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1
00:00:01,067 --> 00:00:02,469
Narrator: A ROUTINE LANDING...
2
00:00:02,469 --> 00:00:03,503
Flight attendant:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
3
00:00:03,503 --> 00:00:05,405
WE ARE STARTING
OUR APPROACH TO DFW.
4
00:00:05,405 --> 00:00:06,673
Pilot: YOU'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
5
00:00:06,673 --> 00:00:09,409
Narrator: ...TURNS INTO
A SUDDEN FIGHT TO THE DEATH.
6
00:00:09,409 --> 00:00:11,478
Pilot: YOU'RE GONNA LOSE IT
ALL OF A SUDDEN.
7
00:00:11,478 --> 00:00:14,347
THERE IT IS.
8
00:00:14,347 --> 00:00:17,650
Narrator: A PASSENGER JET
MYSTERIOUSLY FALLS FROM THE SKY
9
00:00:17,650 --> 00:00:21,421
AND ROCKETS TOWARDS
A BUSY HIGHWAY.
10
00:00:21,421 --> 00:00:23,990
Pilot: PUSH IT UP!
PUSH IT WAY UP!
11
00:00:23,990 --> 00:00:25,358
Controller: DELTA, GO AROUND!
12
00:00:25,358 --> 00:00:27,694
Pilot:
HANG ON TO THE SON OF A...!
13
00:00:27,694 --> 00:00:28,895
Controller: IT'S GONNA CRASH!
14
00:00:31,564 --> 00:00:34,167
Narrator: AN UNKNOWN FORCE
BRINGS DOWN A PLANE,
15
00:00:34,167 --> 00:00:36,970
CLAIMING 137 LIVES.
16
00:00:36,970 --> 00:00:39,139
IN THE WRECKAGE
LIES THE ONE CLUE
17
00:00:39,139 --> 00:00:41,975
THAT CAN STOP IT
FROM KILLING AGAIN.
18
00:00:41,975 --> 00:00:45,345
Flight attendant:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WE ARE STARTING OUR APPROACH.
19
00:00:45,345 --> 00:00:46,813
Pilot: WE LOST BOTH ENGINES!
20
00:00:46,813 --> 00:00:47,647
Flight attendant:
PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE.
21
00:00:47,647 --> 00:00:48,615
EMERGENCY DESCENT.
22
00:00:48,615 --> 00:00:49,983
Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY.
23
00:00:49,983 --> 00:00:50,950
Flight attendant:
BRACE FOR IMPACT!
24
00:00:50,950 --> 00:00:52,218
Controller: I THINK I LOST ONE.
25
00:00:52,218 --> 00:00:53,553
Man: INVESTIGATION STARTING...
26
00:00:55,188 --> 00:00:56,589
Man: HE'S GONNA CRASH!
27
00:01:06,666 --> 00:01:10,770
Narrator: AUGUST 2, 1985,
DALLAS, TEXAS.
28
00:01:16,676 --> 00:01:19,946
IT'S A VERY HOT DAY,
EVEN BY TEXAS STANDARDS.
29
00:01:22,382 --> 00:01:23,616
Man: SEE Y'ALL TOMORROW.
30
00:01:23,616 --> 00:01:26,519
Narrator: TEMPERATURES SOAR
TO 101 DEGREES.
31
00:01:29,889 --> 00:01:34,027
Man: RAIN COMING.
SHOULD COOL THINGS DOWN A BIT.
32
00:01:34,027 --> 00:01:35,261
Narrator: IN THE LATE AFTERNOON,
33
00:01:35,261 --> 00:01:37,931
WILLIAM MAYBERRY IS
HEADING HOME FROM WORK.
34
00:01:41,267 --> 00:01:44,070
THE DAY'S HEAT AND HUMIDITY
ARE HAVING AN EFFECT ON TRAFFIC
35
00:01:44,070 --> 00:01:47,774
AT DALLAS/FORTH WORTH
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, DFW.
36
00:01:51,444 --> 00:01:53,379
ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF MANHATTAN,
37
00:01:53,379 --> 00:01:56,115
DFW IS THE BIGGEST
AIRPORT IN THE WORLD.
38
00:01:56,115 --> 00:01:58,084
IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE BUSIEST.
39
00:02:11,030 --> 00:02:13,299
THE HEAT HAS TRIGGERED
SOME AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS
40
00:02:13,299 --> 00:02:15,935
AT THE AIRPORT,
CREATING A BACKLOG OF PLANES
41
00:02:15,935 --> 00:02:19,138
WAITING TO TAKE OFF.
42
00:02:19,138 --> 00:02:21,040
Controller: AMERICAN 631,
YOU ARE CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF.
43
00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:22,842
Narrator: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
GENE SKIPWORTH
44
00:02:22,842 --> 00:02:25,612
IS IN THE TOWER TODAY.
45
00:02:25,612 --> 00:02:29,516
HE'S BEEN WORKING THERE
FOR 14 YEARS.
46
00:02:29,516 --> 00:02:32,652
WITH HIM IS
CONTROLLER MIKE PORTER.
47
00:02:32,652 --> 00:02:34,487
Mike Porter: SKIPWORTH
WAS NOT ASKING FOR HELP.
48
00:02:34,487 --> 00:02:36,523
NOTHING SEEMED UNUSUAL,
OTHER THAN THE FACT
49
00:02:36,523 --> 00:02:39,893
THAT WE WERE STARTING
TO GET BUSY,
50
00:02:39,893 --> 00:02:43,696
AND AIRCRAFT WERE
STARTING TO PILE UP.
51
00:02:49,469 --> 00:02:50,937
Narrator: ONE OF THE MANY PLANES
HEADING TOWARDS
52
00:02:50,937 --> 00:02:56,342
SKIPWORTH'S CONTROL IS
DELTA AIRLINES FLIGHT 191.
53
00:02:56,342 --> 00:02:59,412
Radio: WEATHER 6,000 SCATTERED
TO 1,000 SCATTERED.
54
00:02:59,412 --> 00:03:04,317
VISIBILITY 10,
TEMPERATURE 101, WIND CALM.
55
00:03:04,317 --> 00:03:05,852
Pilot: 101?
56
00:03:05,852 --> 00:03:08,788
Co-pilot: 101 DEGREES, YES, SIR.
57
00:03:08,788 --> 00:03:11,958
Narrator: CAPTAIN ED CONNORS
AND FIRST OFFICER RUDY PRICE
58
00:03:11,958 --> 00:03:15,261
ARE TWO OF DELTA AIRLINES'
MOST EXPERIENCED PILOTS.
59
00:03:17,530 --> 00:03:18,965
SECOND OFFICER NICK NASSICK
60
00:03:18,965 --> 00:03:21,768
IS THE OTHER MEMBER
OF TODAY'S CREW.
61
00:03:24,304 --> 00:03:27,840
Narrator: THE CREW IS FLYING
A SIX-YEAR-OLD L-1011 TRISTAR,
62
00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,210
BILLED AS ONE OF THE SAFEST
PLANES IN THE SKY.
63
00:03:34,147 --> 00:03:38,685
THERE ARE 152 PASSENGERS
AND 11 CREW MEMBERS ON BOARD.
64
00:03:40,587 --> 00:03:42,155
THEY'RE SCHEDULED
TO LAND IN DALLAS
65
00:03:42,155 --> 00:03:45,592
JUST BEFORE 6:00 IN THE EVENING.
66
00:03:45,592 --> 00:03:47,126
[DING]
67
00:03:47,126 --> 00:03:48,261
Ed Connors: GOOD AFTERNOON,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
68
00:03:48,261 --> 00:03:50,830
THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING.
69
00:03:50,830 --> 00:03:53,533
HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING
YOUR FLIGHT SO FAR.
70
00:03:53,533 --> 00:03:55,969
TRAFFIC IS BACKING UP AT DALLAS.
71
00:03:55,969 --> 00:03:59,572
ALL TOLD, WE'LL BE ABOUT
10 TO 15 MINUTES LATE
72
00:03:59,572 --> 00:04:01,374
GETTING TO THE GATE.
73
00:04:01,374 --> 00:04:02,675
PLEASE LET US KNOW
IF THERE'S ANYTHING WE CAN DO
74
00:04:02,675 --> 00:04:05,745
TO MAKE YOUR FLIGHT
MORE COMFORTABLE.
75
00:04:05,745 --> 00:04:07,981
Narrator:
THE DELAY BOTHERS CHRIS MEIER.
76
00:04:07,981 --> 00:04:09,983
HE'S A FREQUENT BUSINESS
TRAVELER WHO'S IN A HURRY
77
00:04:09,983 --> 00:04:13,953
TO GET HOME TO HIS FAMILY
FOR THE WEEKEND.
78
00:04:13,953 --> 00:04:16,022
Chris Meier: I'D BEEN DOWN
IN FLORIDA, FORT LAUDERDALE,
79
00:04:16,022 --> 00:04:18,191
FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
80
00:04:18,191 --> 00:04:20,560
AND IT WAS A FRIDAY AFTERNOON,
81
00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,596
AND I WAS DUE TO GO HOME
ON FLIGHT 191.
82
00:04:26,833 --> 00:04:30,770
Controller:
963, TURN RIGHT, HEADING 620.
83
00:04:30,770 --> 00:04:32,872
Narrator:
EN ROUTE FROM FLORIDA TO TEXAS,
84
00:04:32,872 --> 00:04:36,075
DELTA 191 WILL COMMUNICATE
WITH SEVERAL CONTROLLERS.
85
00:04:36,075 --> 00:04:37,644
Controller: WHEN I CAN
I'LL TURN YOU INTO BLUE RIDGE,
86
00:04:37,644 --> 00:04:40,013
IT'LL BE ABOUT 010 RADIAL...
87
00:04:40,013 --> 00:04:42,448
Narrator: EVERY AIRCRAFT IS
GUIDED ALONG ITS FLIGHT PATH
88
00:04:42,448 --> 00:04:46,219
BY A SERIES OF REGIONAL AIR
ROUTE TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTERS.
89
00:04:46,219 --> 00:04:50,823
THEY DIRECT EACH PLANE'S
SPEED AND ALTITUDE.
90
00:04:50,823 --> 00:04:52,158
Controller: ONE-NINER-ONE,
91
00:04:52,158 --> 00:04:54,460
DESCEND AND MAINTAIN
ONE-ZERO-THOUSAND.
92
00:04:54,460 --> 00:04:58,731
JOIN THE BLUE RIDGE,
101 RADIAL AND INBOUND.
93
00:04:58,731 --> 00:05:01,701
WE HAVE A GOOD AREA THERE
TO GO THROUGH.
94
00:05:01,701 --> 00:05:03,236
Narrator: CAPTAIN CONNORS
HAS SOME CONCERNS
95
00:05:03,236 --> 00:05:05,304
ABOUT THE ROUTE HE'S BEEN GIVEN.
96
00:05:05,304 --> 00:05:07,707
HE SEES A STORM CELL
ALONG THAT PATH,
97
00:05:07,707 --> 00:05:10,810
AND HE DOESN'T WANT
TO FLY THROUGH IT.
98
00:05:10,810 --> 00:05:12,178
Connors: WELL, I'M LOOKING
AT A CELL AT ABOUT
99
00:05:12,178 --> 00:05:15,381
A HEADING OF 255.
100
00:05:15,381 --> 00:05:16,482
IT'S A PRETTY GOOD-SIZED CELL,
101
00:05:16,482 --> 00:05:18,084
AND I'D RATHER NOT
GO THROUGH IT.
102
00:05:18,084 --> 00:05:20,420
I'D RATHER GO AROUND IT,
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
103
00:05:20,420 --> 00:05:21,888
Controller: I'VE HAD ABOUT
60 AIRCRAFT GO THROUGH
104
00:05:21,888 --> 00:05:24,791
THIS AREA OUT HERE,
10 TO 12 MILES WIDE.
105
00:05:24,791 --> 00:05:27,326
THEY'RE GETTING A GOOD RIDE,
NO PROBLEM.
106
00:05:27,326 --> 00:05:28,528
Connors:
WELL, I CAN SEE A CELL NOW
107
00:05:28,528 --> 00:05:31,597
ABOUT HEADING 240.
108
00:05:31,597 --> 00:05:33,633
Controller: WHEN I CAN,
I'LL TURN YOU INTO BLUE RIDGE.
109
00:05:33,633 --> 00:05:36,369
IT'LL BE ABOUT THE 010 RADIAL.
110
00:05:36,369 --> 00:05:38,404
Connors: 010, ROGER.
111
00:05:38,404 --> 00:05:41,074
WE'RE GONNA HOLD YOU TO THAT.
112
00:05:41,074 --> 00:05:42,975
Narrator:
CAPTAIN CONNORS GETS HIS WAY.
113
00:05:42,975 --> 00:05:45,745
HE'S GIVEN PERMISSION
TO FLY AROUND THE STORM.
114
00:05:45,745 --> 00:05:50,249
ONCE PAST IT, HE'LL LINE UP
FOR A LANDING ON RUNWAY 17-LEFT.
115
00:05:53,486 --> 00:05:56,155
Connors: I'M GLAD WE DIDN'T HAVE
TO GO THROUGH THAT MESS.
116
00:06:02,895 --> 00:06:05,832
Narrator: FRIDAY AFTERNOONS
ARE A BUSY TIME AT AIRPORTS.
117
00:06:05,832 --> 00:06:10,236
THE AFTERNOON RAIN IS MAKING
THIS FRIDAY EVEN BUSIER.
118
00:06:10,236 --> 00:06:12,972
Controller:
23-NINER DOWN TO 61896.
119
00:06:12,972 --> 00:06:15,508
Narrator: THE MAIN PRIORITY
FOR THE CONTROLLER ON DUTY
120
00:06:15,508 --> 00:06:20,246
IS TO KEEP THE INCOMING PLANES
A SAFE DISTANCE APART.
121
00:06:20,246 --> 00:06:23,182
HE WANTS THEM AT ALMOST
THREE MILES FROM EACH OTHER.
122
00:06:25,818 --> 00:06:28,588
THAT DISTANCE ALLOWS ENOUGH TIME
FOR THE VIOLENT AIR TURBULENCE
123
00:06:28,588 --> 00:06:30,423
BEHIND ONE PLANE TO DIE DOWN
124
00:06:30,423 --> 00:06:33,326
BEFORE THE NEXT PLANE
TOUCHES DOWN.
125
00:06:37,530 --> 00:06:40,500
RIGHT NOW, CONNORS AND PRICE ARE
GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE PLANE
126
00:06:40,500 --> 00:06:44,704
JUST AHEAD OF THEM--
A CORPORATE LEAR JET.
127
00:06:44,704 --> 00:06:47,774
Controller: DELTA 191 HEAVY,
TURN LEFT 10 DEGREES,
128
00:06:47,774 --> 00:06:49,809
REDUCE SPEED TO 180.
129
00:06:49,809 --> 00:06:52,011
Narrator: TO PUT SOME DISTANCE
BETWEEN THE TWO PLANES...
130
00:06:52,011 --> 00:06:53,179
Controller: DROP TO 5,000.
131
00:06:53,179 --> 00:06:54,714
Narrator: ...THE CONTROLLER ASKS
THE DELTA CREW
132
00:06:54,714 --> 00:06:56,983
TO SLOW TO 180 KNOTS...
133
00:06:56,983 --> 00:06:59,652
Connors: DELTA 191...
134
00:06:59,652 --> 00:07:01,354
Narrator: 205 MILES AN HOUR.
135
00:07:01,354 --> 00:07:04,857
Connors: WILCO.
136
00:07:04,857 --> 00:07:06,993
Rudy Price:
10 DEGREE FLAPS, PLEASE.
137
00:07:10,429 --> 00:07:12,498
Radio DJ: YOU'RE LISTENING
TO DALLAS 105 FM.
138
00:07:12,498 --> 00:07:15,101
IT'S A WET ONE OUT THERE, FOLKS,
SO DRIVE CAREFULLY.
139
00:07:15,101 --> 00:07:17,403
Narrator:
HEADING HOME ALONG HIGHWAY 114,
140
00:07:17,403 --> 00:07:21,040
WILLIAM MAYBERRY WILL
SOON BE PASSING DFW.
141
00:07:26,646 --> 00:07:31,017
FLIGHT 191 IS NOW JUST 30 MILES
FROM THE FOOT OF THE RUNWAY.
142
00:07:31,017 --> 00:07:32,051
Flight attendant:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
143
00:07:32,051 --> 00:07:34,821
WE ARE STARTING
OUR APPROACH TO DFW.
144
00:07:34,821 --> 00:07:37,290
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR SEATS
ARE IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION
145
00:07:37,290 --> 00:07:39,859
AND YOUR SEATBELTS
ARE SECURELY FASTENED.
146
00:07:44,297 --> 00:07:46,132
Narrator: THE CREW BEGINS
THEIR FINAL DESCENT
147
00:07:46,132 --> 00:07:48,434
INTO
THE DALLAS/FORTH WORTH AREA.
148
00:07:48,434 --> 00:07:50,536
Controller: ATTENTION
ALL AIRCRAFT LISTENING,
149
00:07:50,536 --> 00:07:53,206
THERE'S A LITTLE RAIN SHOWER
JUST NORTH OF THE AIRPORT.
150
00:07:53,206 --> 00:07:55,608
Narrator: CONNORS NOW SWITCHES
RADIO FREQUENCIES
151
00:07:55,608 --> 00:07:58,978
AND CONTACTS A LOCAL
DFW AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
152
00:07:58,978 --> 00:08:02,882
FOR APPROACH INSTRUCTIONS.
153
00:08:02,882 --> 00:08:05,451
AS THE PASSENGERS AND CREW
OF FLIGHT 191
154
00:08:05,451 --> 00:08:07,153
PREPARE FOR THEIR LANDING,
155
00:08:07,153 --> 00:08:11,157
A DEADLY FORCE TAKES SHAPE
IN THEIR PATH.
156
00:08:11,157 --> 00:08:13,025
CRITICAL DECISIONS
AND MISSED INFORMATION
157
00:08:13,025 --> 00:08:15,361
CONSPIRE AGAINST THEM.
158
00:08:15,361 --> 00:08:19,165
THE CREW WILL SOON BE ENGAGED
IN A 47-SECOND STRUGGLE,
159
00:08:19,165 --> 00:08:21,701
WHICH WILL BECOME ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS
160
00:08:21,701 --> 00:08:24,370
IN THE HISTORY
OF MODERN AVIATION.
161
00:08:29,809 --> 00:08:33,746
Narrator:
AS DELTA FLIGHT 191 APPROACHES
THE DALLAS/FORTH WORTH AIRPORT,
162
00:08:33,746 --> 00:08:37,583
FIRST OFFICER RUDOLPH PRICE
NOTICES RAIN AHEAD.
163
00:08:37,583 --> 00:08:40,620
Price: WE ARE GOING TO GET
OUR AIRPLANE WASHED.
164
00:08:40,620 --> 00:08:42,755
Connors: WHAT?
165
00:08:42,755 --> 00:08:45,358
Price: WE'RE GOING TO GET
OUR AIRPLANE WASHED.
166
00:08:48,528 --> 00:08:50,596
Narrator: DELTA 191
IS STILL CLOSING IN
167
00:08:50,596 --> 00:08:52,565
ON THE LEAR JET AHEAD OF IT.
168
00:08:52,565 --> 00:08:55,001
PRICE AND CONNORS NEED
TO SLOW DOWN EVEN FURTHER
169
00:08:55,001 --> 00:08:59,072
TO PUT SOME DISTANCE
BETWEEN THE TWO PLANES.
170
00:08:59,072 --> 00:09:00,773
Controller: DELTA 191 HEAVY.
171
00:09:00,773 --> 00:09:03,443
REDUCE SPEED TO 150.
172
00:09:03,443 --> 00:09:07,380
Price: SPEED TO 150.
173
00:09:07,380 --> 00:09:12,318
Narrator:
FIVE MILES FROM RUNWAY 17-LEFT,
174
00:09:12,318 --> 00:09:15,188
DELTA 191 IS HANDED OVER
TO ANOTHER CONTROLLER,
175
00:09:15,188 --> 00:09:18,458
GENE SKIPWORTH,
FOR FINAL APPROACH AND LANDING.
176
00:09:18,458 --> 00:09:22,428
Gene Skipworth: 090 AT FIVE.
GUSTS TO 15.
177
00:09:24,764 --> 00:09:27,533
Connors: TOWER, DELTA 191
HEAVY OUT HERE IN THE RAIN.
178
00:09:27,533 --> 00:09:28,868
IT FEELS GOOD.
179
00:09:28,868 --> 00:09:30,336
Skipworth: DELTA 191 HEAVY...
180
00:09:30,336 --> 00:09:31,704
Narrator: SKIPWORTH TELLS
THE CREW TO EXPECT
181
00:09:31,704 --> 00:09:34,941
A STIFF BUT MANAGEABLE CROSSWIND
OF UP TO 15 KNOTS.
182
00:09:34,941 --> 00:09:40,346
Skipworth: WINDS 090 AT 5,
GUSTS TO 15.
183
00:09:40,346 --> 00:09:43,316
Connors: THANK YOU, SIR.
184
00:09:43,316 --> 00:09:45,284
Narrator: FIRST OFFICER PRICE
WILL BE AT THE CONTROLS
185
00:09:45,284 --> 00:09:47,019
FOR THE UPCOMING LANDING.
186
00:09:47,019 --> 00:09:50,690
PILOTS AND CO-PILOTS ROUTINELY
ALTERNATE FLYING DUTIES.
187
00:09:53,626 --> 00:09:56,362
AS FLIGHT 191 IS
COMING IN TO LAND,
188
00:09:56,362 --> 00:09:59,966
WILLIAM MAYBERRY IS JUST
NORTH AT THE AIRPORT.
189
00:09:59,966 --> 00:10:02,301
HE'S CAUGHT IN THE SAME STORM
THAT PRICE AND CONNORS
190
00:10:02,301 --> 00:10:05,037
ARE JUST BEGINNING
TO FLY THROUGH.
191
00:10:10,910 --> 00:10:12,612
Price: BEFORE LANDING CHECK.
192
00:10:12,612 --> 00:10:13,980
Nick Nassick: LANDING GEAR.
193
00:10:13,980 --> 00:10:15,748
Connors: DOWN, THREE GREEN.
194
00:10:15,748 --> 00:10:17,216
Nassick: FLAPS, SLATS.
195
00:10:17,216 --> 00:10:19,919
Connors: 33, 33, GREEN LIGHTS.
196
00:10:19,919 --> 00:10:21,821
Narrator: THE CREW SUDDENLY
NOTICES THAT THEY'LL BE FLYING
197
00:10:21,821 --> 00:10:25,091
INTO MORE THAN A BIT OF RAIN.
198
00:10:25,091 --> 00:10:27,093
Price: THERE'S LIGHTNING
COMING OUT OF THAT ONE.
199
00:10:27,093 --> 00:10:28,628
Connors: WHAT?
200
00:10:28,628 --> 00:10:30,329
Price: THERE'S LIGHTNING
COMING OUT OF THAT ONE.
201
00:10:30,329 --> 00:10:31,330
Connors: WHERE?
202
00:10:31,330 --> 00:10:32,498
Price: RIGHT AHEAD OF US.
203
00:10:35,168 --> 00:10:36,269
Connors: 1,000 FEET.
204
00:10:36,269 --> 00:10:37,570
I'LL CALL 'EM OUT TO YOU.
205
00:10:37,570 --> 00:10:39,338
Price: ALRIGHT.
206
00:10:46,646 --> 00:10:49,749
Porter: WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY
BAD WARNINGS FROM THE WEATHER
207
00:10:49,749 --> 00:10:55,054
OR FROM OTHER PILOTS, WHICH WE
RELY ON AS THEY COME THROUGH IT.
208
00:10:55,054 --> 00:10:57,456
THEY NEED TO REPORT TO US,
209
00:10:57,456 --> 00:11:00,092
AND THEY DO,
IF THEY HAVE TURBULENCE,
210
00:11:00,092 --> 00:11:06,632
OR THEY HAVE TROUBLE ON FINAL,
OR RAN INTO ANYTHING ABNORMAL.
211
00:11:06,632 --> 00:11:10,102
Narrator: THE LEAR JET AHEAD
OF FLIGHT 191 LANDS SAFELY.
212
00:11:12,872 --> 00:11:16,142
CONNORS AND PRICE ARE NOW
LESS THAN A MINUTE BEHIND.
213
00:11:16,142 --> 00:11:19,846
WITHOUT WARNING, THE INTENSITY
OF THE STORM INCREASES.
214
00:11:19,846 --> 00:11:23,449
THE L-1011 IS BEING POUNDED
BY A DRIVING RAIN.
215
00:11:26,052 --> 00:11:27,987
Meier: I KNEW WE WAS
GETTING READY TO LAND.
216
00:11:27,987 --> 00:11:31,490
BUT, AT THE SAME TIME,
YOU FELT A SURGE,
217
00:11:31,490 --> 00:11:35,661
LIKE THE PILOTS WAS REVVING UP
THE ENGINE FOR SOMETHING.
218
00:11:35,661 --> 00:11:37,396
Narrator: THE PLANE'S AIRSPEED
IS INCREASING
219
00:11:37,396 --> 00:11:40,032
FOR NO APPARENT REASON.
220
00:11:40,032 --> 00:11:42,501
Connors: WATCH YOUR SPEED.
221
00:11:42,501 --> 00:11:43,870
Narrator: PRICE PULLS BACK
ON THE THROTTLES
222
00:11:43,870 --> 00:11:45,705
TO SLOW THE PLANE DOWN
AND MAINTAIN IT
223
00:11:45,705 --> 00:11:48,541
AT THE REQUESTED 150 KNOTS.
224
00:11:52,345 --> 00:11:56,015
THE PLANE IS 750 FEET
FROM THE GROUND.
225
00:11:56,015 --> 00:11:58,651
Connors: YOU'RE GONNA LOSE IT
ALL OF A SUDDEN.
226
00:11:58,651 --> 00:11:59,952
THERE IT IS.
227
00:11:59,952 --> 00:12:02,922
Narrator:
THEN, THE PLANE DROPS RAPIDLY.
228
00:12:05,391 --> 00:12:07,193
IT'S AS THOUGH
AN INVISIBLE FORCE
229
00:12:07,193 --> 00:12:09,929
IS PUSHING IT TO THE GROUND.
230
00:12:09,929 --> 00:12:13,566
Connors: PUSH IT UP!
PUSH IT WAY UP! WAY UP!
231
00:12:13,566 --> 00:12:14,567
Price: WAY UP!
232
00:12:14,567 --> 00:12:16,335
Connors: WAY UP!
233
00:12:16,335 --> 00:12:18,404
Narrator: THE CREW IS PUSHING
THE PLANE'S JET ENGINES
234
00:12:18,404 --> 00:12:21,374
TO THEIR FULL POWER,
BUT CAN'T GET MORE SPEED
235
00:12:21,374 --> 00:12:25,444
OR GET THE PLANE TO CLIMB.
236
00:12:25,444 --> 00:12:27,546
Meier: SO I PULLED MY SEATBELT
TIGHT AS I COULD,
237
00:12:27,546 --> 00:12:30,650
BUT ABOUT THE SAME TIME,
YOU COULD HEAR A PIN DROP--
238
00:12:30,650 --> 00:12:33,352
NOBODY WAS TALKING.
239
00:12:33,352 --> 00:12:35,855
BUT I MEAN,
IT GOT DEAD SILENCE.
240
00:12:35,855 --> 00:12:39,525
Narrator: AS SUDDENLY AS IT
BEGAN, THE CRISIS SEEMS TO END.
241
00:12:39,525 --> 00:12:41,761
THE PLANE STOPS FALLING
AND BEGINS TO PICK UP
242
00:12:41,761 --> 00:12:46,198
SOME OF THE SPEED CONNORS AND
PRICE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR.
243
00:12:46,198 --> 00:12:48,935
Connors: THAT'S IT.
244
00:12:48,935 --> 00:12:51,370
Narrator: BUT BEFORE THE CREW
CAN TAKE ANOTHER BREATH,
245
00:12:51,370 --> 00:12:55,741
THE PLANE DROPS AGAIN, ROCKING
VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE.
246
00:12:58,678 --> 00:13:01,514
AND THEN, IT DIPS
WILDLY TO THE RIGHT.
247
00:13:01,514 --> 00:13:02,815
Meier: AND I JUST KNEW
THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE
248
00:13:02,815 --> 00:13:05,718
THAT CLOSE TO THE GROUND
THAT SOON.
249
00:13:05,718 --> 00:13:07,620
Connors:
HANG ON TO THE SON OF A...!
250
00:13:11,023 --> 00:13:13,559
Narrator: JUST A LITTLE
OVER A MILE FROM THE RUNWAY,
251
00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:19,332
IT PLOWS INTO A FIELD AND
ROCKETS TOWARDS HIGHWAY 114.
252
00:13:19,332 --> 00:13:20,833
Meier: WHEN WE HIT THE GROUND,
253
00:13:20,833 --> 00:13:24,403
IT FELT LIKE YOU WAS IN A CAR
RUNNING OVER RAILROAD TIES,
254
00:13:24,403 --> 00:13:25,771
IT WAS REAL BUMPY.
255
00:13:25,771 --> 00:13:27,139
Narrator:
THE CREW SOMEHOW MANAGES
256
00:13:27,139 --> 00:13:29,508
TO GET THE PLANE
BACK IN THE AIR.
257
00:13:29,508 --> 00:13:34,947
AT THAT MOMENT, GENE SKIPWORTH
CATCHES SIGHT OF DELTA 191.
258
00:13:34,947 --> 00:13:37,316
Skipworth: HE'S GONNA CRASH!
259
00:13:37,316 --> 00:13:40,353
DELTA, GO AROUND!
260
00:13:40,353 --> 00:13:44,056
Narrator: BUT IT'S TOO LATE.
261
00:13:44,056 --> 00:13:46,792
THE PLANE'S ENGINES SLAM
INTO WILLIAM MAYBERRY'S CAR
262
00:13:46,792 --> 00:13:49,895
ON HIGHWAY 114.
263
00:13:49,895 --> 00:13:53,632
HE IS KILLED INSTANTLY.
264
00:13:53,632 --> 00:13:58,504
THE PLANE HITS THE GROUND AGAIN,
NORTH OF THE RUNWAY.
265
00:13:58,504 --> 00:14:01,574
IT'S TRAVELING MORE
THAN 200 MILES AN HOUR.
266
00:14:08,681 --> 00:14:09,782
Porter: I MUST HAVE
CAUGHT SIGHT OF HIM
267
00:14:09,782 --> 00:14:11,283
JUST AT THE LAST MILLISECOND,
268
00:14:11,283 --> 00:14:14,420
AND HE CARTWHEELED INTO
THE TANK IN JUST AN INSTANT.
269
00:14:14,420 --> 00:14:16,489
AND THEN, OF COURSE,
THERE WAS FIRE.
270
00:14:16,489 --> 00:14:19,692
NOT A BALL OF FIRE,
BUT A WALL OF FIRE.
271
00:14:19,692 --> 00:14:23,596
[SIRENS]
272
00:14:23,596 --> 00:14:25,698
Meier: IT SEEMED LIKE
IT WAS ONLY A FEW SECONDS,
273
00:14:25,698 --> 00:14:26,999
FIVE SECONDS AT THE MOST.
274
00:14:26,999 --> 00:14:29,368
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WAS.
275
00:14:29,368 --> 00:14:33,239
WE WAS--EVERYTHING WAS STOPPED.
276
00:14:33,239 --> 00:14:35,274
Narrator: THE RESULTING
EXPLOSION IS SO POWERFUL
277
00:14:35,274 --> 00:14:36,909
THAT THE REAR SECTION
OF THE PLANE
278
00:14:36,909 --> 00:14:41,480
IS BLASTED BACKWARDS
OUT FROM THE FIREBALL.
279
00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:43,482
Meier: THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN
YOU LOOK UP,
280
00:14:43,482 --> 00:14:45,317
AND IT'S JUST NOTHING THERE.
281
00:14:45,317 --> 00:14:46,652
EVERYTHING'S GONE.
282
00:14:46,652 --> 00:14:49,021
YOU JUST SEE THE WHOLE
BIG PICTURE OUTSIDE.
283
00:14:49,021 --> 00:14:52,158
LIKE THE PLANE JUST OPENED UP.
284
00:15:09,708 --> 00:15:11,577
Narrator: REMARKABLY,
THE TAIL SECTION
285
00:15:11,577 --> 00:15:15,915
CONTAINING THE LAST TEN ROWS
OF SEATS IS RELATIVELY INTACT.
286
00:15:21,887 --> 00:15:25,224
Meier: PEOPLE JUST THROWN
AROUND ON THE GROUND.
287
00:15:25,224 --> 00:15:27,460
SOME WITH CLOTHES ON,
SOME WITHOUT CLOTHES ON,
288
00:15:27,460 --> 00:15:28,894
SOME WERE BURNED.
289
00:15:28,894 --> 00:15:32,031
IT WAS SOMETHING
THAT YOU CAN'T DESCRIBE
290
00:15:32,031 --> 00:15:33,666
UNLESS YOU WERE THERE TO SEE IT.
291
00:15:33,666 --> 00:15:38,003
IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL
NEVER GET OUT OF YOUR MIND.
292
00:15:40,039 --> 00:15:42,741
HELP! OVER HERE!
293
00:15:42,741 --> 00:15:43,876
HANG IN THERE--
HELP'S ON THE WAY.
294
00:15:43,876 --> 00:15:45,344
[SIRENS]
295
00:15:45,344 --> 00:15:49,715
Narrator: THEN, AS SUDDENLY AS
IT HAD STARTED, THE RAIN STOPS.
296
00:15:55,087 --> 00:15:59,391
IT TAKES FIREFIGHTERS LESS THAN
A MINUTE TO GET TO THE CRASH.
297
00:15:59,391 --> 00:16:03,362
Joe Delane: WHEN I ARRIVED
ON THE SCENE, I TRULY BELIEVED
298
00:16:03,362 --> 00:16:04,964
THAT THERE WASN'T ANYBODY
THAT HAD SURVIVED
299
00:16:04,964 --> 00:16:08,801
THIS PLANE CRASH 'CAUSE THERE
WAS JUST DEVASTATION EVERYWHERE.
300
00:16:11,670 --> 00:16:14,740
Narrator: THE FRONT OF THE PLANE
HAS ALL BUT DISINTEGRATED.
301
00:16:14,740 --> 00:16:16,442
Jerome Chandler:
I KNEW I HAD TO GET OUT THERE.
302
00:16:16,442 --> 00:16:20,045
AT THE TIME, I WAS A STRINGER
FOR TIME MAGAZINE,
303
00:16:20,045 --> 00:16:22,248
WORKED WITH THEM
ON A PART-TIME BASIS.
304
00:16:22,248 --> 00:16:23,816
CALLED THEIR
ATLANTA HEADQUARTERS
305
00:16:23,816 --> 00:16:25,618
FOR THIS PORTION OF THE COUNTRY.
306
00:16:25,618 --> 00:16:27,953
THEY SAID ONE WORD: "GO."
307
00:16:27,953 --> 00:16:33,092
[SIRENS]
308
00:16:33,092 --> 00:16:34,793
Narrator: FIREFIGHTERS
NEED ONLY A FEW MINUTES
309
00:16:34,793 --> 00:16:37,463
TO GET THE RAGING INFERNO
UNDER CONTROL.
310
00:16:37,463 --> 00:16:38,597
THEY THEN TURN THEIR ATTENTION
311
00:16:38,597 --> 00:16:41,133
TO PULLING SURVIVORS
FROM THE PLANE.
312
00:16:46,005 --> 00:16:48,841
Delane: IT WASN'T UNTIL THE FIRE
STARTED TO SUBSIDE A LITTLE BIT
313
00:16:48,841 --> 00:16:50,643
THAT I SAW THE TAIL SECTION,
314
00:16:50,643 --> 00:16:53,212
WHERE THERE WAS SOME HOPE
OF SOME PEOPLE SURVIVING.
315
00:16:57,716 --> 00:17:02,121
Narrator: ONLY 27 PEOPLE
SURVIVE THE CRASH.
316
00:17:02,121 --> 00:17:05,691
Chandler: I HAD SEEN DEATH
BEFORE AS A MEDIC IN VIETNAM.
317
00:17:05,691 --> 00:17:08,327
BUT IT HAD NEVER BEEN
AIMED AT CIVILIANS,
318
00:17:08,327 --> 00:17:11,030
AND CERTAINLY NOT ON
A MASS CASUALTY SITUATION,
319
00:17:11,030 --> 00:17:14,500
AND CERTAINLY NOT THIS SUDDENLY.
320
00:17:14,500 --> 00:17:16,635
I COULD TELL HOW BAD IT WAS.
321
00:17:16,635 --> 00:17:20,439
YOU COULD SEE AND SMELL
AND FEEL THE DEATH.
322
00:17:26,245 --> 00:17:28,347
Delane: WE FELT LIKE WE DID
EVERYTHING THAT WE COULD,
323
00:17:28,347 --> 00:17:29,815
AND WE WERE JUST, YOU KNOW,
WE WERE JUST PLEASED
324
00:17:29,815 --> 00:17:31,884
THAT THERE WERE SURVIVORS.
325
00:17:34,420 --> 00:17:38,557
Narrator: CAPTAIN CONNORS,
FIRST OFFICER PRICE,
326
00:17:38,557 --> 00:17:42,828
AND SECOND OFFICER NASSICK
ARE KILLED...
327
00:17:42,828 --> 00:17:46,999
SO ARE FIVE OTHER CREW MEMBERS
AND 128 PASSENGERS.
328
00:17:46,999 --> 00:17:48,367
Porter: IN THE TOWER,
THERE WAS SILENCE
329
00:17:48,367 --> 00:17:52,137
FOR PROBABLY ONE TO TWO
MINUTES OF THE--
330
00:17:52,137 --> 00:17:54,573
EXCEPT FOR JUST
AN OCCASIONAL TRANSMISSION.
331
00:17:54,573 --> 00:18:01,380
BUT BASICALLY IT'S JUST QUIET
AND YOU JUST SIT THERE STUNNED
332
00:18:01,380 --> 00:18:05,384
AND WISHING YOU COULD
DO ANYTHING TO TAKE IT BACK.
333
00:18:09,755 --> 00:18:12,725
Narrator:
THIS IS A MONUMENTAL CRASH.
334
00:18:19,965 --> 00:18:22,735
INVESTIGATORS FROM THE NATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
335
00:18:22,735 --> 00:18:28,140
ARRIVE AT DFW, DETERMINED
TO FIND THE CAUSE.
336
00:18:28,140 --> 00:18:31,243
Bud Laynor:
ONE OF OUR FIELD INVESTIGATORS
WOULD HAVE BEEN ON SCENE,
337
00:18:31,243 --> 00:18:33,512
TRYING TO LOCATE
THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER
338
00:18:33,512 --> 00:18:37,416
AND THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER,
WHICH IS, YOU KNOW,
339
00:18:37,416 --> 00:18:41,420
A VERY IMPORTANT PART
OF THE INVESTIGATION.
340
00:18:44,023 --> 00:18:45,291
Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS BEGIN LOOKING
341
00:18:45,291 --> 00:18:47,926
FOR EVIDENCE
OF MECHANICAL FAILURE.
342
00:18:47,926 --> 00:18:50,062
THEY EXAMINE THE WRECKAGE
FOR CLUES THAT THE PLANE
343
00:18:50,062 --> 00:18:52,931
WAS NOT RESPONDING
TO THE PILOTS' COMMAND.
344
00:18:55,701 --> 00:19:01,040
Laynor: IT'S ESSENTIAL IN ANY
APPROACH OR DEPARTURE ACCIDENT
345
00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,609
TO ESTABLISH WHAT THE AIRPLANE'S
CONFIGURATION WAS,
346
00:19:03,609 --> 00:19:07,212
TO ASSURE THAT IT WAS NOT
A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
347
00:19:07,212 --> 00:19:10,049
EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL
ON THIS AIRCRAFT.
348
00:19:13,452 --> 00:19:14,920
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
TURN THEIR ATTENTION
349
00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,157
AWAY FROM THE PLANE
AND TO THE SKIES.
350
00:19:22,227 --> 00:19:25,564
Chandler: AFTER ANY ACCIDENT
IN COMMERCIAL AVIATION,
351
00:19:25,564 --> 00:19:28,634
THERE ARE THEORIES GALORE.
352
00:19:28,634 --> 00:19:31,303
A COUPLE OF THEM PREVALENT
THAT EVENING--
353
00:19:31,303 --> 00:19:34,306
FIRST, THAT LIGHTNING
HAD STRUCK THE AIRPLANE.
354
00:19:34,306 --> 00:19:37,910
SECONDLY, THAT IT HAD BEEN
HIT BY A MINI TORNADO.
355
00:19:42,681 --> 00:19:44,283
Price: THERE'S LIGHTNING
COMING OUT OF THAT ONE.
356
00:19:44,283 --> 00:19:45,284
Connors: WHERE?
357
00:19:45,284 --> 00:19:48,654
Price: RIGHT AHEAD OF US.
358
00:19:48,654 --> 00:19:51,423
Narrator:
15 DIFFERENT WITNESSES,
INCLUDING FLIGHT CREWS,
359
00:19:51,423 --> 00:19:53,892
REPORT SEEING LIGHTNING
AS FLIGHT 191
360
00:19:53,892 --> 00:19:56,061
WAS DESCENDING
TOWARDS THE RUNWAY.
361
00:19:57,930 --> 00:20:00,466
THE INVESTIGATORS HAVE TO
CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY
362
00:20:00,466 --> 00:20:04,436
THAT FLIGHT 191
WAS HIT BY LIGHTNING.
363
00:20:04,436 --> 00:20:06,638
Laynor:
LIGHTNING IS ALWAYS SOMETHING
364
00:20:06,638 --> 00:20:11,110
THAT YOU HAVE TO INVESTIGATE
TO DETERMINE THE POSSIBILITY
365
00:20:11,110 --> 00:20:16,415
THAT LIGHTNING DISABLED
SOME PART OF THE AIRPLANE.
366
00:20:16,415 --> 00:20:21,387
Narrator: IN 1963, A BOEING 707
WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
367
00:20:21,387 --> 00:20:24,857
THE LIGHTNING IGNITED THE FUEL
IN THE PLANE'S TANK.
368
00:20:24,857 --> 00:20:26,125
THE PLANE CRASHED.
369
00:20:26,125 --> 00:20:30,262
81 PEOPLE DIED.
370
00:20:30,262 --> 00:20:35,200
THERE HAVE BEEN A HANDFUL OF
SIMILAR CRASHES SINCE THEN.
371
00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:37,636
KEY PIECES OF WRECKAGE
FROM FLIGHT 191
372
00:20:37,636 --> 00:20:41,440
ARE TAKEN TO THE NTSB LAB
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
373
00:20:46,545 --> 00:20:48,580
BUD LAYNOR IS
THE INVESTIGATOR IN CHARGE
374
00:20:48,580 --> 00:20:50,883
OF EXAMINING THE WRECKAGE,
AS WELL AS THE DATA
375
00:20:50,883 --> 00:20:53,919
FROM THE PLANE'S
COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER.
376
00:20:53,919 --> 00:20:56,622
Laynor: SOMETIMES IT MIGHT BE
VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND,
377
00:20:56,622 --> 00:21:00,025
TO DETERMINE WHERE THE AIRPLANE
MIGHT HAVE BEEN STRUCK
378
00:21:00,025 --> 00:21:02,828
BY LIGHTNING AND WHERE
THE EXIT POINT WAS.
379
00:21:02,828 --> 00:21:04,329
Price: THERE'S LIGHTNING
COMING OUT OF THAT ONE.
380
00:21:04,329 --> 00:21:05,330
Connors: WHERE?
381
00:21:05,330 --> 00:21:07,666
Price: RIGHT AHEAD OF US.
382
00:21:07,666 --> 00:21:09,635
Narrator: IF THE PLANE
WAS HIT BY LIGHTNING,
383
00:21:09,635 --> 00:21:13,839
THERE WOULD BE EVIDENCE
LEFT BEHIND.
384
00:21:13,839 --> 00:21:16,008
A DEVICE CALLED
A STATIC DISCHARGE WICK
385
00:21:16,008 --> 00:21:20,779
IS ATTACHED TO THE TRAILING EDGE
OF AN AIRPLANE'S WINGS.
386
00:21:20,779 --> 00:21:23,682
IT REDIRECTS STATIC ELECTRICITY
INTO THE OUTSIDE AIR
387
00:21:23,682 --> 00:21:27,286
INSTEAD OF INTO THE PLANE, WHERE
THE CHARGE COULD CAUSE A FIRE.
388
00:21:32,124 --> 00:21:34,560
IF THE PLANE WAS HIT BY
LIGHTNING, ONE OF THE PIECES
389
00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:38,597
THAT WOULD BE VISIBLY DAMAGED
IS THE STATIC DISCHARGE WICK.
390
00:21:42,568 --> 00:21:45,337
Laynor: NOTHING THERE.
391
00:21:45,337 --> 00:21:46,805
Narrator:
WITH LIGHTNING RULED OUT,
392
00:21:46,805 --> 00:21:49,174
INVESTIGATORS WENT
LOOKING ELSEWHERE.
393
00:21:51,944 --> 00:21:54,546
THEY WOULD SOON DISCOVER
THE REAL CULPRIT.
394
00:21:54,546 --> 00:21:57,282
IT HAD ACTUALLY BEEN
CAUGHT ON TAPE.
395
00:22:01,387 --> 00:22:04,190
Narrator:
NOW THE NTSB'S BUD LAYNOR
TURNS HIS ATTENTION
396
00:22:04,190 --> 00:22:06,659
TO THE PLANE JUST AHEAD
OF DELTA 191--
397
00:22:06,659 --> 00:22:08,628
THE CORPORATE LEAR JET.
398
00:22:08,628 --> 00:22:11,064
HE LEARNS THAT IT WAS
LESS THAN A MINUTE AHEAD,
399
00:22:11,064 --> 00:22:13,533
AND FLEW THROUGH
THE VERY SAME STORM.
400
00:22:16,336 --> 00:22:18,037
Rufus Lewis: AFTER WE HAD
PASSED ABOUT FIVE MILES
401
00:22:18,037 --> 00:22:21,941
FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY,
WE ENTERED A RAIN SHOWER,
402
00:22:21,941 --> 00:22:23,977
WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS
A LIGHT RAIN SHOWER,
403
00:22:23,977 --> 00:22:26,713
AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE
THE HEAVIEST RAIN
404
00:22:26,713 --> 00:22:30,450
I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE OR SINCE.
405
00:22:30,450 --> 00:22:31,884
Narrator: IN SPITE OF THE RAIN,
406
00:22:31,884 --> 00:22:37,690
RUFUS LEWIS MANAGED TO LAND HIS
PLANE SAFELY ON RUNWAY 17-LEFT.
407
00:22:37,690 --> 00:22:42,061
Lewis: WHEN WE BROKE OUT OF THE
CLOUDS, WE WERE HIGH AND HOT.
408
00:22:42,061 --> 00:22:48,134
SO WE HAD TO USE ALL OF
THE RUNWAY AT DFW AIRPORT.
409
00:22:48,134 --> 00:22:52,672
WE LANDED, WE'RE ABLE TO TURN
OFF AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
410
00:22:52,672 --> 00:22:55,208
Narrator: SO WHY WAS
THE MUCH LARGER L-1011
411
00:22:55,208 --> 00:22:57,910
UNABLE TO LAND
JUST MOMENTS LATER?
412
00:23:01,180 --> 00:23:04,717
Controller: DELTA 191 HEAVY,
REDUCE SPEED TO 150.
413
00:23:04,717 --> 00:23:08,287
Narrator:
TO PUT SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN
DELTA 191 AND THE LEAR JET,
414
00:23:08,287 --> 00:23:14,127
THE CONTROLLER HAD ASKED PRICE
TO SLOW HIS PLANE SEVERAL TIMES.
415
00:23:14,127 --> 00:23:16,896
WHEN LAYNOR PLOTS
THE BIGGER PLANE'S SPEED...
416
00:23:16,896 --> 00:23:18,431
Laynor: THEN DOWN TO 150.
417
00:23:18,431 --> 00:23:19,632
Narrator: ...HE FINDS THAT
IT WAS COMING IN TO LAND
418
00:23:19,632 --> 00:23:22,035
AT 150 KNOTS.
419
00:23:28,675 --> 00:23:31,878
Controller: DELTA 191 HEAVY,
REDUCE SPEED TO 150.
420
00:23:31,878 --> 00:23:33,913
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONSIDER
THE POSSIBILITY
421
00:23:33,913 --> 00:23:36,683
THAT FLIGHT 191 HAD BEEN
TRAVELING TOO SLOWLY
422
00:23:36,683 --> 00:23:39,986
FOR A SAFE LANDING.
423
00:23:39,986 --> 00:23:42,288
Bill Melvin: IF YOU DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF EXTRA ENERGY,
424
00:23:42,288 --> 00:23:45,124
YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO TRADE
IN CASE YOU GET IN TROUBLE.
425
00:23:45,124 --> 00:23:49,595
SO, A LOT OF TIMES,
IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS,
426
00:23:49,595 --> 00:23:54,467
THE PILOTS, THEY ADD ANOTHER
10 KNOTS FOR MOM AND THE KIDS.
427
00:23:54,467 --> 00:23:56,102
Narrator:
CREWS DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW
428
00:23:56,102 --> 00:24:01,007
A CONTROLLER'S SPEED REQUEST
IF THEY THINK IT'S UNSAFE.
429
00:24:01,007 --> 00:24:03,476
PRICE DID REDUCE HIS SPEED.
430
00:24:03,476 --> 00:24:05,611
HE KNEW THIS PLANE
EXTREMELY WELL.
431
00:24:05,611 --> 00:24:07,113
HE HAD ACTUALLY
HELPED TO REWRITE
432
00:24:07,113 --> 00:24:10,516
THE L-1011'S OPERATING MANUAL.
433
00:24:10,516 --> 00:24:14,253
Melvin: IF A CAPTAIN DECIDED
THAT 150 KNOTS WAS TOO SLOW,
434
00:24:14,253 --> 00:24:16,089
THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD
THE CONTROLLER IT WAS TOO SLOW,
435
00:24:16,089 --> 00:24:18,391
AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE FLOWN IT.
436
00:24:18,391 --> 00:24:20,793
Narrator: LAYNOR CONSULTS
THE AIRPLANE'S MANUFACTURER
437
00:24:20,793 --> 00:24:24,797
AND INTERVIEWS
OTHER L-1011 PILOTS.
438
00:24:24,797 --> 00:24:26,699
HE CONCLUDES THAT
NEITHER THE CONTROLLER
439
00:24:26,699 --> 00:24:30,670
NOR FIRST OFFICER PRICE MADE
ANY ERRORS REGARDING SPEED.
440
00:24:30,670 --> 00:24:34,607
Controller: DELTA 191 HEAVY,
REDUCE SPEED TO 150.
441
00:24:34,607 --> 00:24:38,478
Narrator: THIS PLANE SHOULD HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO LAND AT 150 KNOTS.
442
00:24:38,478 --> 00:24:40,747
Price: SPEED TO 150.
443
00:24:43,750 --> 00:24:45,151
Narrator:
BUD LAYNOR STILL DOESN'T KNOW
444
00:24:45,151 --> 00:24:48,488
WHAT SLAMMED FLIGHT 191
INTO THE GROUND.
445
00:24:48,488 --> 00:24:50,790
BUT SOON HE FINDS
THE CLUES HE NEEDS
446
00:24:50,790 --> 00:24:53,259
ON THE PLANE'S
FLIGHT DATA RECORDER.
447
00:24:56,763 --> 00:25:00,833
IT LOGS EVERY ADJUSTMENT PILOTS
MAKE TO THE PLANE'S CONTROLS.
448
00:25:04,103 --> 00:25:07,140
THE DEVICE ALSO RECORDS EXTERNAL
ELEMENTS LIKE TEMPERATURE,
449
00:25:07,140 --> 00:25:10,309
WIND SPEED, ALTITUDE,
AND AIR PRESSURE.
450
00:25:10,309 --> 00:25:13,212
WHATEVER CONNORS AND PRICE WERE
FIGHTING, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
451
00:25:13,212 --> 00:25:18,050
IT LEFT ITS FINGERPRINTS
ON THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER.
452
00:25:18,050 --> 00:25:19,852
Laynor: THIS FLIGHT
DATA RECORDER GAVE US
453
00:25:19,852 --> 00:25:23,289
SEVERAL PARAMETERS
WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE--
454
00:25:23,289 --> 00:25:27,126
ENGINE POWER,
LONGITUDINAL ACCELERATION,
455
00:25:27,126 --> 00:25:30,329
AND THOSE KINDS OF PARAMETERS
REALLY ENABLED US
456
00:25:30,329 --> 00:25:34,433
TO DO A MORE IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS.
457
00:25:34,433 --> 00:25:36,302
Narrator: THE PLANE'S
DATA RECORDER HAS DOCUMENTED
458
00:25:36,302 --> 00:25:39,639
A COMBINATION OF RAPIDLY
SHIFTING WINDS.
459
00:25:39,639 --> 00:25:42,942
Laynor: THEN IT SHIFTS
TO A DOWNDRAFT.
460
00:25:42,942 --> 00:25:44,410
Narrator:
IN A MATTER OF SECONDS,
461
00:25:44,410 --> 00:25:47,313
THE PLANE WAS HIT WITH
STRONG WINDS FROM THE FRONT,
462
00:25:47,313 --> 00:25:50,049
THEN FROM ABOVE,
THEN FROM BEHIND.
463
00:25:50,049 --> 00:25:52,218
Laynor: THERE YOU HAVE IT.
464
00:25:52,218 --> 00:25:54,020
Narrator: FOR BUD LAYNOR,
THAT SEQUENCE
465
00:25:54,020 --> 00:25:58,024
COULD ONLY MEAN ONE THING--
A MICROBURST.
466
00:25:58,024 --> 00:26:00,426
A MICROBURST IS
A VIOLENT SHAFT OF AIR
467
00:26:00,426 --> 00:26:02,395
FALLING FROM A STORM CLOUD.
468
00:26:02,395 --> 00:26:06,098
BACK IN 1985, FEW PEOPLE
KNEW MORE ABOUT ENCOUNTERS
469
00:26:06,098 --> 00:26:09,402
BETWEEN MICROBURSTS AND
AIRPLANES THAN JOHN McCARTHY.
470
00:26:09,402 --> 00:26:11,204
John McCarthy:
IF YOU'RE AT THE KITCHEN SINK,
471
00:26:11,204 --> 00:26:14,073
AND YOU TURN ON THE WATER,
AND IT GOES STRAIGHT DOWN,
472
00:26:14,073 --> 00:26:16,375
AND IT SPLASHES OUT
IN ALL DIRECTIONS.
473
00:26:16,375 --> 00:26:19,245
AND THAT'S KIND OF
WHAT A MICROBURST IS,
474
00:26:19,245 --> 00:26:23,916
EXCEPT THAT IT IS EXTREMELY
BAD NEWS IF YOU'RE AN AIRPLANE
475
00:26:23,916 --> 00:26:26,686
FLYING THROUGH IT
AT LOW ALTITUDE.
476
00:26:26,686 --> 00:26:29,121
Narrator: A PLANE FIRST FACES
A STRONG HEADWIND
477
00:26:29,121 --> 00:26:30,923
WHICH LIFTS THE PLANE SKYWARD.
478
00:26:30,923 --> 00:26:34,360
THEN A DOWNDRAFT, WHICH SLAMS IT
TOWARD THE GROUND.
479
00:26:34,360 --> 00:26:37,430
FINALLY, THE MICROBURST DELIVERS
ITS MOST DANGEROUS PUNCH,
480
00:26:37,430 --> 00:26:38,998
THE TAILWIND.
481
00:26:38,998 --> 00:26:42,201
McCarthy: AND YOU WOULD GET
A RAPID DESCENT, A LOSS OF LIFT,
482
00:26:42,201 --> 00:26:44,437
AND A RAPID DESCENT
TOWARDS THE GROUND,
483
00:26:44,437 --> 00:26:46,873
AND EASILY CRASH THE AIRPLANE.
484
00:26:46,873 --> 00:26:49,008
Narrator: THE PLANE'S WINGS
NEED A STEADY FLOW OF AIR
485
00:26:49,008 --> 00:26:50,309
MOVING OVER THEM.
486
00:26:50,309 --> 00:26:52,278
THAT'S WHAT GIVES THEM
THEIR LIFT.
487
00:26:52,278 --> 00:26:56,082
BY INHIBITING THAT FLOW,
THE TAILWIND REDUCES LIFT.
488
00:27:01,654 --> 00:27:03,756
THERE WAS NO BETTER RECIPE
FOR A MICROBURST
489
00:27:03,756 --> 00:27:06,058
THAN THE WEATHER CONDITIONS
AT DALLAS/FORT WORTH
490
00:27:06,058 --> 00:27:07,894
ON THE DAY OF THE CRASH.
491
00:27:07,894 --> 00:27:13,199
IT HAD BEEN EXTREMELY HOT
ALL DAY, AND HOT AIR RISES.
492
00:27:13,199 --> 00:27:15,234
WHEN THAT HOT AIR MEETS
THE COLD, MOIST AIR
493
00:27:15,234 --> 00:27:18,271
IN THE STORM CLOUDS,
IT COOLS INSTANTLY
494
00:27:18,271 --> 00:27:23,342
AND RUSHES VIOLENTLY
BACK TO EARTH--A MICROBURST.
495
00:27:23,342 --> 00:27:26,612
McCarthy: IT IS A TINY THING,
METEOROLOGICALLY SPEAKING,
496
00:27:26,612 --> 00:27:30,483
COMPARED TO A BIG STORM
OR A SNOWSTORM OR A HURRICANE.
497
00:27:30,483 --> 00:27:34,520
IT'S JUST LIKE A NEEDLE
IN A HAYSTACK.
498
00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:39,091
AT ITS MAXIMUM STRENGTH, IT'S
NO MORE THAN TWO MILES ACROSS,
499
00:27:39,091 --> 00:27:43,596
AND IT LASTS NO MORE
THAN 15 MINUTES.
500
00:27:43,596 --> 00:27:46,565
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT
LITTLE SPACE IN TIME WINDOW,
501
00:27:46,565 --> 00:27:48,534
IT'S VERY SMALL.
502
00:27:48,534 --> 00:27:51,337
AND SO THE PROBABILITY
OF HITTING ONE IS LOW.
503
00:27:53,739 --> 00:27:55,274
Narrator: THE ODDS MAY BE SLIM,
504
00:27:55,274 --> 00:27:58,210
BUT PLANES DO FLY
INTO MICROBURSTS.
505
00:27:58,210 --> 00:28:02,248
IN 1975, AN EASTERN AIRLINES
FLIGHT LANDING IN NEW YORK
506
00:28:02,248 --> 00:28:04,050
FLEW INTO A MICROBURST.
507
00:28:04,050 --> 00:28:08,621
IT SLAMMED THE PLANE INTO
THE GROUND, KILLING 113 PEOPLE.
508
00:28:11,924 --> 00:28:15,594
IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE 136 PEOPLE
ON FLIGHT 191
509
00:28:15,594 --> 00:28:18,497
HAD BECOME THE LATEST VICTIMS
OF A MICROBURST.
510
00:28:21,701 --> 00:28:23,936
INVESTIGATORS HAD THEIR CULPRIT.
511
00:28:23,936 --> 00:28:25,738
Laynor: UNBELIEVABLE.
512
00:28:25,738 --> 00:28:28,941
Narrator:
AND THANKS TO FLIGHT 191's
ADVANCED DATA RECORDER,
513
00:28:28,941 --> 00:28:31,877
THEY COULD PAINT A REMARKABLY
ACCURATE PICTURE OF IT.
514
00:28:31,877 --> 00:28:36,482
THE KILLER HAD ESSENTIALLY
BEEN CAUGHT ON TAPE.
515
00:28:36,482 --> 00:28:37,950
BUT WHAT THE FLIGHT
DATA RECORDER
516
00:28:37,950 --> 00:28:41,153
DOESN'T EXPLAIN IS HOW
SUCH AN EXPERIENCED CREW
517
00:28:41,153 --> 00:28:42,288
FELL VICTIM TO A KILLER...
518
00:28:42,288 --> 00:28:43,622
Connors: YOU'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
519
00:28:43,622 --> 00:28:46,726
Narrator: ...THEY WERE
ALL TRAINED TO OVERCOME.
520
00:28:46,726 --> 00:28:48,694
WHEN LAYNOR COMPARES
THE PILOTS' ACTIONS
521
00:28:48,694 --> 00:28:50,796
TO THE ACTIONS
OF THE MICROBURST...
522
00:28:50,796 --> 00:28:52,999
Connors: WATCH YOUR SPEED.
523
00:28:52,999 --> 00:28:57,303
Narrator: ...HE UNCOVERS DETAILS
OF A FIGHT TO THE DEATH--
524
00:28:57,303 --> 00:29:00,072
A FIGHT THAT THE DELTA PILOTS
ALMOST WON.
525
00:29:00,072 --> 00:29:02,675
Connors: YOU'RE GONNA LOSE IT
ALL OF A SUDDEN.
526
00:29:02,675 --> 00:29:05,011
THERE IT IS.
527
00:29:05,011 --> 00:29:07,913
Laynor: HE SEEMED TO KNOW
WHAT HE WAS GOING TO HIT.
528
00:29:07,913 --> 00:29:09,248
Connors: WATCH YOUR SPEED.
529
00:29:09,248 --> 00:29:10,649
Narrator:
THE INCREASE IN AIRSPEED
530
00:29:10,649 --> 00:29:13,986
PROMPTED FIRST OFFICER PRICE
TO REDUCE POWER TO HIS ENGINES,
531
00:29:13,986 --> 00:29:17,456
POWER THAT HE WOULD DESPERATELY
NEED IN JUST A FEW SECONDS.
532
00:29:20,326 --> 00:29:21,360
Connors: YOU'RE GONNA LOSE IT
ALL OF A SUDDEN.
533
00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:22,661
THERE IT IS.
534
00:29:22,661 --> 00:29:25,264
Narrator: WHEN PRICE AND CONNORS
ENTERED THE DOWNDRAFT...
535
00:29:25,264 --> 00:29:26,832
Connors: PUSH IT UP! WAY UP!
536
00:29:26,832 --> 00:29:29,368
Narrator: ...THEY WERE JUST
820 FEET FROM THE GROUND.
537
00:29:29,368 --> 00:29:31,971
Laynor: THE CAPTAIN KNEW THE
CHARACTERISTICS OF A MICROBURST.
538
00:29:31,971 --> 00:29:35,908
HE'D OBVIOUSLY BEEN GIVEN
AN INTRODUCTION TO WIND SHEAR
539
00:29:35,908 --> 00:29:39,812
AND MICROBURST CHARACTERISTICS
IN HIS FLIGHT TRAINING.
540
00:29:39,812 --> 00:29:41,380
Narrator: WHEN CONNORS
AND PRICE ENCOUNTERED
541
00:29:41,380 --> 00:29:45,618
THE MICROBURST'S TAILWIND, THERE
WAS VERY LITTLE THEY COULD DO.
542
00:29:45,618 --> 00:29:50,322
THEY HAD INSUFFICIENT SPEED AND
ALTITUDE WITH WHICH TO MANEUVER.
543
00:29:50,322 --> 00:29:53,959
IF A PILOT ENCOUNTERS A STRONG
TAILWIND AT 10,000 FEET,
544
00:29:53,959 --> 00:29:56,762
HE CAN POINT HIS NOSE DOWN
AND DIVE TO PICK UP SPEED
545
00:29:56,762 --> 00:29:59,298
AND GENERATE LIFT.
546
00:29:59,298 --> 00:30:03,035
IT'S CALLED TRADING
ALTITUDE FOR AIRSPEED.
547
00:30:03,035 --> 00:30:06,505
BUT THAT TRADE WASN'T AVAILABLE
TO PRICE AND CONNORS.
548
00:30:06,505 --> 00:30:10,876
THEY WERE JUST 820 FEET OFF THE
GROUND WHEN THE TAILWIND STRUCK.
549
00:30:10,876 --> 00:30:14,013
THE ONLY WAY FOR THEM TO GAIN
AIRSPEED WAS FROM THEIR ENGINES.
550
00:30:14,013 --> 00:30:16,048
Connors: PUSH IT UP! WAY UP!
551
00:30:16,048 --> 00:30:19,785
Melvin: CO-PILOT RESPONDS,
AIRPLANE STABILIZES,
552
00:30:19,785 --> 00:30:22,721
I CAN SEE THAT MOST
PILOTS WOULD SAY,
553
00:30:22,721 --> 00:30:25,658
WELL, WE'RE THROUGH WITH THAT,
AND IT'S GONNA,
554
00:30:25,658 --> 00:30:27,560
RAIN'S GONNA STOP,
WE'RE GONNA LAND.
555
00:30:27,560 --> 00:30:30,229
Narrator: MOMENTARILY,
THEIR EFFORTS SEEM TO PAY OFF.
556
00:30:30,229 --> 00:30:33,699
THEIR AIR SPEED INCREASES,
THEIR PLUNGE HALTED.
557
00:30:33,699 --> 00:30:36,735
BUT WITH FLIGHT 191
SO CLOSE TO THE GROUND,
558
00:30:36,735 --> 00:30:40,773
THIS PARTICULAR MICROBURST
DELIVERED THE ULTIMATE BLOW...
559
00:30:43,709 --> 00:30:45,945
A FIERCE CROSSWIND
THAT FORCES THEIR PLANE
560
00:30:45,945 --> 00:30:48,481
TO BANK DANGEROUSLY
TO THE RIGHT.
561
00:30:48,481 --> 00:30:49,849
Connors:
HANG ON TO THE SON OF A...!
562
00:30:49,849 --> 00:30:52,384
Narrator: COMBINED WITH
THE MICROBURST'S OTHER WINDS,
563
00:30:52,384 --> 00:30:54,220
THE CREW WAS DEFENSELESS.
564
00:30:54,220 --> 00:30:55,321
Connors: TOGA!
565
00:30:57,790 --> 00:30:58,858
Connors: TOGA!
566
00:31:00,393 --> 00:31:02,728
Laynor:
TOGA IS TAKE-OFF GO-AROUND MODE.
567
00:31:02,728 --> 00:31:07,700
AND WHAT IT MEANS TO A PILOT
IN THAT REGIME OF FLIGHT
568
00:31:07,700 --> 00:31:09,602
IS LET'S ABANDON THE APPROACH.
569
00:31:09,602 --> 00:31:12,304
WE'RE NO LONGER GOING TO TRY
TO LAND THIS AIRPLANE.
570
00:31:12,304 --> 00:31:15,541
WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN NOW TO SURVIVE
571
00:31:15,541 --> 00:31:18,210
THE WIND CONDITION
THAT WE'VE ENTERED.
572
00:31:18,210 --> 00:31:20,780
Narrator: THE SKILL AND
EXPERIENCE OF THE PILOTS
573
00:31:20,780 --> 00:31:22,581
WERE NO MATCH
FOR THIS MICROBURST.
574
00:31:22,581 --> 00:31:26,752
IT WAS TOO BIG, ITS WINDS
TOO POWERFUL AND UNPREDICTABLE.
575
00:31:26,752 --> 00:31:31,490
THE ENTIRE FIGHT
LASTED ONLY 47 SECONDS.
576
00:31:31,490 --> 00:31:34,160
Chandler: THE PILOTS OF DELTA
FLIGHT 191 DID THEIR VERY BEST
577
00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:40,099
TO RECOVER FROM THE SITUATION,
AND IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.
578
00:31:40,099 --> 00:31:43,469
Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS WERE LEFT
WITH ONE PERPLEXING QUESTION--
579
00:31:43,469 --> 00:31:47,373
WHY HAD CONNORS FLOWN INTO
THE STORM IN THE FIRST PLACE?
580
00:31:47,373 --> 00:31:50,976
Dave Hinton: PRIOR TO 1985,
THE RADARS ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT
581
00:31:50,976 --> 00:31:52,545
WERE BUILT TO DETECT
THUNDERSTORMS...
582
00:31:52,545 --> 00:31:53,879
Connors: DELTA 191...
583
00:31:53,879 --> 00:31:56,482
Hinton: ...ESSENTIALLY
HEAVY AREAS OF PRECIPITATION.
584
00:31:56,482 --> 00:31:58,050
THEY WERE NOT EFFECTIVE,
585
00:31:58,050 --> 00:32:00,152
THEY WERE NOT EVEN DESIGNED
TO DETECT THE MICROBURST.
586
00:32:00,152 --> 00:32:03,155
SO THOSE RADARS WERE ESSENTIALLY
USELESS AT LOW ALTITUDES
587
00:32:03,155 --> 00:32:06,492
FOR LOOKING AT
THE MICROBURST PHENOMENA.
588
00:32:06,492 --> 00:32:08,594
Narrator:
MICROBURSTS ARE INVISIBLE,
589
00:32:08,594 --> 00:32:11,197
BUT THEY GENERALLY EMERGE
FROM STORM CLOUDS.
590
00:32:11,197 --> 00:32:13,866
THAT'S WHY PILOTS ARE TRAINED
NOT TO FLY INTO STORMS
591
00:32:13,866 --> 00:32:15,534
IF THEY SEE LIGHTNING.
592
00:32:19,205 --> 00:32:21,140
Connors:
IT'S A PRETTY GOOD SIZED CELL.
593
00:32:21,140 --> 00:32:22,675
AND I'D RATHER NOT
GO THROUGH IT,
594
00:32:22,675 --> 00:32:24,577
I'D RATHER GO AROUND IT,
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
595
00:32:24,577 --> 00:32:26,212
Controller: WHEN I CAN,
I'LL TURN YOU INTO BLUE RIDGE.
596
00:32:26,212 --> 00:32:28,547
IT'LL BE ABOUT 010 RADIAL.
597
00:32:28,547 --> 00:32:30,816
Connors: 010, ROGER.
598
00:32:30,816 --> 00:32:32,952
Narrator: CAPTAIN CONNORS
WAS NOT A RISK-TAKER,
599
00:32:32,952 --> 00:32:35,454
HE WAS KNOWN AS
A CAUTIOUS PILOT.
600
00:32:35,454 --> 00:32:37,289
Connors: I'M GLAD WE DIDN'T
HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT MESS.
601
00:32:37,289 --> 00:32:40,226
McCarthy: IT'S HARD TO BLAME
THE AIR CREW.
602
00:32:40,226 --> 00:32:41,794
THEIR JOB IS TO AVOID
THUNDERSTORMS,
603
00:32:41,794 --> 00:32:45,197
AND THERE'S PROBABLY A FORECAST
FOR THUNDERSTORMS EVERY DAY
604
00:32:45,197 --> 00:32:47,967
AT DALLAS IN THE SUMMERTIME.
605
00:32:47,967 --> 00:32:49,635
WHICH ONES DO YOU AVOID?
606
00:32:49,635 --> 00:32:53,973
AND IT'S, YOU KNOW,
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT PROBLEM.
607
00:32:53,973 --> 00:32:55,441
Narrator: EARLIER IN THE FLIGHT,
608
00:32:55,441 --> 00:32:57,810
CONNORS HAD FLOWN
AROUND BAD WEATHER.
609
00:32:57,810 --> 00:33:01,280
INVESTIGATORS CAN ONLY CONCLUDE
THAT HE UNDERESTIMATED THE STORM
610
00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:06,752
IN HIS PATH AT THE FOOT
OF RUNWAY 17-LEFT.
611
00:33:06,752 --> 00:33:10,055
Laynor: WHEN YOU'RE IN
A LANDING SEQUENCE AT AN AIRPORT
612
00:33:10,055 --> 00:33:13,392
LIKE DALLAS OR ATLANTA
OR CHICAGO, AND YOU SEE
613
00:33:13,392 --> 00:33:16,896
OTHER AIRPLANES AHEAD THAT
ARE LANDING UNEVENTFULLY,
614
00:33:16,896 --> 00:33:18,597
YOU MIGHT GET
THE IMPRESSION THAT,
615
00:33:18,597 --> 00:33:21,033
"THERE'S A THUNDERSTORM THERE,
BUT I'M GONNA PASS THROUGH IT
616
00:33:21,033 --> 00:33:24,403
VERY QUICKLY, AND IT'S NOT GONNA
BE A FACTOR FOR ME."
617
00:33:24,403 --> 00:33:27,840
Narrator: AIRPORTS LIKE DFW HAVE
SOPHISTICATED SYSTEMS IN PLACE
618
00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:30,309
TO PROVIDE WEATHER INFORMATION
TO PILOTS.
619
00:33:34,680 --> 00:33:36,282
A THUNDERSTORM
AT THE END OF A RUNWAY
620
00:33:36,282 --> 00:33:39,451
IS THE KIND OF THREAT
THEY WERE DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY.
621
00:33:39,451 --> 00:33:43,389
BUT THIS DEADLY STORM MANAGED
TO FOIL THOSE SYSTEMS.
622
00:33:45,891 --> 00:33:48,761
Narrator: AS FLIGHT 191 WAS
APPROACHING THE AIRPORT,
623
00:33:48,761 --> 00:33:51,964
THE WEATHER AT DFW WAS
CHANGING VERY QUICKLY.
624
00:33:55,568 --> 00:33:57,336
Controller: ATTENTION
ALL AIRCRAFT LISTENING.
625
00:33:57,336 --> 00:33:59,972
THERE'S A LITTLE RAIN SHOWER
JUST NORTH OF THE AIRPORT.
626
00:33:59,972 --> 00:34:02,775
Narrator: CAPTAIN CONNORS HEARD
THAT PART OF THE MESSAGE.
627
00:34:02,775 --> 00:34:04,543
BUT THEN HE SWITCHED
HIS RADIO FREQUENCY
628
00:34:04,543 --> 00:34:06,946
FOR HIS FINAL
LANDING INSTRUCTIONS.
629
00:34:06,946 --> 00:34:09,648
THE DELTA CREW NEVER HEARD
THE LAST PART OF THIS MESSAGE
630
00:34:09,648 --> 00:34:11,717
ABOUT WEATHER AHEAD.
631
00:34:15,054 --> 00:34:16,355
Controller: THERE'S A LITTLE
BITTY THUNDERSTORM
632
00:34:16,355 --> 00:34:19,959
SITTING RIGHT ON THE FINAL.
633
00:34:19,959 --> 00:34:23,162
Melvin: THERE WAS AN OBSERVATION
TWO MINUTES BEFORE THE ACCIDENT
634
00:34:23,162 --> 00:34:26,966
THAT THERE WAS A WALL OF WATER
AT THE THRESHOLD OF THE RUNWAY.
635
00:34:26,966 --> 00:34:30,369
IT'S BEEN MY CONTENTION THAT
THAT INFORMATION WOULD HAVE BEEN
636
00:34:30,369 --> 00:34:33,939
VERY IMPORTANT
TO THE FLIGHT CREW.
637
00:34:33,939 --> 00:34:36,241
Narrator: RADAR READOUTS
FROM THE DAY OF THE CRASH
638
00:34:36,241 --> 00:34:39,578
INDICATE THAT THE STORM CELL
CONNORS AND PRICE FLEW INTO
639
00:34:39,578 --> 00:34:41,947
GREW OUT OF NOTHING
IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.
640
00:34:44,149 --> 00:34:46,752
Melvin: THIS IS TWO MINUTES
BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
641
00:34:46,752 --> 00:34:49,088
Narrator: THE READOUT SHOWS
THE BEGINNINGS OF A WEATHER CELL
642
00:34:49,088 --> 00:34:51,757
AT THE FOOT OF RUNWAY 17-LEFT.
643
00:34:54,693 --> 00:34:59,264
Melvin: THIS IS THREE MINUTES
AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
644
00:34:59,264 --> 00:35:03,335
AND WE HAVE A NEW CELL RIGHT
AT THE THRESHOLD OF THE RUNWAY
645
00:35:03,335 --> 00:35:07,039
THAT WASN'T EVIDENT
IN THE PREVIOUS PICTURE.
646
00:35:09,942 --> 00:35:11,577
Narrator:
THIS EXPLAINS WHY RUFUS LEWIS
647
00:35:11,577 --> 00:35:15,414
WAS ABLE TO LAND HIS LEAR JET.
648
00:35:15,414 --> 00:35:17,650
THE MICROBURST WAS
JUST BEGINNING TO FORM
649
00:35:17,650 --> 00:35:21,286
WHEN HE WAS APPROACHING
THE RUNWAY.
650
00:35:21,286 --> 00:35:22,921
Melvin: MANY PEOPLE
THINK THAT THERE WAS
651
00:35:22,921 --> 00:35:25,791
A HUGE VERTICAL DEVELOPMENT
THAT THE PILOTS RECOGNIZED,
652
00:35:25,791 --> 00:35:28,827
AND THEY JUST DECIDED TO
GO FLY THROUGH IT ANYWAY.
653
00:35:28,827 --> 00:35:31,997
AND I MAINTAIN, AND I THINK
THE EVIDENCE PROVES IT,
654
00:35:31,997 --> 00:35:35,467
THAT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.
655
00:35:35,467 --> 00:35:38,604
THEY DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THIS,
THIS NEW DEVELOPING CELL.
656
00:35:38,604 --> 00:35:42,141
THEY DID GET INTO THE STORM
BENEATH THE CELL,
657
00:35:42,141 --> 00:35:45,444
BUT IT WAS HEAVY RAIN--
THEY WEREN'T WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
658
00:35:45,444 --> 00:35:46,879
THEN THE HAMMER FELL.
659
00:35:46,879 --> 00:35:49,515
IT WAS TOO LATE.
660
00:35:49,515 --> 00:35:53,986
McCarthy: IT'S SMALL, IT'S
THE LENGTH OF A RUNWAY, ROUGHLY,
661
00:35:53,986 --> 00:35:55,387
AND IT DOESN'T LAST VERY LONG.
662
00:35:55,387 --> 00:35:59,091
SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT
CAN HAPPEN SO QUICKLY,
663
00:35:59,091 --> 00:36:00,726
THAT MANY ACCIDENTS
HAVE OCCURRED
664
00:36:00,726 --> 00:36:04,229
BECAUSE NOBODY KNEW
IT WAS THERE.
665
00:36:04,229 --> 00:36:07,066
Narrator: THE STORM ARRIVED
AT THE FOOT OF RUNWAY 17-LEFT
666
00:36:07,066 --> 00:36:08,834
VIRTUALLY UNANNOUNCED.
667
00:36:08,834 --> 00:36:14,006
BUT ONCE THERE, IT ATTRACTED
A LOT OF ATTENTION.
668
00:36:14,006 --> 00:36:16,508
PILOTS ON THE GROUND, AS WELL AS
TRAINED WEATHER OBSERVERS,
669
00:36:16,508 --> 00:36:20,546
SAW THE WORSENING STORM...
670
00:36:20,546 --> 00:36:24,683
BUT THEY ALL SAW IT TOO LATE
TO WARN THE CREW OF DELTA 191.
671
00:36:27,319 --> 00:36:29,221
THE STORM DID SHOW UP
ON A RADAR SCREEN
672
00:36:29,221 --> 00:36:31,957
AT THE FORT WORTH
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER.
673
00:36:31,957 --> 00:36:35,127
BUT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH,
THE METEOROLOGIST ON DUTY
674
00:36:35,127 --> 00:36:39,998
WAS IN THE CAFETERIA
ON A MEAL BREAK.
675
00:36:39,998 --> 00:36:42,101
Melvin: IF THE FLIGHT CREW
HAD HAD ANY IDEA
676
00:36:42,101 --> 00:36:45,604
THAT THERE WOULD BE
A SEVERE EVENT IN FRONT OF THEM,
677
00:36:45,604 --> 00:36:48,373
THEY WOULD HAVE
MISSED THE APPROACH.
678
00:36:48,373 --> 00:36:50,409
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONCLUDE
THAT THE DELTA CRASH
679
00:36:50,409 --> 00:36:52,911
WAS CAUSED BY THE PILOTS'
DECISION TO CONTINUE
680
00:36:52,911 --> 00:36:55,848
THEIR APPROACH INTO THE STORM--
681
00:36:55,848 --> 00:36:57,249
A DECISION THAT WAS MADE
682
00:36:57,249 --> 00:37:00,719
BECAUSE THE CREW WASN'T
WARNED ABOUT THE HAZARD.
683
00:37:00,719 --> 00:37:03,856
IN 1985, THERE WERE
BASIC SYSTEMS AT AIRPORTS
684
00:37:03,856 --> 00:37:05,958
THAT COULD DETECT
DANGEROUS WINDS,
685
00:37:05,958 --> 00:37:08,994
BUT THEY COULD NOT RELIABLY
DETECT MICROBURSTS.
686
00:37:12,197 --> 00:37:13,932
YET, A MICROBURST
DETECTION SYSTEM
687
00:37:13,932 --> 00:37:18,937
WAS BEING TESTED IN DENVER,
AND WORKING VERY WELL.
688
00:37:18,937 --> 00:37:21,473
McCarthy: WHAT WE FOUND OUT
IS THAT DOPPLER RADAR,
689
00:37:21,473 --> 00:37:23,242
WHICH IS ON THE GROUND,
690
00:37:23,242 --> 00:37:26,745
IS INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVE
IN DETECTING MICROBURSTS.
691
00:37:26,745 --> 00:37:30,916
AND IN FACT, IT CAN DETECT
ABOUT 98% OF A MICROBURST.
692
00:37:30,916 --> 00:37:32,885
Narrator: CONVENTIONAL RADAR
USES RADIO WAVES
693
00:37:32,885 --> 00:37:37,156
TO MEASURE PRECIPITATION
INSIDE A STORM.
694
00:37:37,156 --> 00:37:39,858
DOPPLER ALSO SENDS OUT
RADIO WAVES.
695
00:37:39,858 --> 00:37:42,728
BUT BY MEASURING THE FREQUENCY
OF RETURNING WAVES,
696
00:37:42,728 --> 00:37:45,364
DOPPLER CAN ALSO CALCULATE
THE MOVEMENT OF THE WINDS
697
00:37:45,364 --> 00:37:47,666
INSIDE A STORM.
698
00:37:47,666 --> 00:37:49,168
McCarthy: IF YOU LOOK AT
THE DOPPLER RADAR,
699
00:37:49,168 --> 00:37:51,970
YOU SEE A PART OF IT THAT'S
GOING AWAY FROM THE RADAR,
700
00:37:51,970 --> 00:37:54,106
AND A PART THAT'S COMING
TOWARDS THE RADAR.
701
00:37:54,106 --> 00:37:58,010
AND IF IT'S SMALL,
IT'S ABSOLUTELY A MICROBURST.
702
00:37:58,010 --> 00:37:59,545
IT CAN BE NOTHING ELSE.
703
00:37:59,545 --> 00:38:04,616
SO IT HAS WHAT WE CALL
AN UNAMBIGUOUS SIGNATURE
704
00:38:04,616 --> 00:38:09,621
OF A MICROBURST,
WHICH MEANS WE GOT IT.
705
00:38:09,621 --> 00:38:12,291
Narrator: SINCE DOPPLER RADAR
COULD SEE A MICROBURST,
706
00:38:12,291 --> 00:38:15,994
CONTROLLERS COULD USE IT
TO WARN CREWS OF THEIR PRESENCE.
707
00:38:15,994 --> 00:38:18,664
THE DENVER RESEARCH RESULTED
IN AN IMPORTANT NEW SYSTEM
708
00:38:18,664 --> 00:38:20,098
AT AIRPORTS--
709
00:38:20,098 --> 00:38:22,401
TERMINAL DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR.
710
00:38:28,574 --> 00:38:30,809
WHEN THE SYSTEM DETECTS
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS,
711
00:38:30,809 --> 00:38:33,345
IT RELAYS A WARNING
TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS,
712
00:38:33,345 --> 00:38:36,715
WHO CAN THEN ALERT PILOTS.
713
00:38:36,715 --> 00:38:38,517
Controller:
FLIGHT 236, MICROBURST ALERT.
714
00:38:38,517 --> 00:38:40,719
50 KNOT LOSS, ONE MILE FINAL.
715
00:38:40,719 --> 00:38:42,054
SAY INTENTIONS.
716
00:38:42,054 --> 00:38:44,223
Narrator:
AFTER THE CRASH OF DELTA 191,
717
00:38:44,223 --> 00:38:48,126
THE FEDERAL AVIATION AUTHORITY,
THE FAA, HURRIED TO INSTALL
718
00:38:48,126 --> 00:38:51,363
TERMINAL DOPPLER WEATHER RADAR
AT HIGH-RISK AIRPORTS.
719
00:38:54,199 --> 00:38:56,835
DALLAS/FORT WORTH
WAS ONE OF THE FIRST.
720
00:38:59,571 --> 00:39:01,840
BUT RADAR ON THE GROUND
CAN'T GET THE WARNING
721
00:39:01,840 --> 00:39:03,742
TO THE PILOTS FAST ENOUGH.
722
00:39:06,144 --> 00:39:10,949
PLANES ALSO NEEDED
ONBOARD MICROBURST DETECTION.
723
00:39:10,949 --> 00:39:13,886
A TEAM FROM NASA BEGAN
DEVELOPING SUCH A SYSTEM
724
00:39:13,886 --> 00:39:16,088
BY FLYING INTO THE MOST
DANGEROUS MICROBURSTS
725
00:39:16,088 --> 00:39:18,357
THEY COULD FIND.
726
00:39:18,357 --> 00:39:23,028
Co-pilot: HERE WE GO.
TAKE IT STRAIGHT AHEAD.
727
00:39:23,028 --> 00:39:25,197
Narrator:
BY RISKING THEIR OWN LIVES,
728
00:39:25,197 --> 00:39:28,533
THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY SAVE
THOUSANDS OF OTHERS.
729
00:39:31,937 --> 00:39:35,274
Narrator: THE CRASH OF DELTA 191
SHOWED THAT SECONDS COUNT
730
00:39:35,274 --> 00:39:37,843
WHEN PLANES ENCOUNTER
A MICROBURST.
731
00:39:41,380 --> 00:39:42,681
Connors: YOU'RE GONNA LOSE IT
ALL OF A SUDDEN.
732
00:39:42,681 --> 00:39:44,717
THERE IT IS.
733
00:39:44,717 --> 00:39:46,518
Narrator:
INCREASING ALERT TIMES...
734
00:39:46,518 --> 00:39:48,087
Connors: PUSH IT UP! WAY UP!
735
00:39:48,087 --> 00:39:49,588
Narrator:
...COULD SAVE MORE LIVES,
736
00:39:49,588 --> 00:39:51,690
ESPECIALLY IF A MICROBURST
DETECTOR WAS MOUNTED
737
00:39:51,690 --> 00:39:53,525
RIGHT ON THE PLANE.
738
00:39:56,095 --> 00:39:58,764
BUT DEVELOPING THAT
ONBOARD EARLY WARNING SYSTEM
739
00:39:58,764 --> 00:40:00,766
WAS A HIGH-RISK PROJECT.
740
00:40:00,766 --> 00:40:04,136
IT MEANT FLYING STRAIGHT INTO
THE HEART OF A MICROBURST.
741
00:40:06,772 --> 00:40:08,307
Hinton: WE DID A VERY CAREFUL
RISK ANALYSIS
742
00:40:08,307 --> 00:40:11,243
OF ALL THE POSSIBLE DANGERS
THAT COULD OCCUR.
743
00:40:11,243 --> 00:40:14,146
AND, INITIALLY,
THE FIRST REACTION WAS,
744
00:40:14,146 --> 00:40:15,280
"YOU WANT TO DO WHAT
WITH AN AIRPLANE?
745
00:40:15,280 --> 00:40:17,416
YOU WANT TO FLY IT
THROUGH A MICROBURST?"
746
00:40:19,752 --> 00:40:24,456
Narrator: IN THE SUMMER OF 1991,
NASA MODIFIED A BOEING 737
747
00:40:24,456 --> 00:40:26,825
AND WENT HUNTING
FOR MICROBURSTS.
748
00:40:29,094 --> 00:40:31,964
THE IDEA WAS TO IDENTIFY
ONBOARD TECHNOLOGY
749
00:40:31,964 --> 00:40:37,369
THAT COULD WARN PILOTS
OF A MICROBURST IN THEIR PATH.
750
00:40:37,369 --> 00:40:39,505
Hinton: THE AIRBORNE SOLUTION
BRINGS DETECTION
751
00:40:39,505 --> 00:40:41,740
RIGHT INTO THE COCKPIT,
SO THE PILOT SEES
752
00:40:41,740 --> 00:40:43,942
EXACTLY WHAT'S IN FRONT
OF THE AIRCRAFT,
753
00:40:43,942 --> 00:40:46,578
AND WHEN AN ALERT IS GIVEN,
THERE'S NO TIME DELAY.
754
00:40:46,578 --> 00:40:48,447
Controller: GROUND SPEED, 234.
755
00:40:48,447 --> 00:40:49,982
Narrator: THE NASA RESEARCHERS
WERE TESTING
756
00:40:49,982 --> 00:40:54,520
THREE SEPARATE SYSTEMS
FOR DETECTING MICROBURSTS--
757
00:40:54,520 --> 00:40:59,191
A MODIFIED DOPPLER RADAR
HOUSED IN THE 737's NOSE,
758
00:40:59,191 --> 00:41:02,294
A LASER RADAR UNDER
ITS FORWARD CARGO BAY,
759
00:41:02,294 --> 00:41:04,329
AND A SIDE-MOUNTED
INFRARED DEVICE
760
00:41:04,329 --> 00:41:08,133
TO MEASURE CHANGES
IN AIR TEMPERATURE.
761
00:41:08,133 --> 00:41:10,903
EACH OF THOSE SYSTEMS WAS WIRED
TO BANKS OF COMPUTERS
762
00:41:10,903 --> 00:41:12,771
IN THE PLANE'S CABIN.
763
00:41:12,771 --> 00:41:14,973
A SPOTTER ON THE GROUND
COULD FIND A MICROBURST
764
00:41:14,973 --> 00:41:18,844
AND QUICKLY DIRECT
THE PLANE TOWARDS IT.
765
00:41:18,844 --> 00:41:21,346
Pilot: ROGER CONTROL, 515.
766
00:41:21,346 --> 00:41:23,816
WE'RE ROLLING.
767
00:41:23,816 --> 00:41:25,517
Controller:
ROGER, UNDERSTAND YOUR ROLL.
768
00:41:25,517 --> 00:41:27,586
CDWR NASA CONTROL.
769
00:41:29,855 --> 00:41:30,889
Pilot: RANGE.
770
00:41:30,889 --> 00:41:32,424
Co-pilot: RANGE, 45 MILES.
771
00:41:32,424 --> 00:41:35,194
GROUND SPEED 240, HERE WE GO.
772
00:41:35,194 --> 00:41:36,862
TAKE IT STRAIGHT AHEAD.
773
00:41:36,862 --> 00:41:38,497
Controller:
YOU NEED TO COME LEFT
774
00:41:38,497 --> 00:41:42,568
ABOUT 10 DEGREES, 15 DEGREES.
775
00:41:42,568 --> 00:41:44,803
Hinton: WELL, WHEN YOU SPOTTED A
MICROBURST, IT WAS ALL BUSINESS.
776
00:41:44,803 --> 00:41:46,205
IT WAS, HOW DO WE GET THERE?
777
00:41:46,205 --> 00:41:47,940
HOW DO WE GET TO THE RIGHT
ALTITUDE, THE RIGHT AIR SPEED,
778
00:41:47,940 --> 00:41:49,074
THE RIGHT POSITION?
779
00:41:49,074 --> 00:41:50,542
WHEN TO BEGIN DATA COLLECTION?
780
00:41:50,542 --> 00:41:52,444
SO PEOPLE WERE QUITE BUSY
DURING THESE FLIGHTS.
781
00:41:52,444 --> 00:41:54,747
AND IT WAS EXCITING.
WE WANTED TO FIND THEM.
782
00:41:54,747 --> 00:41:57,082
WE WANTED TO PENETRATE THEM.
783
00:41:57,082 --> 00:41:58,717
Narrator: WITH EVERY MICROBURST,
784
00:41:58,717 --> 00:42:02,454
THE THREE ONBOARD DETECTION
SYSTEMS WERE PUT TO THE TEST.
785
00:42:02,454 --> 00:42:04,690
RESEARCHERS ON THE PLANE
COULD INSTANTLY SEE
786
00:42:04,690 --> 00:42:06,825
WHICH INSTRUMENT WAS
DOING THE BEST JOB
787
00:42:06,825 --> 00:42:10,429
OF PICKING UP
THE MICROBURST AHEAD.
788
00:42:10,429 --> 00:42:13,665
Hinton: BEHIND THE FLIGHT DECK,
WE HAD PALLETS OF EQUIPMENT
789
00:42:13,665 --> 00:42:16,034
WHERE THE RADAR ENGINEERS,
THE LASER ENGINEERS,
790
00:42:16,034 --> 00:42:18,070
AND THE DATA RECORDING
ENGINEERS COULD SIT
791
00:42:18,070 --> 00:42:21,740
AND ENSURE THAT EACH SYSTEM
WAS PERFORMING AS EXPECTED.
792
00:42:21,740 --> 00:42:24,042
Co-pilot: GROUND SPEED 234.
793
00:42:24,042 --> 00:42:27,279
DEAD AHEAD MAYBE
ONE DEGREE TO THE LEFT.
794
00:42:27,279 --> 00:42:28,480
Pilot: LET'S GO STRAIGHT
THROUGH THIS ONE.
795
00:42:28,480 --> 00:42:33,285
Co-pilot: HERE WE GO.
TAKE IT STRAIGHT AHEAD.
796
00:42:33,285 --> 00:42:35,487
Hinton: WE STARTED WITH
VERY, VERY WEAK MICROBURSTS.
797
00:42:35,487 --> 00:42:36,755
AGAIN, WE HAD
THE GROUND-BASED RADAR
798
00:42:36,755 --> 00:42:38,791
TELLING US WHAT WE WERE
ABOUT TO GO INTO.
799
00:42:38,791 --> 00:42:41,193
SO WE STARTED WITH VERY WEAK
MICROBURSTS, GAINED EXPERIENCE,
800
00:42:41,193 --> 00:42:43,896
THEN GRADUALLY WORKED UP
TO STRONGER AND STRONGER ONES.
801
00:42:43,896 --> 00:42:45,964
YOU WOULD SEE THE RAIN
BEGIN TO FALL,
802
00:42:45,964 --> 00:42:47,132
AND YOU WOULD FEEL
A SINKING FEELING.
803
00:42:47,132 --> 00:42:48,534
IT WOULD BE A LITTLE SETTLING,
804
00:42:48,534 --> 00:42:50,035
YOU KNOW, LIKE AN ELEVATOR
STARTING DOWN...
805
00:42:50,035 --> 00:42:51,637
Controller: A FEW MINUTES
HERE BEFORE WE TOUCH DOWN...
806
00:42:51,637 --> 00:42:53,105
Hinton: ...SO ANY APPREHENSION
807
00:42:53,105 --> 00:42:55,607
THAT THE CREW MAY HAVE HAD
INITIALLY BY GOING THROUGH THEM
808
00:42:55,607 --> 00:42:59,611
WAS ACTUALLY REPLACED LATER
WITH JOY AT FINDING THEM.
809
00:42:59,611 --> 00:43:03,115
Co-pilot: HERE COMES THE CENTER
OF THE TARGET RIGHT...
810
00:43:03,115 --> 00:43:04,983
NOW!
811
00:43:04,983 --> 00:43:07,085
242 ON THE GROUND SPEED.
812
00:43:07,085 --> 00:43:08,654
WIND'S GONE AWAY,
LOOK FOR A TAILWIND.
813
00:43:08,654 --> 00:43:10,522
Pilot: I'M WATCHING.
814
00:43:10,522 --> 00:43:12,724
Co-pilot: WE LOST SOME
ALTITUDE THERE, TOO.
815
00:43:12,724 --> 00:43:15,594
THERE, THE WIND'S GONE AROUND
THE TAIL AT 10 KNOTS.
816
00:43:18,030 --> 00:43:19,464
GOOD STRONG DOWNDRAFT
IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.
817
00:43:19,464 --> 00:43:21,667
IT JUST SUCKED 100 FEET
IN ALMOST NO TIME AT ALL.
818
00:43:21,667 --> 00:43:23,769
Pilot: SAW A GOOD PERFORMANCE
DECREASE, TOO.
819
00:43:23,769 --> 00:43:26,505
Co-pilot: WE WERE ABOUT 850,
AND WE DROPPED TO 750.
820
00:43:26,505 --> 00:43:28,707
BEAUTIFUL.
821
00:43:28,707 --> 00:43:30,142
Narrator:
THE LANGLEY RESEARCHERS FLEW
822
00:43:30,142 --> 00:43:33,745
INTO DOZENS OF MICROBURSTS OVER
THE COURSE OF THEIR RESEARCH.
823
00:43:36,315 --> 00:43:39,451
THE PROJECT PROVED THAT THE
FORWARD-LOOKING DOPPLER RADAR
824
00:43:39,451 --> 00:43:42,187
WAS THE ONLY SYSTEM THAT COULD
CONSISTENTLY GIVE PILOTS
825
00:43:42,187 --> 00:43:46,358
ADVANCED WARNINGS
OF A MICROBURST AHEAD.
826
00:43:46,358 --> 00:43:48,660
Hinton: WHAT WE FOUND WAS
THAT THE DOPPLER RADARS
827
00:43:48,660 --> 00:43:52,664
COULD DETECT AN EXTREMELY
WIDE VARIETY OF MICROBURSTS.
828
00:43:52,664 --> 00:43:55,534
Price: THERE'S LIGHTNING
COMING OUT OF THAT ONE.
829
00:43:55,534 --> 00:43:58,470
Narrator: IF THE CREW
OF DELTA 191 HAD HAD A SYSTEM
830
00:43:58,470 --> 00:44:00,372
TO WARN THEM OF MICROBURSTS,
831
00:44:00,372 --> 00:44:02,441
THEY COULD HAVE BOOSTED POWER
TO THEIR ENGINES
832
00:44:02,441 --> 00:44:06,845
AND STARTED CLIMBING BEFORE THEY
ENCOUNTERED IT.
833
00:44:06,845 --> 00:44:09,214
THAT MIGHT HAVE GIVEN THEM
THE SPEED AND ALTITUDE
834
00:44:09,214 --> 00:44:10,449
WHICH THEY SORELY LACKED
835
00:44:10,449 --> 00:44:12,718
WHEN THEY BEGAN THEIR BATTLE
WITH THE STORM.
836
00:44:16,088 --> 00:44:18,123
THE LANGLEY FLIGHT TESTS HAD,
IN EFFECT,
837
00:44:18,123 --> 00:44:20,459
TAMED THE MICROBURST MENACE.
838
00:44:20,459 --> 00:44:23,061
AFTER THE NASA TESTS,
THE FAA CERTIFIED
839
00:44:23,061 --> 00:44:25,631
A DOPPLER-BASED WARNING SYSTEM
FOR PLANES.
840
00:44:28,000 --> 00:44:31,436
TODAY, FORWARD-LOOKING DOPPLER
RADAR IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT
841
00:44:31,436 --> 00:44:33,906
ON COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS
AROUND THE WORLD.
842
00:44:36,174 --> 00:44:39,678
McCarthy: THE GOOD NEWS
OUT OF ALL OF THIS TRAGEDY
843
00:44:39,678 --> 00:44:44,483
IS SO MANY THINGS HAVE
NOW HAPPENED FROM RADAR,
844
00:44:44,483 --> 00:44:46,618
TO GROUND-BASED SYSTEMS,
TO AIRBORNE SYSTEMS,
845
00:44:46,618 --> 00:44:49,588
AND ESPECIALLY
TO TRAINING FOR PILOTS.
846
00:44:49,588 --> 00:44:52,557
WE THINK THAT
MICROBURST ACCIDENTS
847
00:44:52,557 --> 00:44:55,427
ARE A THING OF THE PAST.
848
00:44:58,997 --> 00:45:03,435
Chandler: IF THERE IS ONE CRASH
THAT WE CAN LOOK BACK ON NOW
849
00:45:03,435 --> 00:45:08,941
AND SAY, "THIS MADE THINGS SAFER
BECAUSE WE LEARNED FROM IT,"
850
00:45:08,941 --> 00:45:11,710
IT WAS DELTA 191.
851
00:45:11,710 --> 00:45:14,913
Narrator: THE CHANGES MADE
AFTER THE CRASH OF DELTA 191
852
00:45:14,913 --> 00:45:17,683
HAVE SAVED COUNTLESS LIVES.
853
00:45:17,683 --> 00:45:20,052
CAPTAIN CONNORS AND
FIRST OFFICER PRICE
854
00:45:20,052 --> 00:45:22,721
LOST THEIR FIGHT
AGAINST A MICROBURST,
855
00:45:22,721 --> 00:45:26,224
BUT THEIR STRUGGLE MANAGED
TO EXPOSE AND DISARM
856
00:45:26,224 --> 00:45:28,927
AN INVISIBLE KILLER.
69948
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