:13,979 NARRATOR: It's a tragedy the likes of which 322 00:15:14,046 --> 00:15:18,217 the small city of Quincy has never seen. 323 00:15:18,284 --> 00:15:22,121 And in Minnesota, the Gathje family is devastated. 324 00:15:22,187 --> 00:15:23,422 REPORTER: Kate's dreams of someday 325 00:15:23,489 --> 00:15:26,458 flying the big jets began right in her own backyard. 326 00:15:26,525 --> 00:15:29,228 That's where her family's flying school is. 327 00:15:29,295 --> 00:15:32,564 I think Katie did everything she could have to get out 328 00:15:32,631 --> 00:15:35,034 of that situation and to protect the people she 329 00:15:35,100 --> 00:15:42,107 had in her plane. 330 00:15:45,277 --> 00:15:46,879 NARRATOR: By early morning, a team 331 00:15:46,945 --> 00:15:49,315 of investigators from the National Transportation 332 00:15:49,381 --> 00:15:52,184 Safety Board gets to work. 333 00:15:52,251 --> 00:15:54,586 Tom Haueter is lead investigator. 334 00:15:54,653 --> 00:15:58,357 It's his job to determine how a seemingly routine landing 335 00:15:58,424 --> 00:16:01,226 ended with so many deaths. 336 00:16:01,293 --> 00:16:03,762 TOM HAUETER: You could sort of make out airplanes 337 00:16:03,829 --> 00:16:05,597 that it was very burnt. 338 00:16:05,664 --> 00:16:06,665 You could see wingtips. 339 00:16:06,732 --> 00:16:07,733 You could see parts. 340 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,802 He said, yes, those are two airplanes, 341 00:16:09,868 --> 00:16:16,175 but it was really a molten mess to be frank. 342 00:16:16,241 --> 00:16:18,744 NARRATOR: With no survivors from either plane, 343 00:16:18,811 --> 00:16:21,313 investigators must rely on physical evidence 344 00:16:21,380 --> 00:16:23,248 to tell them what went wrong. 345 00:16:23,315 --> 00:16:26,518 They put down an awful lot of rubber. 346 00:16:26,585 --> 00:16:28,687 NARRATOR: Skid marks on runway 13 347 00:16:28,754 --> 00:16:30,923 reveal that the United Express pilot 348 00:16:30,989 --> 00:16:37,996 hit the brakes hard 475 feet before the point of impact. 349 00:16:40,399 --> 00:16:42,835 TOM HAUETER: There's just these two massive black lines 350 00:16:42,901 --> 00:16:46,004 going from just after touchdown to where 351 00:16:46,071 --> 00:16:47,539 the two planes collided. 352 00:16:47,606 --> 00:16:49,475 So he was on the brakes the whole time. 353 00:16:49,541 --> 00:16:52,111 Certainly, flat spot of the tires, in my opinion, 354 00:16:52,177 --> 00:16:54,913 probably blew the tires in the process. 355 00:16:54,980 --> 00:16:56,882 NARRATOR: Skid marks on the intersecting runway 356 00:16:56,949 --> 00:16:58,817 tell a similar story. 357 00:16:58,884 --> 00:17:02,154 It seems both planes braked hard and swerved, 358 00:17:02,221 --> 00:17:05,157 but couldn't stop from colliding. 359 00:17:05,224 --> 00:17:06,291 How did this happen? 360 00:17:06,358 --> 00:17:08,827 It was also a clear day with good weather. 361 00:17:08,894 --> 00:17:10,929 So everything looks like this accident 362 00:17:10,996 --> 00:17:12,297 shouldn't have occurred. 363 00:17:12,364 --> 00:17:15,167 So trying to put it together, what happened on this day, 364 00:17:15,234 --> 00:17:18,237 where did the faults come into play that caused 365 00:17:18,303 --> 00:17:20,873 these airplanes to collide at the intersection of 366 00:17:20,939 --> 00:17:22,608 two runways. 367 00:17:22,674 --> 00:17:24,243 NARRATOR: Haueter studies the wreckage 368 00:17:24,309 --> 00:17:26,612 trying to piece together a detailed picture 369 00:17:26,678 --> 00:17:28,947 of the fatal collision. 370 00:17:29,014 --> 00:17:33,585 OK, let's figure this thing out. 371 00:17:33,652 --> 00:17:37,089 Most of the wreckage is destroyed or badly scorched, 372 00:17:37,156 --> 00:17:40,325 but a few key pieces tell the tale. 373 00:17:40,392 --> 00:17:42,861 Well, we have some missing paint and a good-sized dent. 374 00:17:42,928 --> 00:17:44,863 This is definitely from the collision. 375 00:17:44,930 --> 00:17:46,098 OK. 376 00:17:46,165 --> 00:17:48,300 NARRATOR: The nose of the King Air is dented, 377 00:17:48,367 --> 00:17:51,503 and its blue paint has been scraped away. 378 00:17:51,570 --> 00:17:53,705 And here, this is the prop for the United, 379 00:17:53,772 --> 00:17:57,209 which means that blue paint came from the King Air. 380 00:17:57,276 --> 00:17:59,111 TOM HAUETER: So you can look at the paint transfer marks 381 00:17:59,178 --> 00:18:02,181 and you have a pretty good idea that the angle the airplanes 382 00:18:02,247 --> 00:18:03,248 came together. 383 00:18:03,315 --> 00:18:04,483 This is a sideswipe. 384 00:18:04,550 --> 00:18:06,718 It looks like they tried to squeak past each other, 385 00:18:06,785 --> 00:18:08,487 but then their noses touched and then they 386 00:18:08,554 --> 00:18:11,156 just got tangled up together. 387 00:18:11,223 --> 00:18:18,230 TOM HAUETER: They essentially hit side to side. 388 00:18:20,933 --> 00:18:22,000 Max reverse. 389 00:18:22,067 --> 00:18:24,136 NARRATOR: Investigators calculate the United 390 00:18:24,203 --> 00:18:28,640 Express plane touched down with a speed of 120 miles per hour. 391 00:18:28,707 --> 00:18:29,641 Oh, Christ. 392 00:18:29,708 --> 00:18:32,144 What the hell? 393 00:18:32,211 --> 00:18:35,013 NARRATOR: By the time the crew saw the plane on runway 4, 394 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:38,250 it was too late. 395 00:18:38,317 --> 00:18:41,119 The King Air is accelerating towards the same point 396 00:18:41,186 --> 00:18:44,156 at about 115 miles per hour. 397 00:18:44,223 --> 00:18:51,230 It takes just 7 seconds for the two planes to collide. 398 00:18:53,298 --> 00:18:56,235 The team now knows how the two planes met, 399 00:18:56,301 --> 00:18:59,605 but they still have no idea what caused the crash. 400 00:18:59,671 --> 00:19:02,307 TOM HAUETER: Why did these two airplanes come together? 401 00:19:02,374 --> 00:19:04,276 Is there something in the aircraft, something 402 00:19:04,343 --> 00:19:05,577 the pilots did? 403 00:19:05,644 --> 00:19:08,146 NARRATOR: To fully understand the tragedy at Quincy, 404 00:19:08,213 --> 00:19:16,989 Haueter needs answers to those critical questions. 405 00:19:17,055 --> 00:19:19,992 The town of Quincy, Illinois, is in mourning. 406 00:19:20,058 --> 00:19:24,463 14 people are dead after a fiery crash. 407 00:19:24,530 --> 00:19:31,503 NTSB investigators are under the gun. 408 00:19:32,871 --> 00:19:34,940 Amidst the charred debris, they make 409 00:19:35,007 --> 00:19:37,609 a major find, the cockpit voice recorder 410 00:19:37,676 --> 00:19:40,913 from United Express 5925. 411 00:19:40,979 --> 00:19:42,214 TOM HAUETER: The cockpit voice recorder 412 00:19:42,281 --> 00:19:44,283 is very important in a situation like this. 413 00:19:44,349 --> 00:19:45,484 What was the crew saying? 414 00:19:45,551 --> 00:19:46,885 What were they thinking? 415 00:19:46,952 --> 00:19:49,755 When both the crew are fatal, the only thing you have 416 00:19:49,821 --> 00:19:53,959 is a CVR to tell you exactly what happened at that moment. 417 00:19:54,026 --> 00:19:56,228 NARRATOR: They rush the CVR to NTSB 418 00:19:56,295 --> 00:19:59,598 headquarters in Washington. 419 00:19:59,665 --> 00:20:01,466 Investigators are hoping the data 420 00:20:01,533 --> 00:20:04,803 inside has survived the fire. 421 00:20:04,870 --> 00:20:06,438 As head of the operations group, 422 00:20:06,505 --> 00:20:10,509 David Ivey focuses his attention on pilot behavior. 423 00:20:10,576 --> 00:20:12,311 DAVID IVEY: This accident is probably 424 00:20:12,377 --> 00:20:18,083 one of the most unusual that I had investigated in my career. 425 00:20:20,118 --> 00:20:23,155 NARRATOR: Somehow, the pilots didn't see each other coming 426 00:20:23,221 --> 00:20:25,958 despite the clear skies. 427 00:20:26,024 --> 00:20:28,827 On short final for runway 13. 428 00:20:28,894 --> 00:20:30,562 TOM HAUETER: Why did all this, on such 429 00:20:30,629 --> 00:20:33,265 a clear night with no restrictions to 430 00:20:33,332 --> 00:20:36,368 visibility, occur? 431 00:20:36,435 --> 00:20:38,036 NARRATOR: While Ivey waits for word 432 00:20:38,103 --> 00:20:40,439 on the all important cockpit voice recorder, 433 00:20:40,505 --> 00:20:43,075 he gets what he can from witnesses. 434 00:20:43,141 --> 00:20:45,043 Hi, Dave. 435 00:20:45,110 --> 00:20:46,044 I'm Paul. 436 00:20:46,111 --> 00:20:47,045 Come on in. 437 00:20:47,112 --> 00:20:48,413 Have a seat. 438 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:50,515 PAUL WALKER: I had personally never been around a crash 439 00:20:50,582 --> 00:20:53,652 investigation of any type. 440 00:20:53,719 --> 00:20:56,021 I was very impressed with it. 441 00:20:56,088 --> 00:21:00,058 What they came in and did, just a very class act, 442 00:21:00,125 --> 00:21:04,062 very professional. 443 00:21:04,129 --> 00:21:06,031 I raced out there as fast as I 444 00:21:06,098 --> 00:21:10,068 could after I heard the crash. 445 00:21:10,135 --> 00:21:12,237 NARRATOR: Walker didn't see the collision, 446 00:21:12,304 --> 00:21:14,473 but he provides investigators with a chilling 447 00:21:14,539 --> 00:21:18,276 detail about the accident. 448 00:21:18,343 --> 00:21:21,980 I could see Kate. 449 00:21:22,047 --> 00:21:28,320 She was crying out for help. 450 00:21:28,387 --> 00:21:29,321 Hurry! 451 00:21:29,388 --> 00:21:30,756 Quickly! 452 00:21:30,822 --> 00:21:31,757 I can't. 453 00:21:31,823 --> 00:21:34,192 Open the door. 454 00:21:34,259 --> 00:21:41,133 I could hear passengers shouting out too. 455 00:21:42,434 --> 00:21:44,503 NARRATOR: There's no doubt passengers on board Flight 456 00:21:44,569 --> 00:21:48,273 5925 survived the collision, but the aircraft 457 00:21:48,340 --> 00:21:50,375 had two over wing emergency exits 458 00:21:50,442 --> 00:21:52,411 on the right and another on the left 459 00:21:52,477 --> 00:21:55,981 as well as the main door Walker tried to open. 460 00:21:56,048 --> 00:21:59,284 So why couldn't anyone escape the smoke filled plane? 461 00:21:59,351 --> 00:22:00,285 Hurry, hurry! 462 00:22:00,352 --> 00:22:02,287 Get the door open! 463 00:22:02,354 --> 00:22:04,256 OK, hang on. 464 00:22:04,322 --> 00:22:07,426 DAVID IVEY: The fact that they all perished in this accident 465 00:22:07,492 --> 00:22:13,331 was overwhelmingly a tragedy, but I felt the obligation 466 00:22:13,398 --> 00:22:15,133 to find out why this occurred. 467 00:22:18,036 --> 00:22:20,972 NARRATOR: Investigators now face a dual challenge, 468 00:22:21,039 --> 00:22:24,142 figuring out why two planes collided on the runway 469 00:22:24,209 --> 00:22:27,579 and why none of the crash survivors got out alive. 470 00:22:29,114 --> 00:22:30,916 I can't get it open. 471 00:22:30,982 --> 00:22:37,122 Open the door! 472 00:22:37,189 --> 00:22:38,690 NARRATOR: Nora Marshall is an expert 473 00:22:38,757 --> 00:22:40,792 in crash survival factors. 474 00:22:40,859 --> 00:22:44,663 Why no one escaped Flight 5925 is a puzzle 475 00:22:44,730 --> 00:22:46,732 she wants to solve. 476 00:22:46,798 --> 00:22:48,533 The thing that stands out in my mind 477 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:52,904 is that these people had a chance, if the exits 478 00:22:52,971 --> 00:22:55,907 had opened, to survive. 479 00:22:55,974 --> 00:22:57,676 NARRATOR: Right away, Marshall is struck 480 00:22:57,743 --> 00:23:00,512 by how little fire damage the left side of the plane 481 00:23:00,579 --> 00:23:02,481 has sustained. 482 00:23:02,547 --> 00:23:04,416 NORA MARSHALL: The left side of the airplane 483 00:23:04,483 --> 00:23:08,453 was not part of the original fire. 484 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,289 So we knew there was an opportunity 485 00:23:11,356 --> 00:23:12,924 for people to get out the airstair 486 00:23:12,991 --> 00:23:15,927 door or the left wing exit. 487 00:23:15,994 --> 00:23:19,297 So why didn't that happen? 488 00:23:19,364 --> 00:23:22,300 NARRATOR: Autopsy reports on the passengers and crew only 489 00:23:22,367 --> 00:23:23,835 add to the mystery. 490 00:23:23,902 --> 00:23:28,240 In every case, the cause of death was smoke inhalation. 491 00:23:28,306 --> 00:23:30,242 There are no physical injuries severe enough 492 00:23:30,308 --> 00:23:32,010 to have caused death. 493 00:23:32,077 --> 00:23:34,546 NORA MARSHALL: The fact that there was no blunt force 494 00:23:34,613 --> 00:23:39,851 trauma indicates that the passengers and the crew 495 00:23:39,918 --> 00:23:45,290 would have been capable of moving to an exit, 496 00:23:45,357 --> 00:23:50,195 and that's a critical fact. 497 00:23:50,262 --> 00:23:51,630 NARRATOR: Marshall painstakingly 498 00:23:51,696 --> 00:23:54,032 tracks the final positions of the bodies 499 00:23:54,099 --> 00:23:56,368 and uses them to recreate the passengers' 500 00:23:56,434 --> 00:24:00,272 movements after the collision. 501 00:24:00,338 --> 00:24:01,640 NORA MARSHALL: And there were actually 502 00:24:01,706 --> 00:24:04,543 more of the remains in the forward cabin, 503 00:24:04,609 --> 00:24:06,511 and there were fewer remains in the back. 504 00:24:06,578 --> 00:24:09,714 So it allowed us to know that people from the back 505 00:24:09,781 --> 00:24:16,221 had moved forward in the cabin before being overcome. 506 00:24:16,288 --> 00:24:18,290 NARRATOR: The most likely explanation? 507 00:24:18,356 --> 00:24:21,226 The terrified passengers rushed for the main door, 508 00:24:21,293 --> 00:24:23,929 forgetting about the over wing exits. 509 00:24:23,995 --> 00:24:25,330 TOM HAUETER: In moments of panic, 510 00:24:25,397 --> 00:24:28,500 people normally tend to go to the door they came in from. 511 00:24:28,567 --> 00:24:30,402 People rarely think about the over wing exits, 512 00:24:30,468 --> 00:24:32,671 especially in these smaller aircraft. 513 00:24:32,737 --> 00:24:35,307 It immediately becomes the question of, 514 00:24:35,373 --> 00:24:38,410 why wasn't the door opened? 515 00:24:38,476 --> 00:24:39,878 OK, guys. 516 00:24:39,945 --> 00:24:42,380 Thanks. 517 00:24:42,447 --> 00:24:45,884 So what position was it in when you first got there? 518 00:24:45,951 --> 00:24:51,823 Like-- like this. 519 00:24:51,890 --> 00:24:54,426 NARRATOR: The air stair door now becomes the focus 520 00:24:54,492 --> 00:24:56,361 of Marshall's investigation. 521 00:24:56,428 --> 00:25:00,232 Yeah, I'm 100% sure that's it. 522 00:25:00,298 --> 00:25:02,601 NARRATOR: As the first person to reach the door, 523 00:25:02,667 --> 00:25:05,170 Paul Walker's testimony is key. 524 00:25:05,237 --> 00:25:07,806 He's certain he found the handle in the 6 525 00:25:07,873 --> 00:25:09,908 o'clock or open position. 526 00:25:09,975 --> 00:25:11,576 NORA MARSHALL: Finding the handle in the 6 o'clock 527 00:25:11,643 --> 00:25:16,047 position suggested to me that the first officer 528 00:25:16,114 --> 00:25:20,518 had moved the handle to the open position. 529 00:25:20,585 --> 00:25:22,587 NARRATOR: It's the first officer's responsibility 530 00:25:22,654 --> 00:25:24,789 to open the exit doors. 531 00:25:24,856 --> 00:25:26,992 Someone help! 532 00:25:27,058 --> 00:25:28,560 NARRATOR: Emergency procedures call 533 00:25:28,627 --> 00:25:30,795 for the captain to shut down the airplane while 534 00:25:30,862 --> 00:25:34,499 the evacuation is underway. 535 00:25:34,566 --> 00:25:36,134 I can't get it open. 536 00:25:36,201 --> 00:25:39,838 Open the door! 537 00:25:39,905 --> 00:25:41,239 NARRATOR: First Officer McCombs' 538 00:25:41,306 --> 00:25:43,475 body was found between the main door 539 00:25:43,541 --> 00:25:45,410 and the left over wing exit. 540 00:25:45,477 --> 00:25:49,614 The position makes sense to Marshall. 541 00:25:49,681 --> 00:25:51,182 NORA MARSHALL: Crew members are taught, 542 00:25:51,249 --> 00:25:55,553 if your door doesn't open, don't waste a lot of time, 543 00:25:55,620 --> 00:25:58,023 get to another exit. 544 00:25:58,089 --> 00:26:01,493 And I believe where we found him indicates that he 545 00:26:01,559 --> 00:26:03,795 was moving to another exit. 546 00:26:03,862 --> 00:26:06,498 NARRATOR: But in the overpowering smoke and heat, 547 00:26:06,564 --> 00:26:11,102 First Officer McCombs never made it to another exit. 548 00:26:11,169 --> 00:26:14,205 NORA MARSHALL: Had the airstair door opened right away, 549 00:26:14,272 --> 00:26:19,644 it may have allowed everybody off the airplane. 550 00:26:19,711 --> 00:26:22,113 NARRATOR: 12 lives might have been saved 551 00:26:22,180 --> 00:26:23,848 if only the door had opened. 552 00:26:23,915 --> 00:26:26,484 Please! 553 00:26:26,551 --> 00:26:29,154 NORA MARSHALL: To know that they survived an accident 554 00:26:29,220 --> 00:26:31,623 and weren't able to get out is hard. 555 00:26:31,690 --> 00:26:36,161 It's very hard. 556 00:26:36,227 --> 00:26:39,831 With the handle like this, the door should open. 557 00:26:39,898 --> 00:26:41,733 NARRATOR: The focus now shifts to the mechanics 558 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:42,734 of the door itself. 559 00:26:42,801 --> 00:26:44,836 OK. 560 00:26:44,903 --> 00:26:46,438 NARRATOR: Fire in the cabin severely 561 00:26:46,504 --> 00:26:50,642 damaged the door frame, but the main components 562 00:26:50,709 --> 00:26:52,811 have all been recovered. 563 00:26:52,877 --> 00:26:59,751 OK, let's see what this can tell us. 564 00:26:59,818 --> 00:27:02,020 NARRATOR: The locking mechanism is simple with three 565 00:27:02,087 --> 00:27:04,155 cam locks on each side. 566 00:27:04,222 --> 00:27:07,525 A single cable connects the door handle to the cams. 567 00:27:07,592 --> 00:27:10,895 When the handle turns, the cable rotates all the cams 568 00:27:10,962 --> 00:27:12,998 to lock or unlock the door. 569 00:27:13,064 --> 00:27:15,734 The cams have to rotate about 150 570 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:19,971 degrees from the locked position for the door 571 00:27:20,038 --> 00:27:21,039 to be open. 572 00:27:21,106 --> 00:27:23,675 We found that the cams were all either 573 00:27:23,742 --> 00:27:26,578 locked or partially locked. 574 00:27:26,644 --> 00:27:32,984 NARRATOR: What could have prevented them from unlocking? 575 00:27:33,051 --> 00:27:34,686 What have we here? 576 00:27:34,753 --> 00:27:36,755 NARRATOR: Marshall discovers the locking cable 577 00:27:36,821 --> 00:27:38,089 is fractured. 578 00:27:38,156 --> 00:27:41,159 This could be the smoking gun she's been looking for. 579 00:27:41,226 --> 00:27:43,294 NORA MARSHALL: With the cable having been snapped, 580 00:27:43,361 --> 00:27:46,264 you would want to understand that, 581 00:27:46,331 --> 00:27:48,833 because if it was not intact, it wasn't 582 00:27:48,900 --> 00:27:51,236 going to rotate the cams. 583 00:27:51,302 --> 00:27:54,539 NARRATOR: But confirming the theory requires more analysis. 584 00:27:54,606 --> 00:27:57,742 If she can prove that the cable snapped on impact, 585 00:27:57,809 --> 00:27:59,577 Marshall will have solved the mystery 586 00:27:59,644 --> 00:28:06,451 of the jammed door that cost 12 people their lives. 587 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:11,756 I can't get it open! 588 00:28:11,823 --> 00:28:13,258 NARRATOR: Lab tests on the cable 589 00:28:13,324 --> 00:28:17,028 that locks and unlocks the main door are a disappointment. 590 00:28:17,095 --> 00:28:20,832 The critical component did not break on impact. 591 00:28:20,899 --> 00:28:22,267 NORA MARSHALL: The cable had broken 592 00:28:22,333 --> 00:28:25,270 and the metallurgist determined that that was a result of heat 593 00:28:25,336 --> 00:28:29,974 and stress from the post-crash fire. 594 00:28:30,041 --> 00:28:31,910 Hurry, hurry! 595 00:28:31,976 --> 00:28:34,045 OK, OK, hang on. 596 00:28:34,112 --> 00:28:35,947 NARRATOR: In other words, the critical cable 597 00:28:36,014 --> 00:28:40,085 didn't break until after the fire killed everyone on board. 598 00:28:40,151 --> 00:28:45,523 What jammed the door is still a mystery. 599 00:28:45,590 --> 00:28:47,292 NORA MARSHALL: Then we're back to, 600 00:28:47,358 --> 00:28:52,964 OK, why didn't the door open? 601 00:28:53,031 --> 00:28:55,533 NARRATOR: The plane's manufacturer advises Marshall 602 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:58,436 that the airstair door on the 1900C 603 00:28:58,503 --> 00:29:00,672 will not open if there's even a small amount 604 00:29:00,738 --> 00:29:03,475 of slack in the locking cable. 605 00:29:03,541 --> 00:29:06,244 NORA MARSHALL: If there was a 1/4 inch of slack 606 00:29:06,311 --> 00:29:11,082 or greater in the cable, that the cams would not rotate. 607 00:29:11,149 --> 00:29:14,953 Slack in the cable? 608 00:29:15,019 --> 00:29:16,454 Is that what happened? 609 00:29:16,521 --> 00:29:18,356 NARRATOR: It's a slim margin of error, 610 00:29:18,423 --> 00:29:20,492 and it leads to a new theory. 611 00:29:20,558 --> 00:29:23,061 NORA MARSHALL: During the collision, the door frame 612 00:29:23,128 --> 00:29:29,033 or the door itself could have been deformed in a way 613 00:29:29,100 --> 00:29:31,102 that would introduce slack. 614 00:29:31,169 --> 00:29:34,973 NARRATOR: A tragedy of small fairs, a damaged door, 615 00:29:35,039 --> 00:29:38,276 a bit of slack in a cable might have been the difference 616 00:29:38,343 --> 00:29:40,979 between life and death. 617 00:29:41,045 --> 00:29:42,614 Oh God, I'm sorry, Kate. 618 00:29:42,680 --> 00:29:43,915 I'm going for help. 619 00:29:43,982 --> 00:29:46,451 I can't do this. 620 00:29:46,518 --> 00:29:49,287 NARRATOR: If he had more time, First Officer McCombs 621 00:29:49,354 --> 00:29:51,256 might have reached the over wing exit, 622 00:29:51,322 --> 00:29:53,925 which could have saved lives. 623 00:29:53,992 --> 00:29:55,260 TOM HAUETER: We're used to accidents 624 00:29:55,326 --> 00:29:59,264 where people are so badly injured they can't get out. 625 00:29:59,330 --> 00:30:02,700 Here all the indications are everybody survived the impact 626 00:30:02,767 --> 00:30:04,202 and could have gotten out had they 627 00:30:04,269 --> 00:30:05,370 had a little bit more time. 628 00:30:07,972 --> 00:30:09,174 NARRATOR: But the doors would never 629 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:12,143 have been an issue if there hadn't been an accident. 630 00:30:12,210 --> 00:30:15,580 Why the two planes collided on a clear autumn evening 631 00:30:15,647 --> 00:30:20,585 remains the biggest mystery. 632 00:30:20,652 --> 00:30:22,654 OK, let's go. 633 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:23,922 NARRATOR: There was no cockpit voice 634 00:30:23,988 --> 00:30:25,823 recorder in the King Air. 635 00:30:25,890 --> 00:30:28,259 Smaller planes don't require one, 636 00:30:28,326 --> 00:30:31,429 but investigators hope to find some answers in the cockpit 637 00:30:31,496 --> 00:30:34,365 recording from flight 5925. 638 00:30:34,432 --> 00:30:36,201 DARREN MCCOMBS (ON RADIO): What's the winds down there? 639 00:30:36,267 --> 00:30:38,603 Oh, that's First Officer McCombs. 640 00:30:38,670 --> 00:30:40,705 KATE GATHJE (ON RADIO): Winds are 060 at 8, 641 00:30:40,772 --> 00:30:42,774 12 miles visibility. 642 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:44,842 Stop. 643 00:30:44,909 --> 00:30:47,145 And that's Captain Gathje. 644 00:30:47,212 --> 00:30:48,880 TOM HAUETER: Getting the CVR back in this case 645 00:30:48,947 --> 00:30:49,981 was very important. 646 00:30:50,048 --> 00:30:51,849 It allowed us to understand what 647 00:30:51,916 --> 00:30:53,952 was the tone of the cockpit, what were they doing, 648 00:30:54,018 --> 00:30:56,654 was anything missed trying to understand the sequence 649 00:30:56,721 --> 00:30:57,956 of events that occurred. 650 00:30:58,022 --> 00:30:59,224 KATE GATHJE (ON RADIO): About 30 miles 651 00:30:59,290 --> 00:31:00,358 to the North of the field. 652 00:31:00,425 --> 00:31:03,728 Inbound for landing runway 13 at Quincy. 653 00:31:03,795 --> 00:31:10,702 So far so good. 654 00:31:10,768 --> 00:31:13,304 TOM HAUETER: As the Beech 1900 approached Quincy, 655 00:31:13,371 --> 00:31:16,074 it made all the required radio calls. 656 00:31:16,140 --> 00:31:18,309 Quincy traffic were approaching the area, 657 00:31:18,376 --> 00:31:20,144 we're this far out, Quincy traffic, 658 00:31:20,211 --> 00:31:21,179 we're now this far out. 659 00:31:21,246 --> 00:31:22,247 13 at Quincy. 660 00:31:22,313 --> 00:31:24,482 Any traffic in the area, please advise. 661 00:31:24,549 --> 00:31:26,484 NARRATOR: Captain Gathje gives other pilots 662 00:31:26,551 --> 00:31:29,554 a chance to let her know if they want to use the runway. 663 00:31:29,621 --> 00:31:33,925 She gets no response. 664 00:31:33,992 --> 00:31:37,161 More than 3 minutes pass before Laura Brooks radios 665 00:31:37,228 --> 00:31:39,931 in from the King Air. 666 00:31:39,998 --> 00:31:43,935 LAURA BROOKS: King Air 1127, delta's taxiing out. 667 00:31:44,002 --> 00:31:46,137 Takeoff on runway 4. 668 00:31:46,204 --> 00:31:50,074 It sounds like the students handling the radio calls. 669 00:31:50,141 --> 00:31:52,043 They're using 4. 670 00:31:52,110 --> 00:31:54,846 Stop. 671 00:31:54,912 --> 00:31:57,949 See, that tells me they heard the King Air. 672 00:31:58,016 --> 00:31:59,417 They know it was approaching the runway, 673 00:31:59,484 --> 00:32:01,653 and they were watching for it. 674 00:32:01,719 --> 00:32:04,222 NARRATOR: Kate Gathje is making all the right calls, 675 00:32:04,289 --> 00:32:07,292 but it isn't clear if the pilots in the King Air 676 00:32:07,358 --> 00:32:09,260 heard any of them. 677 00:32:09,327 --> 00:32:12,864 We'll be inbound to enter on the left base for runway 13 678 00:32:12,930 --> 00:32:13,931 at Quincy. 679 00:32:13,998 --> 00:32:18,770 Any other traffic, please advise. 680 00:32:18,836 --> 00:32:19,871 No response? 681 00:32:19,937 --> 00:32:25,209 Where's the King Air? 682 00:32:25,276 --> 00:32:26,644 NARRATOR: It's more than two minutes 683 00:32:26,711 --> 00:32:31,449 before Laura Brooks makes her second and final transmission. 684 00:32:31,516 --> 00:32:35,486 King Air 1127, holding short of runway 4. 685 00:32:35,553 --> 00:32:38,656 Taking the runway for departure. 686 00:32:38,723 --> 00:32:40,625 NARRATOR: Less than a minute to touchdown, 687 00:32:40,692 --> 00:32:43,294 the King Air is still holding. 688 00:32:43,361 --> 00:32:45,563 Captain Gathje double checks whether the King 689 00:32:45,630 --> 00:32:48,232 Air intends to stay put on runway 4 690 00:32:48,299 --> 00:32:50,501 while she lands on 13. 691 00:32:50,568 --> 00:32:52,403 The aircraft going to hold in position on runway 4 692 00:32:52,470 --> 00:32:53,538 or you guys going to take off? 693 00:32:53,604 --> 00:32:55,006 AUTOMATED VOICE: 300. 694 00:32:55,073 --> 00:32:56,808 NARRATOR: What investigators hear next 695 00:32:56,874 --> 00:32:59,277 comes as a complete surprise. 696 00:32:59,344 --> 00:33:02,580 7646 Juliet, holding for departure on runway 4. 697 00:33:02,647 --> 00:33:03,581 AUTOMATED VOICE: 200. 698 00:33:03,648 --> 00:33:04,649 Who the hell is answering her? 699 00:33:04,716 --> 00:33:06,284 That's not the King Air. 700 00:33:06,351 --> 00:33:08,152 NARRATOR: It's a stunning development. 701 00:33:08,219 --> 00:33:10,688 There was a radio call from a second plane 702 00:33:10,755 --> 00:33:14,192 waiting to take the runway. 703 00:33:14,258 --> 00:33:16,327 That little communication was critical to what 704 00:33:16,394 --> 00:33:18,196 happened on this accident. 705 00:33:18,262 --> 00:33:19,564 Hi, yes. 706 00:33:19,630 --> 00:33:21,432 I need some help tracking down a pilot who was at Quincy 707 00:33:21,499 --> 00:33:23,901 airport on November 19. 708 00:33:23,968 --> 00:33:28,106 NARRATOR: Tom Haueter is now on the hunt for a mystery pilot. 709 00:33:28,172 --> 00:33:30,041 He was right there when it happened. 710 00:33:30,108 --> 00:33:31,976 So we wanted to talk to him. 711 00:33:32,043 --> 00:33:32,977 What did you know? 712 00:33:33,044 --> 00:33:33,978 What did you see? 713 00:33:34,045 --> 00:33:41,085 What was going on? 714 00:33:41,152 --> 00:33:42,320 She knew the King Air was there. 715 00:33:42,387 --> 00:33:46,057 She announced her intentions. 716 00:33:46,124 --> 00:33:47,892 How did the King Air not get that she 717 00:33:47,959 --> 00:33:50,228 was coming in to land? 718 00:33:50,294 --> 00:33:54,298 King Air 1127, delta's taxiing out. 719 00:33:54,365 --> 00:33:56,634 Takeoff on runway 4. 720 00:33:56,701 --> 00:33:59,103 They're using 4. 721 00:33:59,170 --> 00:34:01,739 NARRATOR: It's clear the United Express crew knew 722 00:34:01,806 --> 00:34:03,374 the location of the King Air. 723 00:34:03,441 --> 00:34:06,611 It's not clear if the King Air crew ever heard Captain 724 00:34:06,677 --> 00:34:09,046 Gathje, but her plane would have been 725 00:34:09,113 --> 00:34:13,017 clearly visible in the sky. 726 00:34:13,084 --> 00:34:17,755 Did something prevent the King Air pilots from seeing it? 727 00:34:17,822 --> 00:34:20,391 Computer simulations show that posts 728 00:34:20,458 --> 00:34:22,693 in the King Air's windscreen might have 729 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:26,697 obstructed the pilot's view. 730 00:34:26,764 --> 00:34:30,201 I think we need to put ourselves in a real plane. 731 00:34:30,268 --> 00:34:32,637 NARRATOR: But to be sure, Ivey wants to return 732 00:34:32,703 --> 00:34:35,039 to the scene of the crash. 733 00:34:35,106 --> 00:34:38,943 I don't think there's anything better than a pair 734 00:34:39,010 --> 00:34:41,646 of eyes in a real situation that 735 00:34:41,712 --> 00:34:44,482 is as similar or as close to what occurred 736 00:34:44,549 --> 00:34:47,351 during the accident sequence. 737 00:34:47,418 --> 00:34:49,587 NARRATOR: David Ivey tries out both pilot 738 00:34:49,654 --> 00:34:53,257 seats in the King Air while in position on runway 4. 739 00:34:53,324 --> 00:34:56,527 He watches as a Beech 1900C sea approaches 740 00:34:56,594 --> 00:34:58,396 with its landing lights on. 741 00:34:58,463 --> 00:35:01,065 DAVID IVEY: It flew downwind, made a left turn 742 00:35:01,132 --> 00:35:02,600 to a final approach. 743 00:35:02,667 --> 00:35:05,169 And we were looking at what we could see, 744 00:35:05,236 --> 00:35:08,940 the lights, how visible was the airplane. 745 00:35:09,006 --> 00:35:12,910 I can see clear as day. 746 00:35:12,977 --> 00:35:15,913 DAVID IVEY: It was readily visible the entire time. 747 00:35:15,980 --> 00:35:19,150 There were no obstructions due to the window 748 00:35:19,217 --> 00:35:23,521 post, whether it was forward or the aft window post. 749 00:35:23,588 --> 00:35:26,757 NARRATOR: Landing aircraft always have the right of way. 750 00:35:26,824 --> 00:35:29,760 It seems inconceivable that a pilot would roll 751 00:35:29,827 --> 00:35:33,097 onto an intersecting runway knowing another plane was 752 00:35:33,164 --> 00:35:34,499 on final approach. 753 00:35:34,565 --> 00:35:37,068 DAVID IVEY: It's incumbent upon you to look both directions 754 00:35:37,134 --> 00:35:38,636 before you get out there. 755 00:35:38,703 --> 00:35:41,572 We learned that as children crossing the street, 756 00:35:41,639 --> 00:35:44,041 look both ways. 757 00:35:44,108 --> 00:35:46,744 NARRATOR: Ivey comes to an astonishing conclusion, 758 00:35:46,811 --> 00:35:48,880 the King Air pilots must not have 759 00:35:48,946 --> 00:35:51,549 checked for incoming planes before starting 760 00:35:51,616 --> 00:35:53,384 down the runway. 761 00:35:53,451 --> 00:35:55,186 You look at something as basic a scene avoid, 762 00:35:55,253 --> 00:35:58,089 which pilots are taught from day one, 763 00:35:58,155 --> 00:35:59,457 how could that go missing? 764 00:35:59,524 --> 00:36:00,458 Oh, Christ. 765 00:36:00,525 --> 00:36:01,926 What the hell? 766 00:36:15,106 --> 00:36:18,042 NARRATOR: David Ivey turns his attention to King Air pilot 767 00:36:18,109 --> 00:36:21,145 Neal Reinwald combing through his FAA records 768 00:36:21,212 --> 00:36:25,416 and talking to people he's worked with. 769 00:36:25,483 --> 00:36:28,419 DAVID IVEY: He had been an Air Force reserve pilot. 770 00:36:28,486 --> 00:36:32,189 He had been a pilot for Trans World Airlines. 771 00:36:32,256 --> 00:36:35,760 His resume looked tremendous. 772 00:36:35,826 --> 00:36:38,029 NARRATOR: Why would such an experienced pilot 773 00:36:38,095 --> 00:36:41,866 taxi onto a runway while another plane is landing. 774 00:36:41,933 --> 00:36:47,004 Ivey keeps digging and soon makes a stunning discovery. 775 00:36:47,071 --> 00:36:51,008 DAVID IVEY: We found out that he failed a check ride. 776 00:36:51,075 --> 00:36:55,546 He was given another check and he failed that, 777 00:36:55,613 --> 00:36:59,050 and they removed him from a pilot position 778 00:36:59,116 --> 00:37:05,356 to flight engineer, which is a non-flying pilot. 779 00:37:05,423 --> 00:37:07,858 He failed two checks. 780 00:37:07,925 --> 00:37:09,961 This guy's skills were slipping. 781 00:37:10,027 --> 00:37:14,231 NARRATOR: After his demotion, Reinwald retired from TWA, 782 00:37:14,298 --> 00:37:16,167 but he stayed active as a charter 783 00:37:16,233 --> 00:37:19,036 pilot and flight instructor. 784 00:37:19,103 --> 00:37:21,138 Six months before this accident, 785 00:37:21,205 --> 00:37:24,041 Reinwald was an instructor on a training flight 786 00:37:24,108 --> 00:37:27,378 that landed with the landing gear is still up. 787 00:37:27,445 --> 00:37:30,081 DAVID IVEY: Did some damage to the prop, the engine 788 00:37:30,147 --> 00:37:32,717 and to the fuselage. 789 00:37:32,783 --> 00:37:35,086 NARRATOR: Reinwald was assigned remedial training 790 00:37:35,152 --> 00:37:37,021 after the incident, training that 791 00:37:37,088 --> 00:37:39,256 was still underway when he boarded the King 792 00:37:39,323 --> 00:37:43,361 Air for his final flight. 793 00:37:43,427 --> 00:37:45,997 OK, Laura, let's go home. 794 00:37:46,063 --> 00:37:47,431 NARRATOR: Students describe him as 795 00:37:47,498 --> 00:37:50,234 skilled and confident, a real go-getter, 796 00:37:50,301 --> 00:37:52,670 but with a tendency to rush. 797 00:37:52,737 --> 00:37:55,640 On the day of the fatal crash, witnesses say he 798 00:37:55,706 --> 00:37:57,575 seemed in a hurry to get home. 799 00:37:57,642 --> 00:38:01,846 DAVID IVEY: I think impatience was part of the problem. 800 00:38:01,912 --> 00:38:06,617 Get-there-itis, that's a term we use a lot. 801 00:38:06,684 --> 00:38:10,488 King Air 1127, delta's taxiing out. 802 00:38:10,554 --> 00:38:15,226 Takeoff on runway 4. 803 00:38:15,292 --> 00:38:17,561 NARRATOR: Student pilot Laura Brooks was handling 804 00:38:17,628 --> 00:38:19,864 radio calls in the King Air. 805 00:38:19,930 --> 00:38:22,933 She was totally new to the King Air. 806 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:24,869 NARRATOR: Reinwald may have been preoccupied 807 00:38:24,935 --> 00:38:27,772 with his flight lesson, unaware of the commuter plane 808 00:38:27,838 --> 00:38:29,707 approaching from his left. 809 00:38:29,774 --> 00:38:32,043 What's our takeoff weight? 810 00:38:32,109 --> 00:38:33,377 PAUL WALKER: When you're instructing, 811 00:38:33,444 --> 00:38:36,247 it can take you out of the situational awareness. 812 00:38:36,313 --> 00:38:39,050 8,117 pounds. 813 00:38:39,116 --> 00:38:40,418 PAUL WALKER: You might be trying to teach 814 00:38:40,484 --> 00:38:42,053 them how to program something. 815 00:38:42,119 --> 00:38:43,621 You might be discussing with them about. 816 00:38:43,688 --> 00:38:45,556 Power settings before takeoff. 817 00:38:45,623 --> 00:38:46,957 There's so many different things 818 00:38:47,024 --> 00:38:48,659 you could be discussing. 819 00:38:48,726 --> 00:38:50,461 TOM HAUETER: Whether they were engaged 820 00:38:50,528 --> 00:38:55,800 in conversation about the aircraft, we don't know. 821 00:38:55,866 --> 00:39:02,540 But there was no announcement of takeoff, which is unusual. 822 00:39:03,541 --> 00:39:04,475 Oh, Christ. 823 00:39:04,542 --> 00:39:11,182 What the hell? 824 00:39:12,249 --> 00:39:14,051 They weren't looking at the big picture 825 00:39:14,118 --> 00:39:16,287 of where they were at and what was going 826 00:39:16,353 --> 00:39:19,190 on around them in the world. 827 00:39:19,256 --> 00:39:21,158 NARRATOR: The story of the Quincy crash 828 00:39:21,225 --> 00:39:25,162 has one final twist, an incredible coincidence 829 00:39:25,229 --> 00:39:27,732 involving the mystery pilot investigators have 830 00:39:27,798 --> 00:39:29,900 been desperately waiting to hear from. 831 00:39:29,967 --> 00:39:36,273 So tell us what happened. 832 00:39:36,340 --> 00:39:38,142 NARRATOR: A Piper Cherokee waits to take 833 00:39:38,209 --> 00:39:40,611 off moments before the crash. 834 00:39:40,678 --> 00:39:45,916 At the controls is rookie pilot Larry Bedford. 835 00:39:45,983 --> 00:39:50,254 We were in the run up area behind the King Air. 836 00:39:50,321 --> 00:39:52,890 Any traffic in the area, please advise. 837 00:39:52,957 --> 00:39:55,392 NARRATOR: Bedford hears both the King Air and the commuter 838 00:39:55,459 --> 00:39:56,427 plane's transmissions-- 839 00:39:56,494 --> 00:39:57,661 KATE GATHJE (ON RADIO): King Air 1127. 840 00:39:57,728 --> 00:40:00,364 NARRATOR: --but he isn't always sure who's talking. 841 00:40:00,431 --> 00:40:07,304 Both pilots were female. 842 00:40:07,371 --> 00:40:09,240 The aircraft going to hold in position on runway 4 843 00:40:09,306 --> 00:40:11,041 or you guys going to take off? 844 00:40:11,108 --> 00:40:12,409 NARRATOR: When the King Air doesn't 845 00:40:12,476 --> 00:40:16,580 respond to Captain Gathje's question, Bedford steps in. 846 00:40:16,647 --> 00:40:18,349 7646 Juliet, holding-- 847 00:40:18,415 --> 00:40:20,217 TOM HAUETER: There was no reason for the pilot 848 00:40:20,284 --> 00:40:22,586 of the Cherokee, who's not on the active runway, 849 00:40:22,653 --> 00:40:25,656 who's not going to take off, to have made that call. 850 00:40:25,723 --> 00:40:28,893 He did not use his type of airplane. 851 00:40:28,959 --> 00:40:31,428 If he had said Cherokee, that would have 852 00:40:31,495 --> 00:40:32,963 served as a clarifying point. 853 00:40:33,030 --> 00:40:35,199 7646 Juliet, holding for departure on runway 854 00:40:35,266 --> 00:40:38,469 4 behind on the King Air. 855 00:40:38,536 --> 00:40:42,907 DAVID IVEY: Holding behind the King Air 856 00:40:42,973 --> 00:40:46,343 was the statement he said he made. 857 00:40:46,410 --> 00:40:47,444 LARRY BEDFORD (ON RADIO): Holding 858 00:40:47,511 --> 00:40:48,612 for departure at runway 4-- 859 00:40:48,679 --> 00:40:49,847 AUTOMATED VOICE: 200. 860 00:40:49,914 --> 00:40:52,516 LARRY BEDFORD (ON RADIO): --behind the King Air. 861 00:40:52,583 --> 00:40:56,253 There was a mechanical device in that Beech 1900 862 00:40:56,320 --> 00:40:59,590 that at the appointed time said 200. 863 00:40:59,657 --> 00:41:00,991 Departure on runway 4-- 864 00:41:01,058 --> 00:41:02,226 AUTOMATED VOICE: 200. 865 00:41:02,293 --> 00:41:04,428 LARRY BEDFORD (ON RADIO): --behind the King Air. 866 00:41:04,495 --> 00:41:10,601 DAVID IVEY: And that masked the word "behind" the King Air. 867 00:41:10,668 --> 00:41:12,136 NARRATOR: Captain Gathje thinks the call 868 00:41:12,203 --> 00:41:14,138 is coming from the King Air. 869 00:41:14,205 --> 00:41:15,506 OK, we'll get through the intersection 870 00:41:15,573 --> 00:41:16,507 in just a second, sir. 871 00:41:16,574 --> 00:41:17,508 AUTOMATED VOICE: 100. 872 00:41:17,575 --> 00:41:19,376 We appreciate that. 873 00:41:19,443 --> 00:41:21,712 TOM HAUETER: Unfortunately for the commuter aircraft crew, 874 00:41:21,779 --> 00:41:24,014 they believed they were now safe to land because the King 875 00:41:24,081 --> 00:41:25,749 Air would hold for them. 876 00:41:25,816 --> 00:41:27,718 Finals are complete. 877 00:41:27,785 --> 00:41:33,958 TOM HAUETER: They thought they were good to go. 878 00:41:34,024 --> 00:41:34,959 Oh, Christ. 879 00:41:35,025 --> 00:41:36,861 What the hell? 880 00:41:36,927 --> 00:41:38,963 NARRATOR: A split second mechanical message 881 00:41:39,029 --> 00:41:42,299 combined with a rookie's confusing radio call caused 882 00:41:42,366 --> 00:41:49,373 a fatal misunderstanding. 883 00:41:51,475 --> 00:41:55,279 The final NTSB report concludes that the crew of United 884 00:41:55,346 --> 00:41:58,682 Express Flight 5925 acted appropriately 885 00:41:58,749 --> 00:42:01,385 in their approach and landing. 886 00:42:01,452 --> 00:42:03,554 Probable cause of the accident 887 00:42:03,621 --> 00:42:07,758 was the failure of the pilots in the King Air A90 888 00:42:07,825 --> 00:42:11,295 to effectively monitor the common traffic 889 00:42:11,362 --> 00:42:17,534 advisory frequency or to properly scan for traffic. 890 00:42:17,601 --> 00:42:18,836 NARRATOR: The investigation also 891 00:42:18,903 --> 00:42:21,238 concludes that Neal Reinwald may not 892 00:42:21,305 --> 00:42:22,940 have placed sufficient importance 893 00:42:23,007 --> 00:42:26,277 on the basics of safe flying. 894 00:42:26,343 --> 00:42:28,846 TOM HAUETER: The collision was certainly avoidable. 895 00:42:28,913 --> 00:42:30,481 Had the King Air saw the other airplane, 896 00:42:30,547 --> 00:42:32,783 they probably would have aborted their takeoff. 897 00:42:32,850 --> 00:42:39,757 So it was preventable several times. 898 00:42:39,823 --> 00:42:42,359 But as the airplanes are closer and closer together, 899 00:42:42,426 --> 00:42:46,563 those timing ran out. 900 00:42:46,630 --> 00:42:48,232 Contributing to the loss of life 901 00:42:48,299 --> 00:42:53,938 was the failure of the airstair door in the Beech 1900C 902 00:42:54,004 --> 00:42:55,572 to open. 903 00:42:56,640 --> 00:42:57,975 Open the door! 904 00:42:58,042 --> 00:43:00,978 NARRATOR: But the failure of a single door on an airplane 905 00:43:01,045 --> 00:43:03,948 with three other exits should not result in the death 906 00:43:04,014 --> 00:43:05,983 of everyone on board. 907 00:43:06,050 --> 00:43:07,318 TOM HAUETER: It's critical of passengers 908 00:43:07,384 --> 00:43:08,686 listen to safety briefings-- 909 00:43:08,752 --> 00:43:10,020 AUTOMATED VOICE: Welcome aboard. 910 00:43:10,087 --> 00:43:13,357 TOM HAUETER: --to understand where is the closest exit, 911 00:43:13,424 --> 00:43:16,293 where is it behind you, to think about how you get 912 00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:19,196 out of this if you have to. 913 00:43:19,263 --> 00:43:20,698 NARRATOR: In the wake of the accident, 914 00:43:20,764 --> 00:43:23,000 training is improved to emphasize 915 00:43:23,067 --> 00:43:25,369 the importance of clear communication, 916 00:43:25,436 --> 00:43:29,139 especially at airports with no tower. 917 00:43:29,206 --> 00:43:31,375 PAUL WALKER: The FAA has been dealing with this issue, 918 00:43:31,442 --> 00:43:33,477 I think, in a very good manner, trying 919 00:43:33,544 --> 00:43:35,512 to get people to realize the awareness of it. 920 00:43:35,579 --> 00:43:37,147 The most dangerous place to be in an airplane 921 00:43:37,214 --> 00:43:39,883 is around an airport. 922 00:43:39,950 --> 00:43:41,986 TOM HAUETER: There have been a lot of basic changes 923 00:43:42,052 --> 00:43:44,054 since the Quincy accident. 924 00:43:44,121 --> 00:43:45,089 And I think they've worked. 925 00:43:45,155 --> 00:43:47,024 We haven't had action like this since. 926 00:43:47,091 --> 00:43:50,294 However, we can't rest on our laurels. 927 00:43:50,361 --> 00:43:52,196 The pilots who are flying the commuter airplanes 928 00:43:52,262 --> 00:43:54,798 in an uncontrolled airspace like a Quincy, 929 00:43:54,865 --> 00:43:56,633 they have no memory of what happened at Quincy. 930 00:43:56,700 --> 00:43:59,236 So it's important to remind them occasionally. 931 00:43:59,303 --> 00:44:01,605 We have to keep our corporate memory going. 932 00:44:01,672 --> 00:44:03,974 And that becomes very critical.