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1
00:00:01,401 --> 00:00:02,402
Controller:
ALPHA LIMA WHISKEY 301,
2
00:00:02,402 --> 00:00:03,737
SANTO DOMINGO, COME IN, PLEASE.
3
00:00:03,737 --> 00:00:06,239
Narrator: A BOEING 757
DISAPPEARS FROM RADAR
4
00:00:06,239 --> 00:00:09,075
WITH 189 PEOPLE ON BOARD.
5
00:00:09,075 --> 00:00:10,810
Controller: ...SANTO DOMINGO,
COME IN, PLEASE.
6
00:00:10,810 --> 00:00:13,346
Narrator: THE PLANE'S WRECKAGE
IS SOON FOUND AT SEA.
7
00:00:13,346 --> 00:00:17,217
THERE ARE NO SURVIVORS
TO SAY WHAT HAPPENED.
8
00:00:17,217 --> 00:00:20,754
Man: THIS ACCIDENT WAS
THE FIRST MAJOR LOSS
9
00:00:20,754 --> 00:00:24,257
OF A BOEING 757 AIRCRAFT.
10
00:00:24,257 --> 00:00:27,093
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS FIND
NO CLUES IN THE WRECKAGE.
11
00:00:29,129 --> 00:00:33,032
ONLY THE PLANE'S BLACK BOX
CAN TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED.
12
00:00:33,032 --> 00:00:36,136
THE TAPE RAISES
A PERPLEXING QUESTION.
13
00:00:36,136 --> 00:00:38,805
Controller: 301, SANTO DOMINGO,
COME IN, PLEASE.
14
00:00:38,805 --> 00:00:41,174
Pilot: MY AIRSPEED INDICATOR
IS NOT WORKING.
15
00:00:41,174 --> 00:00:42,842
WHAT'S HAPPENING?!
WHAT'S HAPPENING?!
16
00:00:42,842 --> 00:00:45,812
Narrator: HOW HAD THE FAILURE
OF ONE SINGLE INSTRUMENT...
17
00:00:45,812 --> 00:00:47,280
Co-pilot: SIR, PULL UP!
18
00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:48,915
Narrator: ...CAUSED THE CRASH
OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S
19
00:00:48,915 --> 00:00:53,586
MOST SOPHISTICATED JETLINERS?
20
00:00:53,586 --> 00:00:55,755
Flight attendant:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WE ARE STARTING OUR APPROACH.
21
00:00:55,755 --> 00:00:57,190
Pilot: WE LOST BOTH ENGINES!
22
00:00:57,190 --> 00:00:58,224
Flight attendant:
PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE.
23
00:00:58,224 --> 00:00:59,192
EMERGENCY DESCENT.
24
00:00:59,192 --> 00:01:00,560
Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY.
25
00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,262
Flight attendant:
BRACE FOR IMPACT!
26
00:01:02,262 --> 00:01:03,229
Controller: I THINK I LOST ONE.
27
00:01:03,229 --> 00:01:05,031
Man: INVESTIGATION STARTING...
28
00:01:06,499 --> 00:01:08,001
Man: HE'S GONNA CRASH!
29
00:01:21,414 --> 00:01:23,850
Narrator: GREGORIO LUPERON
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,
30
00:01:23,850 --> 00:01:27,320
PUERTO PLATA,
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
31
00:01:27,320 --> 00:01:29,923
FEBRUARY 6, 1996.
32
00:01:32,158 --> 00:01:35,728
THE SMALL CARIBBEAN ISLAND
IS A POPULAR WINTER GETAWAY.
33
00:01:38,731 --> 00:01:41,935
A GROUP OF GERMAN TOURISTS
HAS BEEN DELAYED.
34
00:01:41,935 --> 00:01:43,837
THERE ARE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS
WITH THE JET
35
00:01:43,837 --> 00:01:47,941
THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE THEM
BACK TO FRANKFURT.
36
00:01:47,941 --> 00:01:49,642
THE AIRLINE HAS ARRANGED
TO LEASE ANOTHER PLANE
37
00:01:49,642 --> 00:01:51,978
FOR THE FLIGHT.
38
00:01:51,978 --> 00:01:53,279
THE REPLACEMENT JET IS OWNED
39
00:01:53,279 --> 00:01:56,816
BY TURKISH CHARTER COMPANY
BIRGENAIR.
40
00:01:56,816 --> 00:01:59,719
THEY HAVE A 757 THAT'S BEEN
SITTING ON THE TARMAC
41
00:01:59,719 --> 00:02:02,789
FOR ALMOST THREE WEEKS.
42
00:02:02,789 --> 00:02:05,725
BUT IT TAKES SEVERAL HOURS
TO GET THE PLANE READY TO GO
43
00:02:05,725 --> 00:02:08,595
AND TO GET
THE TURKISH CREW ON BOARD.
44
00:02:12,332 --> 00:02:17,136
BY 10:15 PM, THE PLANE AND MOST
OF ITS CREW ARE AT THE GATE.
45
00:02:20,807 --> 00:02:23,776
MORE THAN FOUR HOURS AFTER
THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO TAKE OFF,
46
00:02:23,776 --> 00:02:27,180
THE FIRST OF THE PASSENGERS
BEGIN BOARDING THE PLANE.
47
00:02:27,180 --> 00:02:30,450
THEY HAVE A 9-HOUR FLIGHT
TO FRANKFURT AHEAD OF THEM.
48
00:02:38,057 --> 00:02:41,227
Co-Pilot: PUERTO PLATA,
ALPHA LIMA WHISKEY, 301...
49
00:02:41,227 --> 00:02:44,531
Narrator: SHORTLY AFTER 11:30,
BIRGENAIR FLIGHT 301
50
00:02:44,531 --> 00:02:46,499
IS GIVEN PERMISSION
TO LEAVE THE GATE.
51
00:02:46,499 --> 00:02:48,368
Controller: PUSH BACK GRANTED.
52
00:02:58,645 --> 00:03:02,315
Narrator:
MOMENTS LATER, IT TAXIS TO
THE THRESHOLD OF THE RUNWAY.
53
00:03:04,083 --> 00:03:08,154
Co-Pilot: CABIN CREW, TAKE
YOUR SEATS--READY FOR TAKEOFF.
54
00:03:08,154 --> 00:03:09,956
CABIN ANNOUNCEMENT IS COMPLETED.
55
00:03:09,956 --> 00:03:11,491
EXTERIOR LIGHTS.
56
00:03:11,491 --> 00:03:14,794
Narrator: FIRST OFFICER
AYKUT GERGIN IS NEW TO THE 757,
57
00:03:14,794 --> 00:03:17,463
WITH FEWER THAN 75 HOURS
IN THE PLANE,
58
00:03:17,463 --> 00:03:19,799
ALL IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
59
00:03:19,799 --> 00:03:20,567
Pilot: THANK YOU.
60
00:03:20,567 --> 00:03:21,868
READY FOR TAKEOFF.
61
00:03:21,868 --> 00:03:24,203
Narrator: IN CONTRAST,
CAPTAIN AHMET ERDEM
62
00:03:24,203 --> 00:03:26,806
IS ONE OF BIRGENAIR'S
MOST SENIOR PILOTS.
63
00:03:26,806 --> 00:03:30,843
HE'S LOGGED THOUSANDS OF HOURS
IN THIS TYPE OF PLANE.
64
00:03:30,843 --> 00:03:34,080
Aykut Gergin: ALPHA LIMA WHISKEY
301, READY FOR TAKEOFF.
65
00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,183
Controller: 301 CLEARED
FOR TAKEOFF, RUNWAY 08.
66
00:03:37,183 --> 00:03:40,853
Gergin: CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF,
RUNWAY 08, 301, THANK YOU.
67
00:03:42,655 --> 00:03:43,590
Co-pilot: A GOOD FLIGHT.
68
00:03:43,590 --> 00:03:44,657
Ahmet Erdem: A GOOD FLIGHT.
69
00:03:44,657 --> 00:03:46,292
Gergin: GOOD FLIGHT.
70
00:03:46,292 --> 00:03:48,361
Narrator: MUHLIS EVRENESOGLU
IS ON THIS FLIGHT
71
00:03:48,361 --> 00:03:50,830
AS A RELIEF PILOT.
72
00:03:50,830 --> 00:03:52,398
LIKE FIRST OFFICER GERGIN,
73
00:03:52,398 --> 00:03:56,035
HE'S BEEN FLYING THE 757
FOR LESS THAN THREE MONTHS.
74
00:04:02,976 --> 00:04:05,345
AS THE PLANE ACCELERATES
TO TAKEOFF SPEED,
75
00:04:05,345 --> 00:04:07,347
A LIGHT RAIN BEGINS TO FALL.
76
00:04:09,048 --> 00:04:10,650
Gergin: POWER'S SET.
77
00:04:10,650 --> 00:04:12,018
Erdem: OKAY, CHECK.
78
00:04:12,018 --> 00:04:13,686
Narrator:
FIRST OFFICER AYKUT GERGIN
79
00:04:13,686 --> 00:04:18,358
WATCHES HIS AIRSPEED INDICATOR
FOR A ROUTINE INSTRUMENT CHECK.
80
00:04:18,358 --> 00:04:20,994
Man: AS THE AIRPLANE'S
ACCELERATING TO TAKEOFF SPEED,
81
00:04:20,994 --> 00:04:24,631
THE FIRST OFFICER
CALLS 80 KNOTS.
82
00:04:24,631 --> 00:04:25,798
Gergin: 80 KNOTS.
83
00:04:25,798 --> 00:04:27,166
Erdem: CHECK.
84
00:04:27,166 --> 00:04:29,302
John Cox: THE CAPTAIN,
IN THEORY, SHOULD VERIFY
85
00:04:29,302 --> 00:04:32,739
THAT HIS AIRSPEED INDICATOR
ALSO READS 80 KNOTS.
86
00:04:34,273 --> 00:04:36,843
Erdem: MY AIRSPEED INDICATOR'S
NOT WORKING.
87
00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:42,215
Narrator: THE CAPTAIN'S AIRSPEED
SHOULD READ THE SAME
88
00:04:42,215 --> 00:04:44,017
AS HIS FIRST OFFICER'S.
89
00:04:44,017 --> 00:04:46,085
Gergin: 120.
90
00:04:46,085 --> 00:04:48,121
Narrator:
BUT THE READINGS DON'T MATCH.
91
00:04:48,121 --> 00:04:48,921
Erdem: IS YOURS WORKING?
92
00:04:48,921 --> 00:04:50,256
Gergin: YES, SIR.
93
00:04:53,726 --> 00:04:55,194
Erdem: YOU TELL ME.
94
00:04:55,194 --> 00:04:56,996
Narrator: ERDEM WANTS
HIS FIRST OFFICER TO TELL HIM
95
00:04:56,996 --> 00:04:59,632
WHEN THE PLANE
HITS TAKEOFF SPEED.
96
00:04:59,632 --> 00:05:00,967
Gergin: V-1.
97
00:05:00,967 --> 00:05:04,237
Narrator: AT 150 KNOTS,
THE PLANE HITS V-1,
98
00:05:04,237 --> 00:05:05,938
THE POINT OF NO RETURN.
99
00:05:05,938 --> 00:05:07,373
Gergin: ROTATE.
100
00:05:07,373 --> 00:05:09,275
Narrator: THE CAPTAIN MUST
PULL BACK ON HIS COLUMN
101
00:05:09,275 --> 00:05:10,910
AND GET THE PLANE IN THE AIR.
102
00:05:10,910 --> 00:05:13,680
Erdem: POSITIVE CLIMB, GEAR UP.
103
00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,581
Gergin: POSITIVE CLIMB.
104
00:05:15,581 --> 00:05:17,650
GEAR IS UP.
105
00:05:22,422 --> 00:05:25,625
Narrator: AT 11:42,
THE PLANE TAKES OFF.
106
00:05:27,727 --> 00:05:30,229
SECONDS LATER, CAPTAIN ERDEM'S
AIRSPEED INDICATOR
107
00:05:30,229 --> 00:05:31,998
COMES TO LIFE.
108
00:05:34,133 --> 00:05:36,202
Erdem: IS IT POSSIBLE
TO TURN OFF THE WIPERS?
109
00:05:36,202 --> 00:05:38,538
Gergin: OKAY, WIPERS OFF.
110
00:05:41,274 --> 00:05:42,842
Erdem: CLIMB THRUST.
111
00:05:42,842 --> 00:05:45,144
Gergin: CLIMB THRUST.
112
00:05:45,144 --> 00:05:47,680
Narrator: FIRST OFFICER GERGIN
REDUCES POWER TO THE ENGINES
113
00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,750
FOR A GRADUAL CLIMB
TO CRUISING ALTITUDE.
114
00:05:53,619 --> 00:05:55,788
Controller: 301, AIRBORNE 45,
115
00:05:55,788 --> 00:05:59,225
SWITCH OVER,
SANTO DOMINGO, 1243.
116
00:05:59,225 --> 00:06:01,327
Gergin: 1243, BYE-BYE, SIR.
117
00:06:01,327 --> 00:06:03,696
Narrator:
CLIMBING THROUGH 2,500 FEET...
118
00:06:03,696 --> 00:06:05,131
Gergin: SANTO DOMINGO,
GOOD EVENING.
119
00:06:05,131 --> 00:06:06,999
Narrator: FIRST OFFICER GERGIN
ESTABLISHES CONTACT
120
00:06:06,999 --> 00:06:10,603
WITH THE ISLAND'S MAIN TOWER
IN SANTO DOMINGO.
121
00:06:10,603 --> 00:06:15,475
Controller: ALPHA LIMA WHISKEY
301, CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 280.
122
00:06:19,479 --> 00:06:22,415
Erdem:
CENTER AUTOPILOT ON, PLEASE.
123
00:06:22,415 --> 00:06:24,684
Gergin: CENTER AUTOPILOT
HAS COMMAND.
124
00:06:24,684 --> 00:06:25,718
Erdem: THANK YOU.
125
00:06:27,653 --> 00:06:29,756
Narrator: ONE MINUTE,
30 SECONDS INTO THE FLIGHT,
126
00:06:29,756 --> 00:06:32,158
THE AUTOPILOT TAKES OVER.
127
00:06:39,165 --> 00:06:42,668
ONBOARD COMPUTERS NOW MAKE ALL
THE CALCULATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS
128
00:06:42,668 --> 00:06:46,906
NECESSARY TO KEEP THE PLANE
CLIMBING SAFELY.
129
00:06:46,906 --> 00:06:48,374
[ALARM BEEPS]
130
00:06:48,374 --> 00:06:51,177
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY,
THE COMPUTER REPORTS A PROBLEM.
131
00:06:51,177 --> 00:06:54,614
Erdem: RUDDER RATIO,
MACH AIRSPEED TRIM?
132
00:06:54,614 --> 00:06:56,482
Narrator: TWO DIFFERENT ALERTS
WARN THE PILOTS
133
00:06:56,482 --> 00:06:59,485
THAT THE PLANE IS TRAVELING
FAR TOO FAST.
134
00:06:59,485 --> 00:07:01,621
BUT THE FIRST OFFICER'S
AIRSPEED INDICATOR
135
00:07:01,621 --> 00:07:06,392
SHOWS THE PLANE CLIMBING
AT A NORMAL SPEED, 220 KNOTS.
136
00:07:06,392 --> 00:07:08,227
Erdem: SOMETHING'S WRONG HERE.
137
00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:16,936
Narrator: UNAWARE THAT
THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS,
138
00:07:16,936 --> 00:07:21,574
THE CONTROLLER DIRECTS BIRGENAIR
FLIGHT 301 TO CONTINUE CLIMBING.
139
00:07:21,574 --> 00:07:25,845
Controller: ALPHA LIMA WHISKEY
301, REPORT POKEG.
140
00:07:25,845 --> 00:07:28,080
Gergin: OKAY, 280,
I'LL CALL YOU OVER POKEG.
141
00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:29,582
301.
142
00:07:29,582 --> 00:07:32,018
Erdem: OKAY, THERE IS SOMETHING
CRAZY, DO YOU SEE IT?
143
00:07:32,018 --> 00:07:35,021
Narrator: IN THE COCKPIT, THE
SITUATION GETS MORE CONFUSING.
144
00:07:35,021 --> 00:07:36,722
THE FIRST OFFICER'S
AIRSPEED INDICATOR
145
00:07:36,722 --> 00:07:40,059
SHOWS THAT THE PLANE
IS FLYING MUCH TOO SLOWLY.
146
00:07:42,295 --> 00:07:46,632
Gergin: MINE SHOWS ONLY 200 NOW,
AND DECREASING, SIR.
147
00:07:46,632 --> 00:07:48,801
Narrator: BUT THE CAPTAIN'S
GAUGE SHOWS THE PLANE FLYING
148
00:07:48,801 --> 00:07:52,371
FAR TOO FAST--325 KNOTS.
149
00:07:53,706 --> 00:07:56,375
Erdem: BOTH OF THEM ARE WRONG.
150
00:07:56,375 --> 00:07:58,578
WHAT CAN WE DO?
151
00:07:58,578 --> 00:08:00,012
LET'S CHECK
THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS.
152
00:08:00,012 --> 00:08:01,948
Muhlis Evrenesoglu: YES, SIR.
153
00:08:07,119 --> 00:08:09,188
Narrator: AS THE FIRST WARNING
IS ELIMINATED,
154
00:08:09,188 --> 00:08:10,556
A MORE PERSISTENT WARNING
REPLACES IT.
155
00:08:10,556 --> 00:08:11,757
[ALARM SOUNDS]
156
00:08:11,757 --> 00:08:13,526
THE OVER-SPEED WARNING
TELLS THE CREW
157
00:08:13,526 --> 00:08:17,363
THAT THEY ARE APPROACHING
350 KNOTS--THE MAXIMUM SPEED
158
00:08:17,363 --> 00:08:20,833
AT WHICH THE PLANE WAS DESIGNED
TO FLY AT THIS ALTITUDE.
159
00:08:20,833 --> 00:08:23,202
Erdem: OKAY, IT'S NO MATTER.
160
00:08:23,202 --> 00:08:25,638
LET'S PULL THE AIRSPEED,
LET'S SEE.
161
00:08:27,907 --> 00:08:30,910
Narrator: RESETTING THE CIRCUIT
BREAKERS TURNS OFF THE ALARM,
162
00:08:30,910 --> 00:08:33,045
BUT IT DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM.
163
00:08:33,045 --> 00:08:34,680
CAPTAIN ERDEM'S
AIRSPEED INDICATOR
164
00:08:34,680 --> 00:08:37,617
STILL SHOWS HE'S FLYING
MUCH TOO FAST.
165
00:08:37,617 --> 00:08:39,886
Gergin: NOW IT'S 350, YES?
166
00:08:42,688 --> 00:08:44,924
Narrator: CONFUSED BY
THE CONFLICTING INFORMATION,
167
00:08:44,924 --> 00:08:48,094
CAPTAIN ERDEM DECIDES TO DO
WHAT THE PLANE WANTS--
168
00:08:48,094 --> 00:08:49,295
HE SLOWS DOWN.
169
00:08:49,295 --> 00:08:51,097
Erdem:
OK, LET'S TAKE THAT LIKE THIS.
170
00:08:51,097 --> 00:08:52,632
[EQUIPMENT RATTLING AND SHAKING]
171
00:08:55,134 --> 00:08:57,770
Narrator:
...WITH TERRIFYING RESULTS.
172
00:08:57,770 --> 00:09:00,940
Erdem: GOD! GOD!
173
00:09:00,940 --> 00:09:03,142
Narrator: THE 757 IS
SENDING OUT WARNINGS
174
00:09:03,142 --> 00:09:06,312
THAT ARE CONFUSING THE CREW.
175
00:09:06,312 --> 00:09:09,815
BEWILDERED, THE CREW STRUGGLES
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
176
00:09:11,517 --> 00:09:13,853
THE LIVES OF 189 PEOPLE
177
00:09:13,853 --> 00:09:16,923
DEPEND ON THEIR GETTING
THE ANSWER RIGHT.
178
00:09:20,327 --> 00:09:23,230
Narrator:
SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFF
FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC,
179
00:09:23,230 --> 00:09:26,600
BIRGENAIR FLIGHT 301
IS IN TROUBLE.
180
00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,702
Erdem: GOD! GOD! GOD!
181
00:09:28,702 --> 00:09:30,237
[EQUIPMENT RATTLING]
182
00:09:30,237 --> 00:09:32,339
Narrator: THE COCKPIT IS FILLED
WITH AN OMINOUS SOUND--
183
00:09:32,339 --> 00:09:34,574
THE STICK SHAKER ALERT.
184
00:09:34,574 --> 00:09:38,311
Cox: A STICK SHAKER WARNING IS
A WARNING OF IMMINENT STALL.
185
00:09:38,311 --> 00:09:43,049
IT MEANS THAT THE AIRPLANE IS
ABOUT TO ATTAIN A SPEED SO LOW
186
00:09:43,049 --> 00:09:45,585
THAT IT CANNOT SUSTAIN FLIGHT.
187
00:09:45,585 --> 00:09:47,254
Narrator:
THE ALERT IS SO SERIOUS
188
00:09:47,254 --> 00:09:50,557
THAT IT ACTUALLY SHAKES
THE PILOTS' CONTROL COLUMNS.
189
00:09:50,557 --> 00:09:53,560
COMBINED WITH A LOUD RATTLING,
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE.
190
00:09:57,130 --> 00:09:59,399
TO ADD TO THE CREW'S CONFUSION,
191
00:09:59,399 --> 00:10:03,537
THE PLANE BEGINS TO VIBRATE
AND DIP WILDLY.
192
00:10:03,537 --> 00:10:06,740
[SCREAMING]
193
00:10:06,740 --> 00:10:08,975
Robert Macintosh Jr.: I'M SURE
EVERY PASSENGER ON THE AIRPLANE
194
00:10:08,975 --> 00:10:10,544
KNEW SOMETHING WAS UNUSUAL,
195
00:10:10,544 --> 00:10:13,647
BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT
STARTED TO--STARTED TO SHAKE
196
00:10:13,647 --> 00:10:17,117
IN A VERY VIOLENT MANEUVER.
197
00:10:17,117 --> 00:10:19,953
Narrator: IT'S NOT THE ONLY
PROBLEM THE CREW IS FACING.
198
00:10:19,953 --> 00:10:22,289
Evrenesoglu: A.D.I.!
199
00:10:22,289 --> 00:10:25,292
Cox: THE ATTITUDE DEVIATION
INDICATOR IS BASICALLY
200
00:10:25,292 --> 00:10:28,228
A ROUND GAUGE THAT,
ON THIS AIRPLANE IS A SCREEN,
201
00:10:28,228 --> 00:10:30,130
BUT IT'S BLUE ON THE TOP
AND BROWN ON THE BOTTOM,
202
00:10:30,130 --> 00:10:34,734
AND IT SHOWS NOT ONLY THE PITCH
OF THE AIRPLANE, BUT ALSO ROLL.
203
00:10:34,734 --> 00:10:37,437
Narrator: ON THE GAUGE,
BLUE REPRESENTS SKY.
204
00:10:37,437 --> 00:10:40,173
THE MORE BLUE,
THE STEEPER THE CLIMB.
205
00:10:42,809 --> 00:10:45,145
RIGHT NOW IT'S SHOWING
THAT THE PLANE'S NOSE
206
00:10:45,145 --> 00:10:48,014
IS POINTING DANGEROUSLY HIGH.
207
00:10:48,014 --> 00:10:51,084
THEN, MORE THAN 7,000 FEET
ABOVE THE OCEAN,
208
00:10:51,084 --> 00:10:53,220
THE PLANE ROLLS HARD
TO THE RIGHT
209
00:10:53,220 --> 00:10:55,722
AND BEGINS TO PLUMMET
FROM THE SKY.
210
00:10:55,722 --> 00:10:58,024
Cox: FROM THE TIME THAT
THE STICK SHAKER ACTIVATES,
211
00:10:58,024 --> 00:11:01,795
IT IS NOW GOING TO REQUIRE
PROPER ACTION
212
00:11:01,795 --> 00:11:04,764
FROM THE FLIGHT CREW
TO SORT THIS OUT,
213
00:11:04,764 --> 00:11:07,367
OR THEY WILL END UP
LOSING CONTROL OF IT.
214
00:11:07,367 --> 00:11:10,237
THE WINDOW OF DECISIONS
IS CLOSING ON THEM,
215
00:11:10,237 --> 00:11:13,173
FOR IF THEY LET IT
STALL COMPLETELY,
216
00:11:13,173 --> 00:11:14,774
MAINTAINING CONTROL
OF THE AIRPLANE
217
00:11:14,774 --> 00:11:18,211
WILL PROVE TO BE VERY DIFFICULT.
218
00:11:18,211 --> 00:11:20,013
Narrator: CAPTAIN ERDEM
STRUGGLES DESPERATELY
219
00:11:20,013 --> 00:11:21,681
TO GET HIS PLANE TO CLIMB.
220
00:11:21,681 --> 00:11:22,916
Gergin: NOSE DOWN!
221
00:11:24,284 --> 00:11:26,119
Narrator: HE HAS JUST
A FEW THOUSAND FEET
222
00:11:26,119 --> 00:11:29,623
TO PULL THE MASSIVE AIRLINER
OUT OF A DEADLY STALL.
223
00:11:31,758 --> 00:11:34,127
THE LESS EXPERIENCED PILOTS
UTTER PRAYERS
224
00:11:34,127 --> 00:11:36,229
AND OFFER SUGGESTIONS.
225
00:11:36,229 --> 00:11:37,797
Gergin: THRUST.
226
00:11:37,797 --> 00:11:40,400
Evrenesoglu: A.D.I.!
227
00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:43,670
Controller: 301, SQUAWK 377.
228
00:11:43,670 --> 00:11:46,439
Gergin: STAND BY!
229
00:11:46,439 --> 00:11:48,308
Narrator: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
IS STILL UNAWARE
230
00:11:48,308 --> 00:11:53,346
THAT FLIGHT 301
IS IN GRAVE DANGER.
231
00:11:53,346 --> 00:11:55,749
Erdem: NOT CLIMBING!
232
00:11:55,749 --> 00:11:57,217
WHAT AM I TO DO?
233
00:11:57,217 --> 00:11:59,953
Gergin: YOU CAN LEVEL OFF,
OUR ALTITUDE'S OKAY.
234
00:12:01,488 --> 00:12:05,225
Narrator:
THE PLANE IS FALLING FAST.
235
00:12:05,225 --> 00:12:06,693
Gergin: OKAY, 5,000 FEET.
236
00:12:06,693 --> 00:12:08,862
Narrator: CAPTAIN ERDEM
IS TRYING TO FLY A PLANE
237
00:12:08,862 --> 00:12:12,065
THAT'S BECOME VIRTUALLY
UNCONTROLLABLE.
238
00:12:12,065 --> 00:12:15,669
[SCREAMING]
239
00:12:15,669 --> 00:12:18,004
Erdem: THRUST LEVERS! THRUST!
240
00:12:18,004 --> 00:12:21,708
Narrator: GERGIN PUSHES
THE THROTTLES TO FULL POWER,
241
00:12:21,708 --> 00:12:22,542
BUT IT DOESN'T HELP.
242
00:12:22,542 --> 00:12:24,844
[GRUNTS]
243
00:12:24,844 --> 00:12:27,147
THE PLANE SPIRALS
TOWARD THE SEA.
244
00:12:27,147 --> 00:12:29,382
Evrenesoglu: SIR, PULL UP!
245
00:12:32,218 --> 00:12:34,554
Erdem: OH, WHAT'S HAPPENING?!
246
00:12:34,554 --> 00:12:36,356
AHHH!
247
00:12:36,356 --> 00:12:39,526
Controller: ALPHA LIMA WHISKEY
301, SANTO DOMINGO,
248
00:12:39,526 --> 00:12:41,728
COME IN, PLEASE.
249
00:12:41,728 --> 00:12:45,332
ALPHA LIMA WHISKEY 301,
250
00:12:45,332 --> 00:12:48,768
SANTO DOMINGO, COME IN, PLEASE.
251
00:12:48,768 --> 00:12:51,738
Narrator: LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES
AFTER TAKEOFF,
252
00:12:51,738 --> 00:12:55,842
BIRGENAIR FLIGHT 301
VANISHES FROM RADAR.
253
00:12:55,842 --> 00:12:57,043
Controller: ...COME IN, PLEASE.
254
00:13:04,451 --> 00:13:06,152
Narrator: THE DOMINICAN NAVY
BEGINS SEARCHING
255
00:13:06,152 --> 00:13:09,422
FOR THE MISSING PLANE
AND ITS PASSENGERS.
256
00:13:10,991 --> 00:13:13,126
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
257
00:13:13,126 --> 00:13:16,363
Anthony Jiminian, translated:
EN ROUTE, I WAS ALWAYS THINKING
OF WHAT I WOULD FIND.
258
00:13:16,363 --> 00:13:18,365
I THOUGHT I WOULD FIND
PEOPLE SCREAMING,
259
00:13:18,365 --> 00:13:20,800
PEOPLE YELLING, ASKING FOR HELP.
260
00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:23,203
Narrator: THEY DISCOVER
SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.
261
00:13:23,203 --> 00:13:26,339
THE STRONG SMELL OF JET FUEL
HANGS OVER THE WATER.
262
00:13:26,339 --> 00:13:29,009
PIECES OF WRECKAGE
FLOAT ON THE WAVES.
263
00:13:31,244 --> 00:13:33,980
Jiminian: I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,
THERE IS NO ONE ALIVE HERE.
264
00:13:33,980 --> 00:13:37,550
WE DIDN'T SEE ANY SURVIVORS,
AND WE DIDN'T SEE BODIES.
265
00:13:37,550 --> 00:13:41,321
I REALLY THOUGHT THE PLANE
HAD DISINTEGRATED ON IMPACT.
266
00:13:43,423 --> 00:13:45,525
Narrator: WITHIN HOURS,
MORE THAN JUST WRECKAGE
267
00:13:45,525 --> 00:13:48,028
BEGINS FLOATING TO THE SURFACE.
268
00:14:01,641 --> 00:14:04,644
AMERICAN AND DOMINICAN
RESCUE SHIPS SCOUR AN AREA
269
00:14:04,644 --> 00:14:08,181
OF MORE THAN 500 SQUARE MILES
FOR SURVIVORS.
270
00:14:10,683 --> 00:14:13,086
NONE ARE FOUND.
271
00:14:18,358 --> 00:14:19,993
NOW IT'S UP TO
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC'S
272
00:14:19,993 --> 00:14:22,462
AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT
INVESTIGATION BUREAU
273
00:14:22,462 --> 00:14:25,131
TO FIND OUT
WHAT CAUSED THIS ACCIDENT.
274
00:14:26,866 --> 00:14:28,234
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
275
00:14:28,234 --> 00:14:29,669
Man, translated:
WE ESTABLISHED A BASE CAMP
276
00:14:29,669 --> 00:14:32,405
AT A HOTEL
ON THE CABARETE BEACH,
277
00:14:32,405 --> 00:14:36,109
WHICH WAS DIRECTLY SOUTH
OF THE ACCIDENT SITE.
278
00:14:38,445 --> 00:14:40,346
Narrator:
NEARBY, EVIDENCE OF THE DISASTER
279
00:14:40,346 --> 00:14:42,582
REACHES DOMINICAN SHORES.
280
00:14:48,221 --> 00:14:50,757
EVEN THE SMALLEST PIECE
COULD BE A VALUABLE CLUE
281
00:14:50,757 --> 00:14:53,093
AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE CRASH.
282
00:14:57,197 --> 00:15:00,033
THE USA'S NATIONAL
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
283
00:15:00,033 --> 00:15:04,471
AGREES TO ASSIST THE DOMINICANS
WITH THEIR INVESTIGATION.
284
00:15:04,471 --> 00:15:05,972
Enmanuel Souffront: WELCOME TO
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
285
00:15:05,972 --> 00:15:07,640
I'M ENMANUEL SOUFFRONT.
286
00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:10,543
Narrator: THEY SEND
AN INVESTIGATOR TO PUERTO PLATA.
287
00:15:10,543 --> 00:15:12,445
Macintosh: WE COULD SEE
THAT THIS WAS GOING TO TAKE
288
00:15:12,445 --> 00:15:14,314
SOME INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
289
00:15:14,314 --> 00:15:16,549
TO GET TO THE BOTTOM
OF THE EVENT.
290
00:15:16,549 --> 00:15:18,751
Narrator: ROBERT MACINTOSH
WILL ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT
291
00:15:18,751 --> 00:15:21,521
FROM THE NTSB's
WASHINGTON OFFICES.
292
00:15:21,521 --> 00:15:23,056
Macintosh:
ANY SIGNAL FROM THE RECORDERS?
293
00:15:23,056 --> 00:15:26,793
THIS PARTICULAR ACCIDENT
WAS THE FIRST MAJOR LOSS
294
00:15:26,793 --> 00:15:31,564
OF A BOEING 757 IN THE WATER.
295
00:15:31,564 --> 00:15:34,234
THERE WAS ADDED URGENCY,
BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT
296
00:15:34,234 --> 00:15:39,506
WAS GOING INTO THE LIVERY OF
MANY AMERICAN-OPERATED AIRLINES,
297
00:15:39,506 --> 00:15:43,309
AND ON THE MARKET FOR
THE WORLDWIDE PASSENGER SERVICE.
298
00:15:44,878 --> 00:15:46,479
Narrator:
LIKE ALL COMMERCIAL AIRLINERS,
299
00:15:46,479 --> 00:15:49,883
THE BOEING 757 CARRIES
A COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER
300
00:15:49,883 --> 00:15:52,485
THAT RECORDS ALL THE SOUNDS
IN THE COCKPIT
301
00:15:52,485 --> 00:15:55,455
AND A FLIGHT DATA RECORDER THAT
RECORDS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION
302
00:15:55,455 --> 00:15:58,458
ABOUT THE PLANE'S OPERATION
DURING FLIGHT.
303
00:15:58,458 --> 00:16:00,560
Controller: SANTO DOMINGO,
GOOD EVENING.
304
00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,263
Maintosh:
WE'VE GOT UNDERWATER LOCATOR
BEACONS ON THESE RECORDERS.
305
00:16:03,263 --> 00:16:06,733
THEY WORK FOR 30 DAYS
UPON IMMERSION.
306
00:16:06,733 --> 00:16:08,168
Narrator: BUT THE OCEAN
WHERE THE PLANE CRASHED
307
00:16:08,168 --> 00:16:13,406
IS OVER 7,200 FEET DEEP.
308
00:16:13,406 --> 00:16:16,476
Souffront, translated:
WE NEEDED TO LOCATE THEM
BEFORE THE SIGNALS FADED,
309
00:16:16,476 --> 00:16:18,511
AND WE ALSO NEEDED
TO REMOVE THEM
310
00:16:18,511 --> 00:16:21,347
BEFORE THE DATA WAS
DAMAGED BY SALT WATER.
311
00:16:21,347 --> 00:16:24,417
SO WE WERE IN A RACE
AGAINST TIME.
312
00:16:26,586 --> 00:16:29,889
Narrator: THE NTSB ENLISTS
THE HELP OF THE U.S. NAVY,
313
00:16:29,889 --> 00:16:32,792
WHO EMPLOY A SUBMERSIBLE
CALLED THE CURV.
314
00:16:34,527 --> 00:16:37,063
IT'S ESSENTIALLY
A REMOTE-CONTROLLED SUBMARINE,
315
00:16:37,063 --> 00:16:40,867
WHICH CAN WORK AT DEPTHS NO
MANNED SUBMARINE COULD HANDLE.
316
00:16:46,539 --> 00:16:48,841
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
STUDY THE RADAR RECORDS,
317
00:16:48,841 --> 00:16:50,176
ALONG WITH THE CONVERSATION
318
00:16:50,176 --> 00:16:52,979
BETWEEN THE GROUND CONTROLLERS
AND THE CREW.
319
00:16:52,979 --> 00:16:56,649
Souffront: I HAVE THE RECORDING
FROM THE CONTROL TOWER.
320
00:16:56,649 --> 00:16:58,551
Gergin:
SANTO DOMINGO, GOOD EVENING.
321
00:16:58,551 --> 00:17:01,521
ALPHA LIMA WHISKEY, 301,
CLIMBING WITH YOU.
322
00:17:01,521 --> 00:17:05,858
Controller: ALPHA LIMA WHISKEY
301, CLIMB AND MAINTAIN 280.
323
00:17:05,858 --> 00:17:07,460
Gergin: OKAY, 280.
324
00:17:07,460 --> 00:17:09,896
Narrator: THE EXCHANGE BETWEEN
THE CONTROLLER AND FLIGHT 301
325
00:17:09,896 --> 00:17:11,264
IS NORMAL.
326
00:17:11,264 --> 00:17:14,567
THE INVESTIGATORS DETECT
NO SIGNS OF TROUBLE.
327
00:17:14,567 --> 00:17:16,536
Souffront: LAST COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN THEM
328
00:17:16,536 --> 00:17:20,974
WAS ONLY DISRUPTED
WITH A STANDBY.
329
00:17:20,974 --> 00:17:24,310
Controller: 301, SQUAWK 377.
330
00:17:24,310 --> 00:17:26,613
Gergin: STAND BY.
331
00:17:28,214 --> 00:17:29,115
Souffront: AS YOU HEARD,
THERE'S NO REASON
332
00:17:29,115 --> 00:17:31,384
WHY THIS PLANE WENT DOWN.
333
00:17:34,220 --> 00:17:35,722
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS COMB
THROUGH THE WRECKAGE
334
00:17:35,722 --> 00:17:38,057
THEY'VE RECOVERED.
335
00:17:38,057 --> 00:17:43,162
PIECES OF THE CABIN, LIFE VESTS,
EVEN PART OF THE LANDING GEAR
336
00:17:43,162 --> 00:17:44,664
HAVE ALL BEEN FOUND.
337
00:17:44,664 --> 00:17:46,332
EVERY PIECE OF DEBRIS IS STUDIED
338
00:17:46,332 --> 00:17:49,535
FOR SIGNS OF
AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE.
339
00:17:53,873 --> 00:17:55,441
THE CRASH WAS SO POWERFUL,
340
00:17:55,441 --> 00:17:59,379
IT HAS COMPRESSED COFFEE CANS
INTO FLAT PIECES OF TIN.
341
00:18:05,451 --> 00:18:07,820
THE WRECKAGE TELLS INVESTIGATORS
THAT THE CRASH
342
00:18:07,820 --> 00:18:12,625
OF BIRGENAIR FLIGHT 301
WAS SUDDEN AND VIOLENT.
343
00:18:12,625 --> 00:18:16,296
BUT THEY FIND NO EVIDENCE THAT
THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION ON BOARD.
344
00:18:18,898 --> 00:18:21,934
MAJOR SOUFFRONT LOOKS INTO
THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE PLANE,
345
00:18:21,934 --> 00:18:24,337
WHICH WAS CALLED INTO SERVICE
AT THE LAST MINUTE,
346
00:18:24,337 --> 00:18:26,706
MAY NOT HAVE BEEN READY
FOR THE FLIGHT.
347
00:18:30,043 --> 00:18:31,778
Macintosh: IT HAD BEEN
ON THE GROUND FOR SOME TIME
348
00:18:31,778 --> 00:18:35,648
IN PUERTO PLATA, AND THAT
BECAME INTERESTING TO US.
349
00:18:35,648 --> 00:18:37,884
WHY WOULD--WHY WOULD
AN OPERATING COMPANY
350
00:18:37,884 --> 00:18:40,486
HAVE AN AIRCRAFT SITTING THERE?
351
00:18:40,486 --> 00:18:42,221
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER
THAT THE PLANE
352
00:18:42,221 --> 00:18:44,857
WASN'T ON THE GROUND
FOR REPAIRS.
353
00:18:44,857 --> 00:18:46,426
BASED ON MAINTENANCE RECORDS,
354
00:18:46,426 --> 00:18:50,096
THE PLANE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN
MECHANICALLY SOUND.
355
00:18:50,096 --> 00:18:52,265
BIRGENAIR SIMPLY DIDN'T
HAVE ENOUGH PASSENGERS
356
00:18:52,265 --> 00:18:55,668
TO JUSTIFY THE FLIGHT
FINANCIALLY.
357
00:18:55,668 --> 00:18:58,338
SO THEY KEPT THE PLANE AND THE
CREW IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
358
00:18:58,338 --> 00:19:00,473
FOR ALMOST THREE WEEKS.
359
00:19:03,409 --> 00:19:05,812
THE PLANE'S MAINTENANCE RECORDS
TURN OUT TO BE ONE MORE
360
00:19:05,812 --> 00:19:08,281
IN A SERIES OF EMPTY LEADS.
361
00:19:13,219 --> 00:19:17,657
THE CURV ARRIVES
IN PUERTO PLATA HARBOR.
362
00:19:17,657 --> 00:19:21,294
ON FEBRUARY 28th, MORE THAN
THREE WEEKS AFTER THE CRASH,
363
00:19:21,294 --> 00:19:23,029
IT SLIPS BELOW THE WAVES,
364
00:19:23,029 --> 00:19:26,199
LOOKING FOR THE REMAINS
OF THE BIRGENAIR JET.
365
00:19:31,804 --> 00:19:35,241
IT TAKES THE ROBOTIC SUBMARINE
TWO HOURS JUST TO DESCEND
366
00:19:35,241 --> 00:19:38,778
THE 7,200 FEET
TO THE OCEAN FLOOR.
367
00:19:42,115 --> 00:19:47,854
FROM THERE, IT SENDS BACK IMAGES
OF THE WRECK OF FLIGHT 301.
368
00:19:47,854 --> 00:19:50,656
Michael Unzicker: THE COCKPIT
PRETTY MUCH WAS SITTING UPRIGHT,
369
00:19:50,656 --> 00:19:55,128
AND IT WAS PRETTY MUCH
THE NOSE OF THE PLANE, YOU KNOW.
370
00:19:55,128 --> 00:19:56,729
AND YOU COULD SEE
THE FRONT PART OF IT,
371
00:19:56,729 --> 00:20:01,934
IT WAS OBVIOUSLY BANGED UP
AND CRACKED AND FRAGMENTED.
372
00:20:01,934 --> 00:20:04,904
Narrator:
THE FLIGHT'S BLACK BOXES
ARE THE TOP PRIORITY.
373
00:20:04,904 --> 00:20:06,606
THE CURV QUICKLY
PICKS UP THE SIGNAL
374
00:20:06,606 --> 00:20:09,275
FROM A PINGER
ON ONE OF THE UNITS.
375
00:20:09,275 --> 00:20:12,879
OPERATORS MUST NOW MANEUVER
THE SUB TOWARD THE SOUND.
376
00:20:12,879 --> 00:20:14,447
THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE
TO SEE THE BOXES
377
00:20:14,447 --> 00:20:16,949
TO PICK THEM UP
WITH THE ROBOTIC ARM.
378
00:20:19,385 --> 00:20:24,357
IT TAKES JUST 90 MINUTES
TO FIND THE FIRST BLACK BOX.
379
00:20:24,357 --> 00:20:27,226
Unzicker: THE FIRST ONE WAS
SITTING OUT IN THE OPEN, OKAY.
380
00:20:27,226 --> 00:20:28,928
IT WAS WHERE THEY COULD SEE IT,
381
00:20:28,928 --> 00:20:30,963
AND THEY PICKED
THE FIRST BOX UP.
382
00:20:30,963 --> 00:20:32,365
THEY GRABBED A HOLD OF IT,
383
00:20:32,365 --> 00:20:35,601
AND THEY JUST KIND OF TUGGED
THE ARM UP IN PLACE,
384
00:20:35,601 --> 00:20:37,703
YOU KNOW, SO THAT
THEY WOULDN'T LOSE IT.
385
00:20:39,338 --> 00:20:41,674
Narrator: THE SECOND BLACK BOX
IS ALSO HEARD.
386
00:20:41,674 --> 00:20:43,409
BUT AFTER ALMOST TWO HOURS,
387
00:20:43,409 --> 00:20:46,446
THE CURV'S CAMERAS
STILL CAN'T SEE IT.
388
00:20:46,446 --> 00:20:48,014
Unzicker: YOU KNOW,
THEY KNEW IT WAS RIGHT THERE,
389
00:20:48,014 --> 00:20:51,317
AND THEY WERE SEARCHING
AROUND A DEBRIS PILE,
390
00:20:51,317 --> 00:20:55,521
AND THEN THEY DID FIND THE
SECOND BOX UNDER SOME DEBRIS.
391
00:21:04,630 --> 00:21:06,499
Narrator: FLIGHT 301'S
FLIGHT DATA RECORDER
392
00:21:06,499 --> 00:21:09,435
AND COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER
ARE BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE
393
00:21:09,435 --> 00:21:13,339
AND SENT TO THE NTSB LABS
IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
394
00:21:17,310 --> 00:21:20,947
INVESTIGATORS SOON UNCOVER
A STUNNING MISCOMMUNICATION
395
00:21:20,947 --> 00:21:24,484
BETWEEN A SEASONED PILOT
AND HIS PLANE.
396
00:21:29,356 --> 00:21:32,792
Narrator: TO UNRAVEL THE MYSTERY
OF BIRGENAIR FLIGHT 301,
397
00:21:32,792 --> 00:21:34,661
INVESTIGATORS ARE
COUNTING ON DATA
398
00:21:34,661 --> 00:21:37,964
FROM THE PLANE'S BLACK BOXES.
399
00:21:37,964 --> 00:21:41,735
Macintosh: THAT FLIGHT
DATA RECORDER WAS OUR KEY.
400
00:21:41,735 --> 00:21:46,373
SO THE TECHNICIANS GOT BUSY
AND GAVE US PLOTS,
401
00:21:46,373 --> 00:21:52,078
VISUAL PLOTS OF WHAT WAS GOING
ON WITH ENGINES AND AIRSPEEDS
402
00:21:52,078 --> 00:21:57,117
AND SO ON, TO ALLOW US TO TRY
AND UNDERSTAND WHY THAT AIRCRAFT
403
00:21:57,117 --> 00:22:02,188
SLOWED DOWN AND THEN SIMPLY
DEPARTED CONTROLLED FLIGHT
404
00:22:02,188 --> 00:22:04,758
AND ENTERED THE OCEAN.
405
00:22:04,758 --> 00:22:06,926
THE TOP IS THE PITCH,
406
00:22:06,926 --> 00:22:11,631
YOU'VE GOT THE AIRSPEED
AND THE ALTITUDE.
407
00:22:11,631 --> 00:22:14,901
BUT CHECK OUT
THE TIMELINE, 44.
408
00:22:14,901 --> 00:22:16,569
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
IMMEDIATELY NOTICE
409
00:22:16,569 --> 00:22:19,039
SOMETHING UNUSUAL
ABOUT THE FLIGHT.
410
00:22:19,039 --> 00:22:22,309
Macintosh:
15 DEGREES PITCH, NOSE UP?
411
00:22:22,309 --> 00:22:24,411
SEEMS HIGH.
412
00:22:24,411 --> 00:22:26,212
Souffront:
HE'S ALMOST THE MAXIMUM.
413
00:22:26,212 --> 00:22:29,349
Macintosh:
AND THEN IT STAYS THAT WAY.
414
00:22:29,349 --> 00:22:31,918
Narrator: THE PLANE BEGAN
CLIMBING NORMALLY.
415
00:22:36,556 --> 00:22:39,359
Erdem:
CENTER AUTOPILOT ON, PLEASE.
416
00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:40,627
Narrator:
BUT INVESTIGATORS NOTICE
417
00:22:40,627 --> 00:22:43,563
THAT SHORTLY AFTER THE AUTOPILOT
WAS SWITCHED ON,
418
00:22:43,563 --> 00:22:46,066
THE PLANE'S NOSE PITCHED UPWARD.
419
00:22:46,066 --> 00:22:48,068
THEY ALSO SEE THAT
THE PLANE'S AIRSPEED
420
00:22:48,068 --> 00:22:50,770
SEEMS MUCH HIGHER
THAN IT SHOULD BE.
421
00:22:50,770 --> 00:22:55,208
Souffront:
350 KNOTS--IT CAN'T BE RIGHT.
422
00:22:55,208 --> 00:22:58,111
Macintosh: THIS BROUGHT US
TO THE QUESTION OF
423
00:22:58,111 --> 00:23:00,480
PERHAPS WE SHOULD BE LOOKING
OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE,
424
00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:01,915
AT THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER,
425
00:23:01,915 --> 00:23:06,219
AND SEE WHAT KIND OF INFORMATION
WAS COMING FROM THERE.
426
00:23:08,788 --> 00:23:11,291
CAN YOU CUE THAT UP AND PLAY IT?
427
00:23:11,291 --> 00:23:13,293
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS SOON
START FILLING IN
428
00:23:13,293 --> 00:23:15,195
THE MISSING PIECES
OF THE PUZZLE.
429
00:23:15,195 --> 00:23:18,198
Gergin: 80 KNOTS.
430
00:23:18,198 --> 00:23:20,633
Erdem: MY AIRSPEED INDICATOR'S
NOT WORKING.
431
00:23:20,633 --> 00:23:22,235
Narrator: THEY LEARN
THAT CAPTAIN ERDEM
432
00:23:22,235 --> 00:23:24,971
NOTICED THAT HIS AIRSPEED
INDICATOR WASN'T WORKING.
433
00:23:24,971 --> 00:23:25,772
Erdem: IS YOURS WORKING?
434
00:23:25,772 --> 00:23:27,507
Gergin: YES, SIR.
435
00:23:27,507 --> 00:23:28,775
Erdem: YOU TELL ME.
436
00:23:28,775 --> 00:23:30,877
Gergin: V-1.
437
00:23:30,877 --> 00:23:32,278
ROTATE.
438
00:23:32,278 --> 00:23:33,646
Narrator: BUT ERDEM DIDN'T
THINK THE PROBLEM
439
00:23:33,646 --> 00:23:37,484
WAS SERIOUS ENOUGH
TO ABORT HIS TAKEOFF.
440
00:23:37,484 --> 00:23:40,019
THE TAPE REVEALS THAT
ONCE THEY WERE AIRBORNE,
441
00:23:40,019 --> 00:23:41,788
THE CREW QUICKLY
BECAME OVERWHELMED
442
00:23:41,788 --> 00:23:43,356
BY A SERIES OF WARNINGS.
443
00:23:43,356 --> 00:23:46,292
Erdem: RUDDER RATIO,
MACH AIRSPEED TRIM?
444
00:23:46,292 --> 00:23:49,763
Narrator:
TO INVESTIGATORS, THE CAPTAIN
BECAME INCREASINGLY BEWILDERED
445
00:23:49,763 --> 00:23:52,465
BY THE MESSAGES HE WAS GETTING
FROM HIS PLANE.
446
00:23:52,465 --> 00:23:55,402
Gergin: MINE SHOWS ONLY 200 NOW,
AND DECREASING, SIR.
447
00:23:55,402 --> 00:23:57,103
Erdem: BOTH OF THEM ARE WRONG.
448
00:23:57,103 --> 00:23:58,438
WHAT CAN WE DO?
449
00:23:58,438 --> 00:23:59,773
Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS DON'T KNOW WHY
450
00:23:59,773 --> 00:24:02,976
THE CAPTAIN'S AIRSPEED INDICATOR
WASN'T WORKING.
451
00:24:02,976 --> 00:24:04,677
THEY DO NOTICE THAT
THE CAPTAIN'S GAUGE
452
00:24:04,677 --> 00:24:08,081
CAME BACK TO LIFE
AS THE PLANE STARTED TO CLIMB.
453
00:24:08,081 --> 00:24:09,749
Erdem: OKAY, IT'S NO MATTER.
454
00:24:09,749 --> 00:24:12,152
LET'S PULL THE AIRSPEED,
LET'S SEE.
455
00:24:12,152 --> 00:24:14,421
Narrator:
IT'S A TELLING DISCOVERY,
456
00:24:14,421 --> 00:24:16,990
WHICH LEADS INVESTIGATORS
TO FOCUS THEIR ATTENTION
457
00:24:16,990 --> 00:24:21,461
ON THE DEVICE THAT FEEDS THE
GAUGE'S AIRSPEED INFORMATION--
458
00:24:21,461 --> 00:24:23,263
THE PITOT TUBE.
459
00:24:24,764 --> 00:24:27,634
A PITOT TUBE IS
AN AIRSPEED SENSOR.
460
00:24:27,634 --> 00:24:31,638
A PIPE OPEN AT ONE END
THAT RESPONDS TO AIR PRESSURE.
461
00:24:34,374 --> 00:24:35,909
WHEN THE PLANE TRAVELS FORWARD,
462
00:24:35,909 --> 00:24:38,912
AN INCREASE IN AIR PRESSURE
INSIDE THE PITOT TUBE
463
00:24:38,912 --> 00:24:42,215
CAUSES THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR'S
NEEDLE TO MOVE.
464
00:24:44,284 --> 00:24:46,686
Erdem: MY AIRSPEED INDICATOR'S
NOT WORKING.
465
00:24:50,657 --> 00:24:53,393
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS SUSPECT
THAT THE PITOT TUBE,
466
00:24:53,393 --> 00:24:56,930
WHICH FED THE CAPTAIN'S AIRSPEED
INDICATOR ON THE BIRGENAIR JET,
467
00:24:56,930 --> 00:24:58,531
WAS SOMEHOW BLOCKED.
468
00:25:00,667 --> 00:25:02,669
BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHY.
469
00:25:07,607 --> 00:25:11,244
MAJOR SOUFFRONT HAS A THEORY.
470
00:25:11,244 --> 00:25:13,947
SOUFFRONT SUSPECTS THAT
MECHANICS MAY HAVE TAPED OVER
471
00:25:13,947 --> 00:25:16,149
THE PITOT TUBES
DURING MAINTENANCE.
472
00:25:16,149 --> 00:25:19,252
IT'S A COMMON PROCEDURE,
BUT IF THE TAPE WASN'T REMOVED,
473
00:25:19,252 --> 00:25:21,588
IT COULD HAVE CAUSED
THE DEADLY ACCIDENT.
474
00:25:21,588 --> 00:25:23,256
Souffront:
...WAS LEFT ON ACCIDENTALLY?
475
00:25:23,256 --> 00:25:26,459
Technician: NO, SIR,
THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO BE TAPED.
476
00:25:26,459 --> 00:25:28,761
WE NEVER DID ANYTHING
WITH THE PITOTS.
477
00:25:30,530 --> 00:25:33,666
Souffront: DID YOU PUT
THE PITOT COVERS BACK ON THEM
478
00:25:33,666 --> 00:25:35,602
WHEN THE MAINTENANCE
WAS FINISHED?
479
00:25:35,602 --> 00:25:37,704
Technician: IT DIDN'T HAVE
ANY COVERS WITH IT.
480
00:25:37,704 --> 00:25:41,241
WE DIDN'T TAKE ANY OFF,
AND WE DIDN'T PUT ANY ON.
481
00:25:47,247 --> 00:25:49,182
Souffront: AND THAT'S WHEN
WE DISCOVERED THAT THE PITOTS
482
00:25:49,182 --> 00:25:50,717
HAD NOT BEEN COVERED
483
00:25:50,717 --> 00:25:53,520
FOR THE 25 DAYS THAT
THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED PARKED
484
00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:58,458
AT THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
IN PUERTO PLATA.
485
00:25:58,458 --> 00:26:02,061
Narrator: A PITOT COVER SLIPS
OVER THE END OF THE TUBE.
486
00:26:02,061 --> 00:26:04,898
REGULATIONS STATE THAT
THESE COVERS MUST BE INSTALLED
487
00:26:04,898 --> 00:26:06,766
ANY TIME A PLANE WILL BE
ON THE GROUND
488
00:26:06,766 --> 00:26:09,536
FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
489
00:26:09,536 --> 00:26:12,672
A PROMINENT FLAG IS MEANT
TO REMIND PILOTS AND TECHNICIANS
490
00:26:12,672 --> 00:26:16,709
TO REMOVE THEM AGAIN
BEFORE TAKEOFF.
491
00:26:16,709 --> 00:26:19,512
INVESTIGATORS FIND THAT
THE BIRGENAIR PITOT TUBES
492
00:26:19,512 --> 00:26:20,980
WERE NEVER COVERED,
493
00:26:20,980 --> 00:26:24,684
AND SOMEHOW THE UNCOVERED TUBES
HAD BECOME BLOCKED.
494
00:26:26,519 --> 00:26:29,622
RECOVERING THE TUBE FROM
THE OCEAN FLOOR IS THE ONLY WAY
495
00:26:29,622 --> 00:26:32,725
FOR INVESTIGATORS TO ANSWER
A PRESSING QUESTION--
496
00:26:32,725 --> 00:26:35,261
WHAT BLOCKED THE PITOT TUBES?
497
00:26:35,261 --> 00:26:36,829
Macintosh:
NOBODY KNOWS FOR SURE.
498
00:26:36,829 --> 00:26:41,301
THE EVIDENCE IS 7,000 FEET
DOWN IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
499
00:26:41,301 --> 00:26:45,038
Narrator: BUT EVEN IF
THE PITOT TUBES WERE BLOCKED,
500
00:26:45,038 --> 00:26:49,409
HOW COULD IT HAVE CAUSED
THE CRASH OF A MODERN JET,
501
00:26:49,409 --> 00:26:52,879
AND THE DEATHS OF 189 PEOPLE?
502
00:26:52,879 --> 00:26:54,180
Macintosh: IT'S NOT LIKE A CAR,
503
00:26:54,180 --> 00:26:55,615
WHERE YOU HAVE ONLY
ONE SPEEDOMETER.
504
00:26:55,615 --> 00:26:57,550
IN THIS KIND OF AN AIRCRAFT,
505
00:26:57,550 --> 00:27:02,956
YOU HAVE A TOTAL OF THREE
AIRSPEED INDICATORS,
506
00:27:02,956 --> 00:27:04,991
AND THERE'S A FLIGHT
DATA COMPUTER,
507
00:27:04,991 --> 00:27:08,528
WHICH IS COMPUTING THE VELOCITY
IN RELATION TO THE GROUND.
508
00:27:10,229 --> 00:27:12,665
Narrator: USING INFORMATION
FROM THE BLACK BOXES,
509
00:27:12,665 --> 00:27:16,035
THE NTSB PIECES TOGETHER
A REAL-TIME ANIMATION
510
00:27:16,035 --> 00:27:19,272
FROM LIFTOFF TO THE FINAL
MOMENTS OF FLIGHT 301.
511
00:27:19,272 --> 00:27:21,374
Macintosh:
THIS IS THE INDICATOR.
512
00:27:21,374 --> 00:27:24,677
THE CAPTAIN ACTUALLY REALIZED
THAT HIS SPEED INDICATOR
513
00:27:24,677 --> 00:27:25,745
WAS NOT WORKING.
514
00:27:25,745 --> 00:27:26,512
Erdem: IS YOURS WORKING?
515
00:27:26,512 --> 00:27:28,114
Gergin: YES, SIR.
516
00:27:28,114 --> 00:27:29,983
Narrator: THE BIG QUESTION
FOR INVESTIGATORS
517
00:27:29,983 --> 00:27:33,820
IS HOW COULD ONE FAULTY AIRSPEED
SOURCE RESULT IN A CRASH?
518
00:27:33,820 --> 00:27:36,689
Macintosh:
HE REALIZED IT AT A TIME
WHEN HE COULD HAVE ABORTED,
519
00:27:36,689 --> 00:27:37,857
COULD HAVE TURNED BACK.
520
00:27:37,857 --> 00:27:39,926
BUT HE CHOSE TO CONTINUE.
521
00:27:39,926 --> 00:27:42,962
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS ANALYZE
THE CAPTAIN'S EVERY MOVE
522
00:27:42,962 --> 00:27:46,299
AND FIND THAT HE ALLOWED
A SMALL ERROR TO ESCALATE
523
00:27:46,299 --> 00:27:48,668
AND ULTIMATELY OVERWHELM HIM.
524
00:27:57,043 --> 00:27:58,645
MOMENTS AFTER LIFTOFF,
525
00:27:58,645 --> 00:28:02,015
CAPTAIN ERDEM'S AIRSPEED
INDICATOR APPEARS TO BE WORKING.
526
00:28:02,015 --> 00:28:03,616
Macintosh:
THAT MEANS IT'S AT ODDS...
527
00:28:03,616 --> 00:28:06,119
Narrator: BUT INVESTIGATORS
SUSPECT THE GAUGE IS RESPONDING
528
00:28:06,119 --> 00:28:07,487
TO CHANGES IN ALTITUDE.
529
00:28:07,487 --> 00:28:10,490
Erdem: CLIMB THRUST.
530
00:28:10,490 --> 00:28:13,159
Narrator: AS THE PLANE CLIMBS
THROUGH THE THINNING ATMOSPHERE,
531
00:28:13,159 --> 00:28:16,229
THE AIR TRAPPED
INSIDE THE TUBE EXPANDS,
532
00:28:16,229 --> 00:28:19,065
CAUSING A BUILDUP OF PRESSURE.
533
00:28:19,065 --> 00:28:20,700
INSIDE THE COCKPIT,
534
00:28:20,700 --> 00:28:24,037
THIS CAUSES THE AIRSPEED
INDICATOR NEEDLE TO DEFLECT.
535
00:28:24,037 --> 00:28:27,206
EVEN THOUGH ALTITUDE IS CAUSING
THE INCREASE IN PRESSURE,
536
00:28:27,206 --> 00:28:30,977
THE SENSORS MISTAKENLY READ IT
AS AN INCREASE IN AIRSPEED.
537
00:28:30,977 --> 00:28:34,347
Macintosh: SO AT THIS POINT,
THE TAKEOFF IS...
538
00:28:34,347 --> 00:28:36,883
Narrator: CAPTAIN ERDEM MAY
HAVE HAD FIVE SEPARATE SOURCES
539
00:28:36,883 --> 00:28:39,085
OF AIRSPEED DATA TO RELY ON.
540
00:28:39,085 --> 00:28:42,021
BUT INVESTIGATORS NOTICE THAT
WHEN THE TROUBLE STARTED,
541
00:28:42,021 --> 00:28:44,057
HE WASN'T FLYING THE PLANE...
542
00:28:44,057 --> 00:28:45,725
Erdem:
CENTER AUTOPILOT ON, PLEASE.
543
00:28:45,725 --> 00:28:47,794
Gergin: CENTER AUTOPILOT
HAS COMMAND.
544
00:28:47,794 --> 00:28:48,795
Erdem: THANK YOU.
545
00:28:48,795 --> 00:28:51,431
Narrator: ...THE AUTOPILOT WAS.
546
00:28:51,431 --> 00:28:53,633
AND UNLESS THE CREW
RECONFIGURES IT,
547
00:28:53,633 --> 00:28:56,069
THE AUTOPILOT GETS
ITS AIRSPEED INFORMATION
548
00:28:56,069 --> 00:28:58,838
FROM ONLY ONE SOURCE.
549
00:28:58,838 --> 00:29:01,641
Macintosh: REMEMBER,
THE AUTOPILOT GETS ITS DATA
550
00:29:01,641 --> 00:29:06,379
ONLY FROM THE CAPTAIN'S PITOT
TUBE, THE ONE THAT WAS BLOCKED.
551
00:29:06,379 --> 00:29:07,980
Narrator:
THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE TROUBLE
552
00:29:07,980 --> 00:29:12,985
ON BIRGENAIR FLIGHT 301 BEGAN
WHEN THE AUTOPILOT TOOK OVER.
553
00:29:15,288 --> 00:29:18,658
Macintosh: RIGHT AFTER
THE AUTOPILOT IS ENGAGED,
554
00:29:18,658 --> 00:29:20,626
THE PLANE'S NOSE BEGINS TO RISE.
555
00:29:20,626 --> 00:29:23,196
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS SUSPECT
THAT THE CREW DIDN'T REALIZE
556
00:29:23,196 --> 00:29:25,131
THAT THE BLOCKED PITOT TUBE
557
00:29:25,131 --> 00:29:28,534
WAS FEEDING THE AUTOPILOT
FAULTY INFORMATION.
558
00:29:28,534 --> 00:29:32,105
THE COMPUTER REGISTERED THAT
THE PLANE WAS TRAVELING TOO FAST
559
00:29:32,105 --> 00:29:34,373
AND RAISED THE NOSE
TO SLOW IT DOWN.
560
00:29:34,373 --> 00:29:37,110
Macintosh:
IT SOON RISES TO 15 DEGREES.
561
00:29:37,110 --> 00:29:38,711
THEN IT STAYS THERE.
562
00:29:38,711 --> 00:29:41,247
Narrator: RAISING THE NOSE
WORKS LIKE AN AIR BRAKE--
563
00:29:41,247 --> 00:29:44,383
IT SLOWS THE PLANE
BY CREATING DRAG.
564
00:29:44,383 --> 00:29:46,819
THE AUTOPILOT IS PROGRAMMED
TO NEVER BRING THE NOSE
565
00:29:46,819 --> 00:29:49,355
HIGHER THAN ABOUT 15 DEGREES.
566
00:29:49,355 --> 00:29:54,427
ANY HIGHER AND THE PLANE WOULD
SLOW DOWN TOO MUCH AND STALL.
567
00:29:54,427 --> 00:29:56,229
Macintosh: THE AUTOPILOT'S
A PRETTY SMART GUY.
568
00:29:56,229 --> 00:30:00,066
HE ALREADY KNOWS HE'S GOT ALL
THE POWER THAT HE'S GONNA GET
569
00:30:00,066 --> 00:30:02,101
FOR THE CLIMB.
570
00:30:02,101 --> 00:30:05,304
THE ONLY THING FOR THE AUTOPILOT
TO DO IS RAISE THE NOSE.
571
00:30:05,304 --> 00:30:06,906
AND IT RAISED THE NOSE
OF THE AIRPLANE
572
00:30:06,906 --> 00:30:09,342
TO ITS LIMITS OF AUTHORITY.
573
00:30:09,342 --> 00:30:12,712
Narrator: BUT THE AUTOPILOT WAS
REACTING TO FAULTY INFORMATION.
574
00:30:12,712 --> 00:30:15,982
MOMENTS LATER, IT SENT OUT
TWO DIFFERENT WARNINGS...
575
00:30:15,982 --> 00:30:18,518
Erdem: RUDDER RATIO,
MACH AIRSPEED TRIM?
576
00:30:18,518 --> 00:30:20,286
Narrator: ...THAT THE PLANE
WAS TRAVELING TOO FAST
577
00:30:20,286 --> 00:30:22,088
TO BE CONTROLLED SAFELY.
578
00:30:22,088 --> 00:30:24,524
Cox: AND THE AIRPLANE BEGINS
PICKING UP WARNINGS,
579
00:30:24,524 --> 00:30:26,759
RUDDER RATIO,
A VARIETY OF THINGS
580
00:30:26,759 --> 00:30:30,129
THAT THE AIRPLANE
IS SENSING PROBLEMS.
581
00:30:31,598 --> 00:30:34,501
Erdem: OK, THERE IS SOMETHING
CRAZY HERE. DO YOU SEE IT?
582
00:30:35,835 --> 00:30:37,771
Gergin: YES, THERE IS
SOMETHING CRAZY.
583
00:30:37,771 --> 00:30:41,141
MINE SHOWS ONLY 200 NOW,
AND DECREASING, SIR.
584
00:30:41,141 --> 00:30:42,575
Erdem: BOTH OF THEM ARE WRONG.
585
00:30:42,575 --> 00:30:44,978
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS REALIZE
THAT CAPTAIN ERDEM
586
00:30:44,978 --> 00:30:47,847
WRONGLY CONCLUDED THAT
BOTH AIRSPEED INDICATORS
587
00:30:47,847 --> 00:30:49,549
WERE MALFUNCTIONING.
588
00:30:49,549 --> 00:30:53,219
IN FACT, HIS FIRST OFFICER'S
GAUGE WAS ALWAYS CORRECT--
589
00:30:53,219 --> 00:30:56,256
THE PLANE WAS TRAVELING
MUCH TOO SLOWLY.
590
00:30:56,256 --> 00:30:57,691
Erdem: WHAT CAN WE DO?
591
00:30:57,691 --> 00:30:58,958
Macintosh: CAPTAIN ERDEM
NO LONGER KNOWS
592
00:30:58,958 --> 00:31:01,761
WHICH INSTRUMENTS TO TRUST.
593
00:31:01,761 --> 00:31:03,229
Erdem: LET'S CHECK
THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS.
594
00:31:03,229 --> 00:31:05,498
Macintosh: AS THEY SAW
THESE CAUTION LIGHTS,
595
00:31:05,498 --> 00:31:07,067
THEY DECIDED THEY WERE
GOING TO START PULLING
596
00:31:07,067 --> 00:31:08,334
SOME CIRCUIT BREAKERS.
597
00:31:08,334 --> 00:31:11,538
NOW, THAT WOULD BE
RATHER STRANGE.
598
00:31:11,538 --> 00:31:14,374
Cox: THE ACTIONS OF TRYING
TO RESET CIRCUIT BREAKERS
599
00:31:14,374 --> 00:31:19,379
IS SOMETHING THAT PILOTS
OF OLDER GENERATIONS' AIRCRAFT
600
00:31:19,379 --> 00:31:22,415
HAVE LEARNED VIA EXPERIENCE
OF SOMETIMES BEING ABLE
601
00:31:22,415 --> 00:31:27,087
TO GET AN ERRANT SYSTEM
BACK FUNCTIONAL.
602
00:31:27,087 --> 00:31:30,457
Narrator:
RESETTING THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
SILENCED THE ALARMS.
603
00:31:30,457 --> 00:31:32,692
Macintosh: BUT THAT NEEDLE
CONTINUED TO CLIMB
604
00:31:32,692 --> 00:31:34,994
AROUND THE CLOCK FACE
605
00:31:34,994 --> 00:31:39,933
UNTIL IT ACTIVATED
THE OVER-SPEED WARNING.
606
00:31:39,933 --> 00:31:41,434
[ALARM BEEPING]
607
00:31:41,434 --> 00:31:43,470
Narrator: THE AUTOPILOT SYSTEM
SENT YET ANOTHER WARNING
608
00:31:43,470 --> 00:31:46,106
THAT THE PLANE WAS
TRAVELING TOO FAST.
609
00:31:46,106 --> 00:31:48,475
BUT THE REALITY WAS
JUST THE OPPOSITE.
610
00:31:48,475 --> 00:31:51,978
THE PLANE WAS SLOWING DOWN.
611
00:31:51,978 --> 00:31:54,781
Macintosh: AT THIS POINT,
THE OVER-SPEED INDICATOR IS ON.
612
00:31:54,781 --> 00:31:57,717
THEY'RE GOING TOO SLOW, THEY
THINK THEY'RE GOING TOO FAST,
613
00:31:57,717 --> 00:31:59,919
AND CONFUSION HAS SET IN.
614
00:31:59,919 --> 00:32:01,921
Erdem: LET'S PULL THE AIRSPEED,
LET'S SEE.
615
00:32:01,921 --> 00:32:06,760
Narrator:
THAT'S WHEN CAPTAIN ERDEM
MADE THE GRAVEST ERROR OF ALL.
616
00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:10,263
Macintosh: YOU CAN SEE THAT HE
NOW PULLS BACK ON HIS THROTTLES.
617
00:32:10,263 --> 00:32:11,564
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS REALIZE
618
00:32:11,564 --> 00:32:14,334
THAT AT THE PLANE'S
ALREADY SLOW SPEED...
619
00:32:14,334 --> 00:32:16,336
[SCREAMING]
620
00:32:16,336 --> 00:32:19,172
...PULLING BACK ON THE THROTTLES
WAS DISASTROUS.
621
00:32:19,172 --> 00:32:20,974
THE CREW GOT
THE MOST SEVERE WARNING
622
00:32:20,974 --> 00:32:23,643
THAT A PLANE CAN SEND OUT.
623
00:32:23,643 --> 00:32:26,246
Macintosh: AND THAT'S WHEN
HE GETS THE STICK SHAKER.
624
00:32:26,246 --> 00:32:27,781
Erdem: GOD! GOD!
625
00:32:27,781 --> 00:32:29,682
Macintosh: HE'S GOT A TACTILE
SENSE COMING THROUGH
626
00:32:29,682 --> 00:32:33,319
HIS FLIGHT CONTROLS THAT
LITERALLY SHAKES THE STICK
627
00:32:33,319 --> 00:32:36,456
AND SAYS, YOU'VE GOT
TO LOWER THIS NOSE.
628
00:32:39,459 --> 00:32:43,596
Narrator:
IN A MATTER OF SECONDS,
CAPTAIN ERDEM WAS FIRST WARNED
629
00:32:43,596 --> 00:32:45,865
THAT HIS PLANE WAS
TRAVELING TOO FAST,
630
00:32:45,865 --> 00:32:48,568
AND THEN THAT IT WAS TRAVELING
DANGEROUSLY SLOWLY.
631
00:32:48,568 --> 00:32:50,503
Cox: THEY'RE IN DIRECT
OPPOSITION OF EACH OTHER,
632
00:32:50,503 --> 00:32:53,439
AND TWO WARNINGS THAT
YOU WOULD NEVER EXPECT TO GET
633
00:32:53,439 --> 00:32:55,675
ONE RIGHT BEHIND THE OTHER.
634
00:32:55,675 --> 00:32:58,611
Narrator: THE AUTOPILOT IS
PROGRAMMED TO ALWAYS DISCONNECT
635
00:32:58,611 --> 00:33:00,780
WHEN THE STICK SHAKER ACTIVATES.
636
00:33:00,780 --> 00:33:04,818
IT'S UP TO THE PILOT TO GET
THE PLANE OUT OF A STALL.
637
00:33:04,818 --> 00:33:07,620
Macintosh: ONCE THE AUTOPILOT
REACHED ITS LIMITS OF AUTHORITY,
638
00:33:07,620 --> 00:33:11,791
IT SAID, "I'VE DONE
ALL I CAN DO, I'M OUT OF HERE."
639
00:33:11,791 --> 00:33:13,960
Narrator:
WHEN THE AUTOPILOT DISENGAGED,
640
00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:17,697
CAPTAIN ERDEM SUDDENLY FOUND
HIMSELF IN CONTROL OF THE PLANE
641
00:33:17,697 --> 00:33:19,999
AT THE MOMENT OF
HIS GREATEST CONFUSION.
642
00:33:19,999 --> 00:33:22,101
Macintosh:
IF YOU WATCH THE PLANE
AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN...
643
00:33:22,101 --> 00:33:24,137
Narrator: THE COCKPIT RECORDINGS
LEAD INVESTIGATORS
644
00:33:24,137 --> 00:33:26,706
TO A STUNNING CONCLUSION--
645
00:33:26,706 --> 00:33:29,242
CAPTAIN ERDEM MAY NOT HAVE
RECOGNIZED THAT HIS PLANE
646
00:33:29,242 --> 00:33:31,010
WAS ABOUT TO STALL,
647
00:33:31,010 --> 00:33:33,246
BUT THE RELIEF PILOT
BEHIND HIM DID.
648
00:33:33,246 --> 00:33:34,647
Evrenesoglu: A.D.I.!
649
00:33:34,647 --> 00:33:37,450
Macintosh: THIS ADDITIONAL PILOT
INTERVENED TO SAY,
650
00:33:37,450 --> 00:33:39,052
"A.D.I.! A.D.I."
651
00:33:39,052 --> 00:33:41,387
IN OTHER WORDS,
LOOK AT THAT A.D.I.,
652
00:33:41,387 --> 00:33:43,523
AND PUT YOURSELF
WHERE YOU WOULD NORMALLY SEE
653
00:33:43,523 --> 00:33:45,225
THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT
654
00:33:45,225 --> 00:33:48,761
FIVE DEGREES NOSE HIGH,
TEN DEGREES.
655
00:33:48,761 --> 00:33:51,297
Cox: SO WHEN THE RESERVE PILOT
SAYS, "A.D.I.,"
656
00:33:51,297 --> 00:33:54,334
HE IS ATTEMPTING TO FOCUS
THE CAPTAIN'S ATTENTION
657
00:33:54,334 --> 00:33:59,038
TO ROLL AND PITCH, WHICH
ARE BECOMING PROBLEMATIC.
658
00:33:59,038 --> 00:34:01,074
Narrator: THE RELIEF PILOT
WANTED CAPTAIN ERDEM
659
00:34:01,074 --> 00:34:02,842
TO RECOGNIZE THAT
THE PLANE'S NOSE
660
00:34:02,842 --> 00:34:05,478
WAS PITCHED DANGEROUSLY SKYWARD.
661
00:34:05,478 --> 00:34:07,847
INVESTIGATORS CAN HEAR
FIRST OFFICER GERGIN
662
00:34:07,847 --> 00:34:09,582
TRYING TO CONVEY
THE SAME MESSAGE.
663
00:34:09,582 --> 00:34:11,284
Gergin: NOSE DOWN!
664
00:34:11,284 --> 00:34:12,986
Cox: AT THIS POINT,
THE FIRST OFFICER'S ACTUALLY
665
00:34:12,986 --> 00:34:15,321
TRYING TO LEAD THE CAPTAIN
TO SOME SOLUTIONS,
666
00:34:15,321 --> 00:34:18,758
BUT NOT ACTUALLY TAKE CONTROL
OF THE AIRPLANE.
667
00:34:18,758 --> 00:34:21,227
Narrator: WHAT THE 757
DESPERATELY NEEDED
668
00:34:21,227 --> 00:34:24,364
WAS AIRFLOW OVER THE WINGS
TO GENERATE LIFT.
669
00:34:24,364 --> 00:34:29,502
THE ONLY WAY TO GET THAT WAS
TO POINT THE NOSE DOWN AND DIVE.
670
00:34:29,502 --> 00:34:32,238
WHAT PUZZLES INVESTIGATORS
IS THAT THE FIRST OFFICER
671
00:34:32,238 --> 00:34:35,341
HAD A CONTROL COLUMN
IDENTICAL TO THE CAPTAIN'S.
672
00:34:35,341 --> 00:34:38,678
HE COULD HAVE PUSHED IT AND
BROUGHT THE NOSE DOWN HIMSELF.
673
00:34:38,678 --> 00:34:42,282
HE MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO SAVE THE PLANE.
674
00:34:42,282 --> 00:34:43,917
[SCREAMING]
675
00:34:43,917 --> 00:34:45,518
BUT HE DIDN'T.
676
00:34:45,518 --> 00:34:47,620
INSTEAD, HE AND THE OTHER
TURKISH CREW MEMBER
677
00:34:47,620 --> 00:34:50,156
CONTINUED OFFERING SUGGESTIONS
678
00:34:50,156 --> 00:34:52,258
TO THEIR MORE EXPERIENCED
BUT OVERWHELMED CAPTAIN.
679
00:34:52,258 --> 00:34:55,061
Erdem: NOT CLIMBING,
WHAT AM I TO DO?
680
00:34:55,061 --> 00:34:57,130
Gergin: YOU CAN LEVEL OFF,
OUR ALTITUDE'S OKAY.
681
00:34:57,130 --> 00:34:59,198
Narrator: THE RECORDING SHOWS
THAT CAPTAIN ERDEM
682
00:34:59,198 --> 00:35:03,102
IGNORED VALUABLE ADVICE THAT
COULD HAVE SAVED THE PLANE.
683
00:35:03,102 --> 00:35:04,537
Cox: AND IN THE BIRGENAIR CASE,
684
00:35:04,537 --> 00:35:07,507
THERE'S A CASE OF A RELATIVELY
JUNIOR FIRST OFFICER
685
00:35:07,507 --> 00:35:10,944
LOOKING AT ONE OF THE MOST
SENIOR CAPTAINS ON THE AIRLINE.
686
00:35:10,944 --> 00:35:14,814
IT IS NOT CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE
FOR HIM TO SAY,
687
00:35:14,814 --> 00:35:16,983
"I'M GONNA TAKE THE AIRPLANE
AWAY FROM YOU."
688
00:35:16,983 --> 00:35:21,587
INSTEAD, HE TRIES TO ASSIST THE
CAPTAIN, TO LEAD THE CAPTAIN,
689
00:35:21,587 --> 00:35:24,324
BUT LEAVE THE CAPTAIN
IN COMMAND.
690
00:35:24,324 --> 00:35:27,961
OTHER CULTURES, OTHER TRAINING,
OTHER AIRLINES
691
00:35:27,961 --> 00:35:30,697
MAY VERY WELL HAVE REQUIRED
THE FIRST OFFICER
692
00:35:30,697 --> 00:35:33,833
TO PHYSICALLY TAKE CONTROL
OF THE AIRPLANE.
693
00:35:33,833 --> 00:35:38,371
Macintosh: I THINK THE SOCIAL
ATMOSPHERE IN THE COCKPIT
694
00:35:38,371 --> 00:35:42,041
WILL PREVAIL TO REVERE
AGE AND EXPERIENCE
695
00:35:42,041 --> 00:35:44,944
TO THE POINT WHERE
IT CAN KILL SOMEBODY.
696
00:35:44,944 --> 00:35:47,246
AND IN THIS CASE,
IT LOOKS LIKE IT DID.
697
00:35:47,246 --> 00:35:48,982
Narrator: THE FLIGHT
DATA RECORDER REVEALS
698
00:35:48,982 --> 00:35:51,084
THAT INSTEAD OF
PUSHING THE NOSE DOWN,
699
00:35:51,084 --> 00:35:54,487
CAPTAIN ERDEM TRIED TO GET
MORE SPEED FROM HIS ENGINES.
700
00:35:54,487 --> 00:35:57,190
Macintosh: AT THIS POINT,
THE CREW GOES TO FULL POWER.
701
00:35:57,190 --> 00:36:00,626
Erdem: THRUST LEVERS! THRUST!
702
00:36:00,626 --> 00:36:02,428
Narrator: AT THE ANGLE
THE PLANE WAS FALLING,
703
00:36:02,428 --> 00:36:05,331
THE ENGINES COULDN'T
GET ENOUGH AIR.
704
00:36:05,331 --> 00:36:08,568
APPLYING FULL POWER WAS
MORE THAN THEY COULD HANDLE.
705
00:36:08,568 --> 00:36:10,570
THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT FIRST.
706
00:36:10,570 --> 00:36:12,205
Macintosh: ...IN A STATE
OF UTTER CONFUSION.
707
00:36:12,205 --> 00:36:13,873
Narrator: WITH THE RIGHT SIDE
AT FULL THROTTLE,
708
00:36:13,873 --> 00:36:15,575
THE AIRLINER SWINGS AROUND
709
00:36:15,575 --> 00:36:18,177
AS THOUGH ITS LEFT WING
WERE CAUGHT ON A BRANCH.
710
00:36:18,177 --> 00:36:20,847
Cox: THE AIRPLANE GOES INTO
A CLASSIC FULL STALL,
711
00:36:20,847 --> 00:36:24,517
WHERE THE NOSE DROPS,
IT FALLS ON A WING,
712
00:36:24,517 --> 00:36:27,987
WHICH IS NOW A VERY
LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION.
713
00:36:27,987 --> 00:36:32,025
Narrator: THE 757 ITSELF
MAKES THE SITUATION WORSE.
714
00:36:32,025 --> 00:36:36,662
LIKE MANY MODERN JETS, IT USES
A SO-CALLED SWEPT WING DESIGN.
715
00:36:36,662 --> 00:36:38,631
THE WINGS ANGLE
SLIGHTLY BACKWARDS,
716
00:36:38,631 --> 00:36:41,634
TO REDUCE DRAG AND
INCREASE FUEL EFFICIENCY.
717
00:36:41,634 --> 00:36:45,471
BUT THE DESIGN HAS A DOWN SIDE.
718
00:36:45,471 --> 00:36:47,673
Cox: ONE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS
OF SWEPT WING JETS
719
00:36:47,673 --> 00:36:49,942
IS THEY GET
LESS AND LESS STABLE,
720
00:36:49,942 --> 00:36:54,647
THEY'RE MUCH HARDER TO FLY
AS THEY APPROACH STALL.
721
00:36:59,319 --> 00:37:00,520
Evrenesoglu: SIR, PULL UP!
722
00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:03,490
Erdem: WHAT'S HAPPENING?!
723
00:37:03,490 --> 00:37:06,126
OH, WHAT'S HAPPENING?!
724
00:37:06,126 --> 00:37:07,727
[SCREAMING]
725
00:37:11,765 --> 00:37:14,100
Cox: TO MAINTAIN CONTROL
OF A SWEPT WING JET
726
00:37:14,100 --> 00:37:17,170
WITH NO MORE ALTITUDE THAN
THEY HAD IN THIS CONDITION
727
00:37:17,170 --> 00:37:18,905
IS VERY, VERY PROBLEMATIC.
728
00:37:18,905 --> 00:37:20,240
AND THEY ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL,
729
00:37:20,240 --> 00:37:23,576
AND THE AIRPLANE
GOES INTO THE WATER.
730
00:37:23,576 --> 00:37:28,181
Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS NOW KNOW WHY
BIRGENAIR FLIGHT 301 CRASHED.
731
00:37:28,181 --> 00:37:29,683
WHAT THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND
732
00:37:29,683 --> 00:37:31,918
IS WHY THE FLIGHT
EVER LEFT THE GROUND.
733
00:37:31,918 --> 00:37:34,921
Gergin: 80 KNOTS.
734
00:37:34,921 --> 00:37:37,424
Erdem: MY AIRSPEED INDICATOR'S
NOT WORKING.
735
00:37:37,424 --> 00:37:38,858
Narrator: AT 80 KNOTS,
736
00:37:38,858 --> 00:37:42,095
IF THE PILOT AND CO-PILOT'S
INSTRUMENTS DISAGREE,
737
00:37:42,095 --> 00:37:45,398
TAKEOFF SHOULD BE ABORTED.
738
00:37:45,398 --> 00:37:47,400
Gergin: V-1.
739
00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:49,669
Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS ARE TROUBLED
THAT THE CAPTAIN TOOK OFF
740
00:37:49,669 --> 00:37:52,505
KNOWING HE HAD
MALFUNCTIONING INSTRUMENTS.
741
00:37:54,507 --> 00:37:57,077
Souffront: IF SOMETHING IS
NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY,
742
00:37:57,077 --> 00:38:00,313
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IT IS,
ONE SHOULD ABORT THE TAKEOFF
743
00:38:00,313 --> 00:38:03,249
AT 80 KNOTS.
744
00:38:03,249 --> 00:38:04,985
Cox: THIS DECISION ON
THE PART OF THE CAPTAIN
745
00:38:04,985 --> 00:38:09,022
HAS BEEN CRITICIZED, BUT THERE
IS A VERY SHORT TIME WINDOW
746
00:38:09,022 --> 00:38:12,692
FOR THIS DECISION TO BE MADE.
747
00:38:12,692 --> 00:38:15,462
Narrator:
MEMBERS OF THE INVESTIGATIVE
TEAM IN PUERTO PLATA
748
00:38:15,462 --> 00:38:17,797
TRY TO FIND
ANY CLUES THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN
749
00:38:17,797 --> 00:38:22,469
WHY CAPTAIN ERDEM DID NOT
ABORT HIS TAKEOFF.
750
00:38:22,469 --> 00:38:24,170
IT WAS RAINING THAT NIGHT.
751
00:38:24,170 --> 00:38:26,272
PERHAPS HE WAS WORRIED THAT
HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO STOP
752
00:38:26,272 --> 00:38:29,776
HIS SPEEDING PLANE IN TIME.
753
00:38:29,776 --> 00:38:31,845
Cox: PROCEDURALLY,
HE'S REQUIRED TO STOP.
754
00:38:31,845 --> 00:38:35,081
BUT HIGH-SPEED ABORTED TAKEOFFS
ARE SOMETHING
755
00:38:35,081 --> 00:38:38,351
THAT ARE VERY SERIOUS,
AND THAT FLIGHT CREWS TRAIN
756
00:38:38,351 --> 00:38:41,855
TO AVOID HIGH-SPEED
ABORTED TAKEOFFS, IF POSSIBLE.
757
00:38:41,855 --> 00:38:43,656
Macintosh: AND WE CERTAINLY
LOOKED AT THE PARAMETERS
758
00:38:43,656 --> 00:38:47,093
OF THE RUNWAY, TO ENSURE THAT
THERE WAS ADEQUATE RUNWAY
759
00:38:47,093 --> 00:38:50,997
IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION.
760
00:38:50,997 --> 00:38:53,967
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONCLUDE
THAT AT 80 KNOTS,
761
00:38:53,967 --> 00:38:55,869
WHEN HE FIRST NOTICED
THE PROBLEM,
762
00:38:55,869 --> 00:38:57,904
CAPTAIN ERDEM HAD
ENOUGH RUNWAY LEFT
763
00:38:57,904 --> 00:39:00,707
TO BRING HIS PLANE TO A STOP.
764
00:39:00,707 --> 00:39:03,309
HE COULD HAVE
ABORTED HIS TAKEOFF.
765
00:39:06,179 --> 00:39:10,283
THERE IS ALSO THE QUESTION
OF THE HASTILY ASSEMBLED CREW.
766
00:39:10,283 --> 00:39:11,985
INVESTIGATORS NOW WONDER
767
00:39:11,985 --> 00:39:14,421
IF THE LAST-MINUTE NATURE
OF THE CREW'S CALL
768
00:39:14,421 --> 00:39:17,323
COULD HAVE INFLUENCED
THEIR DECISION TO TAKE OFF.
769
00:39:17,323 --> 00:39:20,360
Macintosh:
BIRGENAIR STARTED WITH A CREW
770
00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:24,230
THAT PROBABLY DIDN'T EXPECT
TO FLY THAT NIGHT.
771
00:39:24,230 --> 00:39:26,199
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ADEQUATE REST.
772
00:39:26,199 --> 00:39:30,570
THEY GOT OUT TO THE AIRCRAFT,
AND PERHAPS WERE RUSHED
773
00:39:30,570 --> 00:39:32,405
IN SOME OF THEIR PLANNING.
774
00:39:32,405 --> 00:39:35,608
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS CONSIDER
THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE CREW,
775
00:39:35,608 --> 00:39:37,410
WHO HAD BEEN KEPT IN
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
776
00:39:37,410 --> 00:39:39,179
FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS,
777
00:39:39,179 --> 00:39:42,015
WERE SIMPLY TOO EAGER
TO GET HOME.
778
00:39:42,015 --> 00:39:44,651
Gergin: 08, 310, THANK YOU.
779
00:39:44,651 --> 00:39:45,485
Evrenesoglu: A GOOD FLIGHT.
780
00:39:45,485 --> 00:39:46,352
Erdem: A GOOD FLIGHT.
781
00:39:46,352 --> 00:39:47,687
Gergin: GOOD FLIGHT.
782
00:39:50,323 --> 00:39:53,626
Souffront: THIS IS THE HOMESICK
FACTOR, WHERE MINOR PROBLEMS
783
00:39:53,626 --> 00:39:59,933
ARE IGNORED IN ORDER
TO GET BACK HOME.
784
00:39:59,933 --> 00:40:01,734
Narrator:
INVESTIGATORS WILL NEVER KNOW
785
00:40:01,734 --> 00:40:04,137
WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH
CAPTAIN ERDEM'S MIND
786
00:40:04,137 --> 00:40:07,407
WHEN HE OPTED TO CONTINUE
HIS TAKEOFF.
787
00:40:07,407 --> 00:40:10,410
Cox: IN THIS CASE, THE AIRPLANE
IS ACCELERATING RAPIDLY ENOUGH,
788
00:40:10,410 --> 00:40:12,145
THE FIRST OFFICER RESPONDS...
789
00:40:12,145 --> 00:40:13,713
Gergin: V-1.
790
00:40:13,713 --> 00:40:16,082
Cox: ...WHICH IS THE COMMIT
TO FLY SPEED, AND BY TRAINING,
791
00:40:16,082 --> 00:40:20,086
NOW THE DECISION WINDOW
HAS CLOSED, THEY NEED TO FLY.
792
00:40:20,086 --> 00:40:21,387
Gergin: ROTATE.
793
00:40:25,091 --> 00:40:29,329
Cox: AND IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER,
THEY'RE AIRBORNE.
794
00:40:29,329 --> 00:40:30,964
Narrator:
ONCE THE PLANE WAS IN THE AIR,
795
00:40:30,964 --> 00:40:33,733
ITS BLOCKED PITOT TUBES
CAUSED CAPTAIN ERDEM
796
00:40:33,733 --> 00:40:36,669
TO MAKE A SERIES
OF CRITICAL MISTAKES.
797
00:40:36,669 --> 00:40:40,306
BUT HOW WERE THE TUBES BLOCKED
IN THE FIRST PLACE?
798
00:40:43,877 --> 00:40:46,646
INVESTIGATORS KNOW THAT
A BLOCKED PITOT TUBE
799
00:40:46,646 --> 00:40:49,282
LED TO A SERIES OF
CONFLICTING WARNINGS
800
00:40:49,282 --> 00:40:52,485
THAT CONFOUNDED
FLIGHT 301'S CAPTAIN.
801
00:40:52,485 --> 00:40:54,354
NOW THEY WANT TO KNOW
HOW THOSE SAME WARNINGS
802
00:40:54,354 --> 00:40:56,389
WOULD AFFECT OTHER PILOTS.
803
00:40:59,459 --> 00:41:01,227
Souffront: WE WENT TO
A FLIGHT SIMULATOR,
804
00:41:01,227 --> 00:41:04,097
AND IN THE SIMULATOR, WE TRIED
TO RECREATE THE CONDITIONS
805
00:41:04,097 --> 00:41:09,502
OF WHAT HAPPENED ON THE NIGHT
OF FEBRUARY 6, 1996.
806
00:41:11,571 --> 00:41:14,607
Macintosh: GENTLEMEN, STAND BY.
807
00:41:14,607 --> 00:41:16,442
Narrator: THE SIMULATOR
SHOWED INVESTIGATORS
808
00:41:16,442 --> 00:41:18,244
THAT AN OVER-SPEED WARNING
809
00:41:18,244 --> 00:41:20,113
FOLLOWED BY
A STICK SHAKER WARNING
810
00:41:20,113 --> 00:41:23,816
CAUSED EVEN THE MOST SEASONED
PILOTS TO FREEZE.
811
00:41:23,816 --> 00:41:27,487
THE CONTRADICTORY WARNINGS
WERE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.
812
00:41:32,625 --> 00:41:34,260
Pilot: WHEN THE STICK SHAKER
ACTIVATED,
813
00:41:34,260 --> 00:41:35,595
IT WAS VERY UNNERVING.
814
00:41:35,595 --> 00:41:37,397
IT'S REALLY OVERWHELMING.
815
00:41:37,397 --> 00:41:41,501
Macintosh:
THAT WOULD TELL ME THAT
THAT MACH AIRSPEED WARNING HORN,
816
00:41:41,501 --> 00:41:43,136
COMBINED WITH THE STICK SHAKER,
817
00:41:43,136 --> 00:41:49,008
WAS A TREMENDOUSLY MIND-BOGGLING
EXPERIENCE TO A LINE PILOT.
818
00:41:49,008 --> 00:41:52,011
Narrator: AS A RESULT,
THE FAA ISSUES A DIRECTIVE
819
00:41:52,011 --> 00:41:54,847
THAT SIMULATOR TRAINING
FOR ALL AIRLINE PILOTS
820
00:41:54,847 --> 00:41:58,318
MUST INCLUDE A BLOCKED
PITOT TUBE SCENARIO.
821
00:41:58,318 --> 00:42:00,220
Cox: THE FLIGHT CREW
WITHIN BIRGENAIR
822
00:42:00,220 --> 00:42:03,156
WAS FACED WITH A LARGE NUMBER
OF WARNINGS THAT KEPT COMING,
823
00:42:03,156 --> 00:42:06,826
AND EACH WARNING ADDED
COMPLEXITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
824
00:42:06,826 --> 00:42:09,062
THERE'S A LOT OF
WARNING LIGHTS GOING OFF.
825
00:42:09,062 --> 00:42:10,597
THIS CAPTAIN IS IN A CONDITION
826
00:42:10,597 --> 00:42:14,267
THAT IS DETERIORATING,
NOW, VERY RAPIDLY.
827
00:42:14,267 --> 00:42:17,003
SO THERE IS A DRAMATICALLY
INCREASED DEMAND
828
00:42:17,003 --> 00:42:20,039
ON THE CAPTAIN
TO FLY THE AIRPLANE.
829
00:42:21,774 --> 00:42:26,879
Narrator: THE FAA ASKS BOEING TO
CHANGE SOME OF THOSE WARNINGS.
830
00:42:26,879 --> 00:42:29,649
THOSE CHANGES INCLUDE
THE ADDITION OF A NEW WARNING,
831
00:42:29,649 --> 00:42:33,286
WHICH TELLS BOTH PILOTS THAT
THEIR INSTRUMENTS DISAGREE.
832
00:42:33,286 --> 00:42:34,587
AND THE ABILITY FOR PILOTS
833
00:42:34,587 --> 00:42:37,490
TO MORE EASILY SILENCE
TROUBLESOME ALARMS.
834
00:42:40,994 --> 00:42:43,896
FINALLY, BOEING
MODIFIES ITS PLANES
835
00:42:43,896 --> 00:42:45,665
SO THAT PILOTS CAN EASILY CHOOSE
836
00:42:45,665 --> 00:42:50,403
WHICH PITOT TUBE THE AUTOPILOT
IS USING FOR AIRSPEED READINGS.
837
00:42:55,441 --> 00:42:59,545
ALL TOLD, MORE THAN 1,400
BOEING PLANES WORLDWIDE
838
00:42:59,545 --> 00:43:01,681
ARE AFFECTED BY
THE NEW DIRECTIVES.
839
00:43:03,950 --> 00:43:06,219
ONE FINAL QUESTION REMAINS--
840
00:43:06,219 --> 00:43:09,455
WHAT HAD BLOCKED
THE PLANE'S PITOT TUBES?
841
00:43:12,158 --> 00:43:15,895
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
842
00:43:15,895 --> 00:43:18,197
INVESTIGATORS CONDUCT
AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH
843
00:43:18,197 --> 00:43:21,501
FOR BIRGENAIR FLIGHT 301'S
PITOT TUBES.
844
00:43:24,604 --> 00:43:26,506
THEY ARE NEVER FOUND.
845
00:43:28,808 --> 00:43:30,677
Narrator:
BUT AT PUERTO PLATA'S AIRPORT,
846
00:43:30,677 --> 00:43:34,380
THEY DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR
TO FIND THE LIKELIEST SUSPECT.
847
00:43:34,380 --> 00:43:38,284
IT'S NOT ICE, AND IT'S NOT DIRT.
848
00:43:38,284 --> 00:43:40,520
IT'S AN INSECT
WELL-KNOWN TO PILOTS
849
00:43:40,520 --> 00:43:43,056
FLYING OUT OF
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
850
00:43:43,056 --> 00:43:45,958
IT'S CALLED THE MUD DAUBER WASP.
851
00:43:45,958 --> 00:43:47,727
BUG EXPERTS TELL INVESTIGATORS
852
00:43:47,727 --> 00:43:49,529
ABOUT AN EXTRAORDINARY
CONNECTION
853
00:43:49,529 --> 00:43:52,732
BETWEEN THE WASPS
AND A PITOT TUBE.
854
00:43:52,732 --> 00:43:54,801
[SPEAKING SPANISH]
855
00:43:58,237 --> 00:44:00,206
Kelvin Guerrero, translated:
WHEN A MUD DAUBER IS LOOKING
856
00:44:00,206 --> 00:44:02,508
FOR AN AREA TO BUILD ITS NEST,
857
00:44:02,508 --> 00:44:07,280
IT'S LOOKING FOR A SITE, A PLACE
THAT'S MORE OR LESS TUBULAR.
858
00:44:10,550 --> 00:44:13,386
WHEN THE MUD DAUBERS
MAKE THEIR MUD NEST,
859
00:44:13,386 --> 00:44:17,423
THE MUD, WHEN IT DRIES,
HARDENS AND CONDENSES.
860
00:44:19,258 --> 00:44:22,328
IT GETS HARD.
861
00:44:22,328 --> 00:44:24,230
Narrator:
MUD DAUBER WASPS ARE SQUATTERS
862
00:44:24,230 --> 00:44:26,733
THAT MAKE THEIR NESTS
IN AVAILABLE PLACES.
863
00:44:26,733 --> 00:44:31,237
LIKE CREVICES IN HOMES, OR EVEN
THE PITOT TUBES OF PLANES.
864
00:44:35,608 --> 00:44:38,277
Guerrero: THAT THE PLANE
WAS STOPPED FOR SO LONG,
865
00:44:38,277 --> 00:44:43,082
25 DAYS, WAS ENOUGH TIME FOR
ANY SPECIES OF THE MUD DAUBER
866
00:44:43,082 --> 00:44:48,254
TO BUILD ITS NEST
IN THE PITOT TUBES.
867
00:44:48,254 --> 00:44:50,189
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
CAN ONLY CONCLUDE
868
00:44:50,189 --> 00:44:53,793
THAT MUD DAUBER WASPS BLOCKED
THE UNCOVERED PITOT TUBES
869
00:44:53,793 --> 00:44:56,229
THAT FED THE CAPTAIN'S
AIRSPEED INDICATOR,
870
00:44:56,229 --> 00:44:58,998
WHICH CAUSED IT TO MALFUNCTION.
871
00:44:58,998 --> 00:45:01,534
Macintosh: THEY DIDN'T PUT
COVERS ON THE PITOT TUBES.
872
00:45:01,534 --> 00:45:05,405
SO AT SOME POINT IN TIME,
EXTENDED TIME,
873
00:45:05,405 --> 00:45:09,175
THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET
SOMETHING LIKE A MUD DAUBER
874
00:45:09,175 --> 00:45:11,477
IN THAT PITOT TUBE.
875
00:45:13,413 --> 00:45:16,382
Narrator: INVESTIGATORS
HAVE THEIR ANSWER.
876
00:45:16,382 --> 00:45:19,152
ON FEBRUARY 6, 1996,
877
00:45:19,152 --> 00:45:22,588
A TINY INSECT LED TO
A SERIES OF MISTAKES
878
00:45:22,588 --> 00:45:25,525
THAT BROUGHT DOWN AN AIRPLANE
AND CHANGED THE DESIGN
879
00:45:25,525 --> 00:45:29,595
OF THE WORLD'S MOST SUCCESSFUL
SERIES OF AIRLINERS.
70822
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