1 00:00:02,769 --> 00:00:05,105 Folks, this is your captain speaking. 2 00:00:05,171 --> 00:00:07,006 We'll soon be landing in Durango. 3 00:00:07,073 --> 00:00:09,209 NARRATOR: A commuter flight over the Rocky Mountains 4 00:00:09,275 --> 00:00:14,781 speeds towards disaster. 5 00:00:14,848 --> 00:00:17,117 Somewhere out there in the black of night 6 00:00:17,183 --> 00:00:20,019 was an aircraft down in our county. 7 00:00:20,086 --> 00:00:22,655 NARRATOR: A desperate search uncovers twisted wreckage 8 00:00:22,722 --> 00:00:25,458 five miles from the runway. 9 00:00:25,525 --> 00:00:27,293 Half the people were killed. 10 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:29,562 What are we missing here? 11 00:00:29,629 --> 00:00:31,297 We're having a hard time understanding 12 00:00:31,364 --> 00:00:35,802 how the true impact is so far short of the airport. 13 00:00:35,869 --> 00:00:37,871 NARRATOR: An unexpected tip-off points 14 00:00:37,937 --> 00:00:39,973 to a shocking possibility. 15 00:00:40,039 --> 00:00:41,808 What exactly did she say? 16 00:00:41,875 --> 00:00:45,412 NARRATOR: One that will rock the entire airline industry. 17 00:00:45,478 --> 00:00:47,580 The best way I could describe the investigators 18 00:00:47,647 --> 00:00:49,215 was astounding. 19 00:01:18,278 --> 00:01:19,813 NARRATOR: It's a cold winter's evening at Stapleton 20 00:01:19,879 --> 00:01:24,584 Airport in Denver, Colorado. 21 00:01:24,651 --> 00:01:27,787 Captain Stephen Silver and First Officer Ralph Harvey are 22 00:01:27,854 --> 00:01:30,056 just about ready for takeoff. 23 00:01:30,123 --> 00:01:31,057 Hey, everybody seated? 24 00:01:31,124 --> 00:01:32,692 Yeah everybody's in. 25 00:01:32,759 --> 00:01:33,893 No good outside? 26 00:01:33,960 --> 00:01:35,962 Walk-around was all clear. 27 00:01:36,029 --> 00:01:38,598 NARRATOR: Trans-Colorado Flight 2286 28 00:01:38,665 --> 00:01:41,034 is a short hop to Durango-La Plata County 29 00:01:41,100 --> 00:01:45,238 Airport in Southern Colorado. 30 00:01:45,305 --> 00:01:46,606 Listen, when we get to Durango, 31 00:01:46,673 --> 00:01:48,608 I'd like to get in the air again as quickly as possible. 32 00:01:48,675 --> 00:01:50,009 It shouldn't be the problem. 33 00:01:50,076 --> 00:01:51,411 We won't need to refuel. 34 00:01:51,478 --> 00:01:53,847 NARRATOR: It's the crew's fourth flight of the day, 35 00:01:53,913 --> 00:01:55,949 and they're running late. 36 00:01:56,015 --> 00:01:59,118 Bad weather has put them 40 minutes behind schedule. 37 00:01:59,185 --> 00:02:00,453 Let's see what else we could do to get 38 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:01,788 these folks back on time. 39 00:02:01,855 --> 00:02:03,122 You got it. 40 00:02:03,189 --> 00:02:05,291 We're always running behind it seems like. 41 00:02:05,358 --> 00:02:08,228 You're constantly trying to get caught back up. 42 00:02:08,294 --> 00:02:09,963 Because you have connecting flights, 43 00:02:10,029 --> 00:02:13,066 passengers want to make these flights, just as we would 44 00:02:13,132 --> 00:02:18,438 to if we were a passenger in the back. 45 00:02:18,505 --> 00:02:20,240 NARRATOR: Tonight, there are 15 people 46 00:02:20,306 --> 00:02:24,310 in the cabin of the turboprop commuter plane, 47 00:02:24,377 --> 00:02:27,680 including Susie Welch. 48 00:02:27,747 --> 00:02:29,816 My brother was sick in California. 49 00:02:29,883 --> 00:02:35,588 And I was there, coming home from visiting him. 50 00:02:35,655 --> 00:02:39,025 And I missed my connection. 51 00:02:39,092 --> 00:02:41,027 So it was a plane that I wasn't supposed 52 00:02:41,094 --> 00:02:43,329 to be on in the first place. 53 00:02:43,396 --> 00:02:44,998 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Trans-Colorado 2286, 54 00:02:45,064 --> 00:02:46,933 you are cleared for takeoff. 55 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,569 NARRATOR: Trans-Colorado is a small regional carrier 56 00:02:49,636 --> 00:02:53,840 that operates flights for Continental Airlines. 57 00:02:53,907 --> 00:02:55,875 2286, cleared for takeoff. 58 00:02:55,942 --> 00:02:57,577 Thank you. 59 00:02:57,644 --> 00:03:00,480 NARRATOR: Captain Silver is in command. 60 00:03:00,547 --> 00:03:01,714 He loved life. 61 00:03:01,781 --> 00:03:02,782 And it was in his blood. 62 00:03:02,849 --> 00:03:05,218 You could see it. 63 00:03:05,285 --> 00:03:07,186 NARRATOR: Brad Howard flew with Captain Silver 64 00:03:07,253 --> 00:03:09,822 in the late 1980s. 65 00:03:09,889 --> 00:03:15,028 Steve was a very happy, jovial, energetic pilot. 66 00:03:15,094 --> 00:03:17,630 I enjoyed flying with Steve. 67 00:03:17,697 --> 00:03:19,732 You're handling flying this leg, right? 68 00:03:19,799 --> 00:03:21,768 You bet. 69 00:03:21,834 --> 00:03:24,070 NARRATOR: First Officer Harvey will operate the controls 70 00:03:24,137 --> 00:03:27,907 for this flight, leaving the captain 71 00:03:27,974 --> 00:03:31,244 free to handle radio calls. 72 00:03:31,311 --> 00:03:33,947 Take off power. 73 00:03:34,013 --> 00:03:37,717 Airline pilots routinely trade the flying duties. 74 00:03:37,784 --> 00:03:41,554 Part of it is for the reduction of fatigue, 75 00:03:41,621 --> 00:03:43,456 so that one person is not doing all the work. 76 00:03:43,523 --> 00:03:46,793 But it also divides the jobs up, 77 00:03:46,859 --> 00:03:49,629 so that first officers that will be captains 78 00:03:49,696 --> 00:03:52,865 are gaining experience. 79 00:03:52,932 --> 00:03:54,734 100. 80 00:03:54,801 --> 00:03:56,970 NARRATOR: The captain keeps an eye on the airspeed 81 00:03:57,036 --> 00:03:59,505 as they accelerate for takeoff. 82 00:03:59,572 --> 00:04:01,474 V1. 83 00:04:01,541 --> 00:04:08,514 And rotate. 84 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:15,488 I was a little bit apprehensive 85 00:04:15,555 --> 00:04:18,524 because the weather wasn't so great before I got on. 86 00:04:18,591 --> 00:04:21,861 But when I got on, I thought, wow, 87 00:04:21,928 --> 00:04:22,929 what was I worrying about? 88 00:04:22,996 --> 00:04:25,965 It's fine. 89 00:04:26,032 --> 00:04:28,501 NARRATOR: The crew's day began in Denver. 90 00:04:28,568 --> 00:04:32,438 After two short hops to Riverton and Casper, Wyoming, 91 00:04:32,505 --> 00:04:34,474 they circled back to Denver. 92 00:04:34,540 --> 00:04:37,176 Now they're headed for Durango, a route 93 00:04:37,243 --> 00:04:40,146 that takes them over the Southern Rocky Mountains. 94 00:04:40,213 --> 00:04:44,517 In fact, just about 20 miles to the north of Durango is 95 00:04:44,584 --> 00:04:48,287 the most numerous 14,000-foot peaks within 96 00:04:48,354 --> 00:04:54,794 the continental United States. 97 00:04:54,861 --> 00:04:57,797 Denver Flight Watch, Trans-Colorado Flight 2286. 98 00:04:57,864 --> 00:05:00,333 I'd like the latest weather for Durango and Cortez, please. 99 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:01,567 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: The latest we 100 00:05:01,634 --> 00:05:07,106 have is indefinite ceiling, obscured visibility, 101 00:05:07,173 --> 00:05:08,508 light snow and fog. 102 00:05:08,574 --> 00:05:12,745 They're still forecasting moderate icing below 18,000. 103 00:05:12,812 --> 00:05:14,247 Thank you. 104 00:05:14,313 --> 00:05:16,883 The mountains come very obscured quite fast 105 00:05:16,949 --> 00:05:18,418 when a front moves through. 106 00:05:18,484 --> 00:05:23,222 And visibility, of course, then drops down. 107 00:05:23,289 --> 00:05:30,296 Nothing we can't handle. 108 00:05:32,665 --> 00:05:34,400 NARRATOR: About 20 minutes from the airport, 109 00:05:34,467 --> 00:05:38,371 the captain and the first officer review the landing. 110 00:05:38,438 --> 00:05:40,273 So we're still doing this straight into runway two 111 00:05:40,339 --> 00:05:41,474 zero, OK? 112 00:05:41,541 --> 00:05:44,210 Runway two zero, sounds good. 113 00:05:44,277 --> 00:05:47,747 Control, we'll plan it on a DME to runaway two zero. 114 00:05:47,814 --> 00:05:49,115 That's approved. 115 00:05:49,182 --> 00:05:53,219 Trans-Colorado 2286 cleared for runway two zero approach 116 00:05:53,286 --> 00:05:54,587 at Durango Airport. 117 00:05:54,654 --> 00:05:56,756 NARRATOR: Like many small airports in America, 118 00:05:56,823 --> 00:06:00,660 Durango does not have its own air traffic control. 119 00:06:00,727 --> 00:06:05,565 The controller is in Denver, more than 200 miles away. 120 00:06:05,631 --> 00:06:07,600 Once they cleared you for that approach, 121 00:06:07,667 --> 00:06:11,304 they basically gave you the responsibility 122 00:06:11,370 --> 00:06:14,807 to get that airplane down on the ground. 123 00:06:14,874 --> 00:06:16,809 Radar coverage terminated. 124 00:06:16,876 --> 00:06:18,678 Please report landing by radio. 125 00:06:18,745 --> 00:06:19,979 Have a good night. 126 00:06:20,046 --> 00:06:20,947 OK. 127 00:06:21,013 --> 00:06:22,482 We're down to one four, and we're 128 00:06:22,548 --> 00:06:23,483 cleared for the approach. 129 00:06:23,549 --> 00:06:28,488 2286, we'll go. 130 00:06:28,554 --> 00:06:30,189 NARRATOR: The passengers should be on the runway 131 00:06:30,256 --> 00:06:34,193 in less than 5 minutes. 132 00:06:34,260 --> 00:06:36,596 STEPHEN SILVER: Folks, this is your captain speaking. 133 00:06:36,662 --> 00:06:38,030 We'll soon be landing in Durango. 134 00:06:38,097 --> 00:06:39,866 So if you could please buckle up your seatbelts, 135 00:06:39,932 --> 00:06:42,535 we should have you on the ground shortly. 136 00:06:42,602 --> 00:06:46,038 The entire flight actually was smooth as glass. 137 00:06:46,105 --> 00:06:50,877 It's like one of the smoothest flights I've ever had. 138 00:06:50,943 --> 00:06:57,950 There was no cause for alarm, anything unusual at all. 139 00:06:59,485 --> 00:07:00,653 Speed set. 140 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:02,922 One quarter flaps. 141 00:07:02,989 --> 00:07:06,893 One quarter flaps. 142 00:07:06,959 --> 00:07:08,027 NARRATOR: The pilots work quickly 143 00:07:08,094 --> 00:07:10,563 to prepare for landing. 144 00:07:10,630 --> 00:07:12,665 Gear it out. 145 00:07:12,732 --> 00:07:16,035 Gear it out. 146 00:07:16,102 --> 00:07:17,470 Three green. 147 00:07:17,537 --> 00:07:19,305 They know that they have a lot of altitude 148 00:07:19,372 --> 00:07:21,207 to lose, they got a lot of airspeed to lose. 149 00:07:21,274 --> 00:07:24,443 And it also requires the appropriate use 150 00:07:24,510 --> 00:07:27,213 of different devices on the airplane 151 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:34,287 to create additional drag to help it slow down. 152 00:07:46,132 --> 00:07:50,570 Do you have the runway? 153 00:07:50,636 --> 00:07:54,207 NARRATOR: Something's wrong. 154 00:07:54,273 --> 00:07:56,676 The pilots can't see the runway. 155 00:07:56,742 --> 00:07:57,677 Damn. 156 00:07:57,743 --> 00:07:58,978 We're too low. 157 00:07:59,045 --> 00:07:59,946 Pull up. 158 00:08:00,012 --> 00:08:01,614 No, no, no, no, no. 159 00:08:01,681 --> 00:08:08,287 Hold on. 160 00:08:09,288 --> 00:08:10,823 There was this just big boom. 161 00:08:10,890 --> 00:08:14,660 I thought we just had a rough landing. 162 00:08:14,727 --> 00:08:19,098 And the plane began to do a flip. 163 00:08:19,165 --> 00:08:20,666 That's when I thought it's happening. 164 00:08:20,733 --> 00:08:25,037 We're crashing. 165 00:08:25,104 --> 00:08:32,111 Help me, Jesus. 166 00:08:44,090 --> 00:08:46,158 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Trans-Colorado 2286, 167 00:08:46,225 --> 00:08:47,159 this is Denver. 168 00:08:47,226 --> 00:08:50,496 Please come in. 169 00:08:50,563 --> 00:08:53,666 NARRATOR: The flight to Durango is now overdue. 170 00:08:53,733 --> 00:08:55,868 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Trans-Colorado 2286, 171 00:08:55,935 --> 00:09:02,074 how do you read? 172 00:09:02,141 --> 00:09:06,646 Trans-Colorado 2286, how do you read? 173 00:09:06,712 --> 00:09:09,615 Both Denver and the La Plata County Airport personnel 174 00:09:09,682 --> 00:09:14,487 had tried to contact the aircraft via radio. 175 00:09:14,553 --> 00:09:18,724 Trans-Colorado 2286, please come in. 176 00:09:18,791 --> 00:09:22,328 It was pretty much aircraft was overdue. 177 00:09:22,395 --> 00:09:24,997 And somewhere out there in the black at night 178 00:09:25,064 --> 00:09:27,767 was an aircraft down in our county. 179 00:09:27,833 --> 00:09:30,703 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Trans-Colorado 2286, please 180 00:09:30,770 --> 00:09:39,779 come in. 181 00:10:05,671 --> 00:10:11,243 It was dark, and it was a very cold. 182 00:10:11,310 --> 00:10:14,180 And just looking around, I could 183 00:10:14,246 --> 00:10:18,884 see that we could be anywhere. 184 00:10:18,951 --> 00:10:20,019 Please. 185 00:10:20,086 --> 00:10:23,889 Is anyone out there? 186 00:10:23,956 --> 00:10:26,459 I just thought, here I am. 187 00:10:26,525 --> 00:10:28,661 Lord, help me. 188 00:10:28,728 --> 00:10:34,200 NARRATOR: Susie Welch discovers that she's not badly injured. 189 00:10:34,266 --> 00:10:37,403 But it's clear other survivors of the Trans-Colorado crash 190 00:10:37,470 --> 00:10:41,073 are suffering terribly. 191 00:10:41,140 --> 00:10:42,675 We have to get out. 192 00:10:42,742 --> 00:10:46,145 They needed help as quickly as they could get it. 193 00:10:46,212 --> 00:10:50,116 We couldn't give what they needed at the time. 194 00:10:50,182 --> 00:10:52,752 NARRATOR: Susie faces a difficult decision. 195 00:10:52,818 --> 00:10:58,457 Stay and tend to the injured or leave in search of help. 196 00:10:58,524 --> 00:11:00,026 They usually say stay where you are. 197 00:11:00,092 --> 00:11:01,794 Someone will come and get you. 198 00:11:01,861 --> 00:11:04,330 But we were out in the middle of nowhere. 199 00:11:04,397 --> 00:11:09,668 We didn't know if anybody knew anything. 200 00:11:09,735 --> 00:11:11,971 The weather wasn't really good that night at all. 201 00:11:12,038 --> 00:11:13,439 There were snow flurries in the area, 202 00:11:13,506 --> 00:11:15,808 and it was extremely cold. 203 00:11:15,875 --> 00:11:17,977 NARRATOR: If the injured don't get help soon, 204 00:11:18,044 --> 00:11:20,880 they could freeze to death. 205 00:11:20,946 --> 00:11:23,482 Just hang on. 206 00:11:23,549 --> 00:11:30,156 We'll send for help. 207 00:11:30,222 --> 00:11:32,558 NARRATOR: Welch and some other able-bodied passengers 208 00:11:32,625 --> 00:11:35,094 decide to set out on foot. 209 00:11:35,161 --> 00:11:42,168 It may be the best chance of survival for everyone. 210 00:11:51,911 --> 00:11:56,749 I was thinking, my family, they don't know where we are. 211 00:11:56,816 --> 00:12:00,453 They have no idea if I'm even alive. 212 00:12:00,519 --> 00:12:06,192 That gets me. 213 00:12:06,258 --> 00:12:08,294 We had approximately 4 feet of snow 214 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,663 on the ground, which really hampered 215 00:12:10,729 --> 00:12:14,900 our rescue activities. 216 00:12:14,967 --> 00:12:16,402 NARRATOR: After more than an hour, 217 00:12:16,469 --> 00:12:18,170 they catch a lucky break. 218 00:12:18,237 --> 00:12:20,606 They come across a highway. 219 00:12:20,673 --> 00:12:24,176 I saw a semi and a car. 220 00:12:24,243 --> 00:12:26,278 And I thought, hallelujah. 221 00:12:26,345 --> 00:12:29,315 That was a relief to see that. 222 00:12:29,381 --> 00:12:31,517 NARRATOR: Some passengers are now safe. 223 00:12:31,584 --> 00:12:34,053 Rescuers go in search of the others. 224 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,989 We moved emergency responders and equipment 225 00:12:37,056 --> 00:12:38,991 to that particular location on US 226 00:12:39,058 --> 00:12:46,065 Highway 160, east of Durango, approximately six miles. 227 00:12:48,267 --> 00:12:49,969 It was a remote area. 228 00:12:50,035 --> 00:12:52,771 And so it made it difficult for the emergency 229 00:12:52,838 --> 00:12:55,741 responders to get there. 230 00:12:55,808 --> 00:12:57,376 It took us a long time to figure out 231 00:12:57,443 --> 00:13:00,446 exactly where the crash was. 232 00:13:00,513 --> 00:13:03,449 NARRATOR: Finally, rescuers reached the airplane. 233 00:13:03,516 --> 00:13:06,452 Of the 17 people on board, the crashes killed 234 00:13:06,519 --> 00:13:09,989 nine, including both pilots. 235 00:13:10,055 --> 00:13:12,558 Half the people were killed, which 236 00:13:12,625 --> 00:13:15,628 is, of course, it's a heartbreaker 237 00:13:15,694 --> 00:13:21,200 for a lot of people. 238 00:13:21,267 --> 00:13:22,701 NARRATOR: The next morning, daylight 239 00:13:22,768 --> 00:13:29,742 reveals the full extent of the destruction. 240 00:13:30,976 --> 00:13:34,513 The front of the aircraft from the wing forward 241 00:13:34,580 --> 00:13:37,249 was fairly well-demolished. 242 00:13:37,316 --> 00:13:39,451 The tail was broken off in parts, 243 00:13:39,518 --> 00:13:45,624 and the good portion of the left wing was missing. 244 00:13:45,691 --> 00:13:48,227 NARRATOR: Tom Hauter of the National Transportation Safety 245 00:13:48,294 --> 00:13:50,896 Board now faces a huge task. 246 00:13:50,963 --> 00:13:51,897 Yeah. 247 00:13:51,964 --> 00:13:52,898 Left wing tip right here. 248 00:13:52,965 --> 00:13:53,899 Yeah. 249 00:13:53,966 --> 00:13:55,501 Thanks, guys. 250 00:13:55,568 --> 00:13:57,036 NARRATOR: Figuring out why a commuter 251 00:13:57,102 --> 00:14:02,041 plane slammed into the ground five miles from the airport. 252 00:14:02,107 --> 00:14:03,542 We were having a hard time understanding 253 00:14:03,609 --> 00:14:07,313 how the crew impact is so far short of the airport. 254 00:14:07,379 --> 00:14:08,881 That was going to be the big mystery 255 00:14:08,948 --> 00:14:11,951 here to try to understand. 256 00:14:12,017 --> 00:14:13,285 NARRATOR: Sorting through the wreckage 257 00:14:13,352 --> 00:14:14,787 is like trying to piece together 258 00:14:14,853 --> 00:14:16,655 a giant jigsaw puzzle. 259 00:14:16,722 --> 00:14:18,791 And that's not the only challenge. 260 00:14:18,857 --> 00:14:22,428 In 1988, planes with fewer than 20 passengers 261 00:14:22,494 --> 00:14:26,765 are not required to carry flight recorders. 262 00:14:26,832 --> 00:14:30,836 The lack of a cockpit voice recorder and digital flight 263 00:14:30,903 --> 00:14:34,707 data recorder makes things much, much more difficult 264 00:14:34,773 --> 00:14:38,911 because you have to then take the evidence from the airplane 265 00:14:38,978 --> 00:14:42,214 and then deduce what happened to lead 266 00:14:42,281 --> 00:14:49,054 the airplane into the ground. 267 00:14:49,121 --> 00:14:50,289 Thank you. 268 00:14:50,356 --> 00:14:52,157 NARRATOR: Hauter immediately turns his attention 269 00:14:52,224 --> 00:14:55,361 to an obvious suspect. 270 00:14:55,427 --> 00:14:58,731 The weather. 271 00:14:58,797 --> 00:15:00,633 STEPHEN SILVER: Denver Flight Watch Tarns-Colorado Flight 272 00:15:00,699 --> 00:15:03,269 2286, I'd like the latest weather for Durango 273 00:15:03,335 --> 00:15:04,837 and Cortez, please. 274 00:15:04,903 --> 00:15:08,440 Trans-Colorado 2286, Durango, the latest we have 275 00:15:08,507 --> 00:15:11,510 is indefinite ceiling, obscured visibility, 276 00:15:11,577 --> 00:15:12,911 light snow, and fog. 277 00:15:12,978 --> 00:15:17,283 They're still forecasting moderate icing below 18,000. 278 00:15:17,349 --> 00:15:19,018 NARRATOR: Icing is a potentially deadly 279 00:15:19,084 --> 00:15:21,553 phenomenon that can occur from 32 down 280 00:15:21,620 --> 00:15:25,758 to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit. 281 00:15:25,824 --> 00:15:27,826 Supercooled water coats the surface 282 00:15:27,893 --> 00:15:30,362 of an aircraft's wings and freezes, 283 00:15:30,429 --> 00:15:34,400 degrading aerodynamic performance. 284 00:15:34,466 --> 00:15:37,803 The biggest problem is it changes the shape of the wing. 285 00:15:37,870 --> 00:15:39,438 All of a sudden, you start getting, 286 00:15:39,505 --> 00:15:40,639 instead of a nice, rounded edge, 287 00:15:40,706 --> 00:15:42,875 it starts becoming a blunt edge. 288 00:15:42,941 --> 00:15:45,177 And now, instead of the smooth airflow, 289 00:15:45,244 --> 00:15:46,679 you get turbulent airflow, and you 290 00:15:46,745 --> 00:15:49,648 start losing lift on the wing. 291 00:15:49,715 --> 00:15:53,652 NARRATOR: That's what happened to American Eagle Flight 4184. 292 00:15:53,719 --> 00:15:55,421 The plane was en route to Chicago 293 00:15:55,487 --> 00:16:02,494 when ice buildup on the wings sent it into a deadly roll. 294 00:16:04,396 --> 00:16:10,903 The crash killed all 68 people on board. 295 00:16:12,271 --> 00:16:14,840 The critical question now, did ice on the wings of Flight 296 00:16:14,907 --> 00:16:18,911 2286 lead to a similar tragedy on a snowy night 297 00:16:18,977 --> 00:16:23,882 in the Colorado Rockies? 298 00:16:23,949 --> 00:16:26,552 The descent to runway two zero in Durango 299 00:16:26,618 --> 00:16:30,055 is over mountainous terrain. 300 00:16:30,122 --> 00:16:31,590 A crew would have had little time 301 00:16:31,657 --> 00:16:35,127 to recover if ice on the wings caused a sudden loss of lift. 302 00:16:35,194 --> 00:16:36,128 No, no. 303 00:16:36,195 --> 00:16:37,129 No, no. 304 00:16:37,196 --> 00:16:44,069 Pull up 305 00:16:44,136 --> 00:16:48,073 NARRATOR: Did the plane's wings ice over? 306 00:16:48,140 --> 00:16:51,243 Is it the right temperature range for icing? 307 00:16:51,310 --> 00:16:52,444 NARRATOR: Hauter studies weather 308 00:16:52,511 --> 00:16:56,181 reports from Durango Airport. 309 00:16:56,248 --> 00:16:58,484 Normally, icing is a problem if you 310 00:16:58,550 --> 00:17:02,421 have a liquid that's very cold, hits the airplane, 311 00:17:02,488 --> 00:17:04,390 and freezes on it. 312 00:17:04,456 --> 00:17:07,393 It has to be raining or drizzle. 313 00:17:07,459 --> 00:17:09,828 The weather at the airport was overcast cloudy, 314 00:17:09,895 --> 00:17:13,932 but the temperature was negative 24 Fahrenheit. 315 00:17:13,999 --> 00:17:15,167 NARRATOR: It's a dead end. 316 00:17:15,234 --> 00:17:17,236 Temperatures were well below the minimum 317 00:17:17,302 --> 00:17:19,905 required for icing. 318 00:17:19,972 --> 00:17:21,440 It was so cold that night, there's 319 00:17:21,507 --> 00:17:23,642 no liquid water out there that just form on the airplane. 320 00:17:23,709 --> 00:17:24,877 Just snow. 321 00:17:24,943 --> 00:17:30,349 And so icing could be eliminated pretty quickly. 322 00:17:30,416 --> 00:17:32,084 NARRATOR: The location of the crash site, 323 00:17:32,151 --> 00:17:34,019 just five miles from the runway, 324 00:17:34,086 --> 00:17:40,259 suggests another possibility. 325 00:17:40,325 --> 00:17:43,562 One quarter flaps. 326 00:17:43,629 --> 00:17:45,030 NARRATOR: To prepare for landing, 327 00:17:45,097 --> 00:17:47,399 the pilots have to extend the plane's flaps 328 00:17:47,466 --> 00:17:50,235 and lower the landing gear. 329 00:17:50,302 --> 00:17:52,504 Gear down. 330 00:17:52,571 --> 00:17:54,740 Three green. 331 00:17:54,807 --> 00:17:57,009 NARRATOR: The increased drag means the plane needs 332 00:17:57,075 --> 00:17:59,978 more power to maintain lift during the last few minutes 333 00:18:00,045 --> 00:18:05,184 of flight. 334 00:18:05,250 --> 00:18:08,854 Investigators wonder, did a sudden loss of engine power 335 00:18:08,921 --> 00:18:11,190 caused the crash? 336 00:18:11,256 --> 00:18:13,025 Were they producing power at impact? 337 00:18:13,091 --> 00:18:15,294 Was there any obvious problems with the engines 338 00:18:15,360 --> 00:18:16,462 prior to impact? 339 00:18:16,528 --> 00:18:19,598 So you start looking at everything in detail. 340 00:18:19,665 --> 00:18:22,868 NARRATOR: They check the position of the engine levers. 341 00:18:22,935 --> 00:18:25,237 The engine speed is set for high, 342 00:18:25,304 --> 00:18:27,406 exactly where it should be. 343 00:18:27,473 --> 00:18:30,976 NARRATOR: It seems the pilots had the right settings. 344 00:18:31,043 --> 00:18:33,712 Speed set. 345 00:18:33,779 --> 00:18:35,747 NARRATOR: What about the engines themselves? 346 00:18:35,814 --> 00:18:39,718 Did they somehow fail? 347 00:18:39,785 --> 00:18:43,288 A trained investigator can find clues to engine performance 348 00:18:43,355 --> 00:18:45,491 by looking at the propeller blades and how 349 00:18:45,557 --> 00:18:47,759 they bent in the crash. 350 00:18:47,826 --> 00:18:49,962 The blades that are in opposition produce thrust. 351 00:18:50,028 --> 00:18:54,199 And also by rotational damage, they were running that impact. 352 00:18:54,266 --> 00:18:56,668 If they hadn't been running, even just pulled back. 353 00:18:56,735 --> 00:18:58,637 But you can see that they're actually chopping away 354 00:18:58,704 --> 00:18:59,972 at the ground and trees and being 355 00:19:00,038 --> 00:19:02,908 pulled forward when they hit. 356 00:19:02,975 --> 00:19:05,010 It was definitely going at full speed. 357 00:19:05,077 --> 00:19:08,514 No fault with the engine. 358 00:19:08,580 --> 00:19:11,049 NARRATOR: With no black boxes, it's difficult to know 359 00:19:11,116 --> 00:19:13,418 where else to look. 360 00:19:13,485 --> 00:19:16,588 Accident investigators very definitely utilize 361 00:19:16,655 --> 00:19:19,525 a process of elimination. 362 00:19:19,591 --> 00:19:21,326 You eliminate the things that you 363 00:19:21,393 --> 00:19:23,529 know that didn't contribute. 364 00:19:23,595 --> 00:19:25,664 And then eventually, you get two, 365 00:19:25,731 --> 00:19:28,100 to three, or four, or five things 366 00:19:28,166 --> 00:19:33,939 that did contribute to it. 367 00:19:34,006 --> 00:19:35,340 Hauter here. 368 00:19:35,407 --> 00:19:38,644 NARRATOR: An unexpected call brings a surprising new lead. 369 00:19:38,710 --> 00:19:43,315 One of the survivors has made an alarming allegation. 370 00:19:43,382 --> 00:19:46,785 Really? 371 00:19:46,852 --> 00:19:48,420 Hi. 372 00:19:48,487 --> 00:19:50,255 Welcome aboard. 373 00:19:50,322 --> 00:19:53,158 You're down to the left. 374 00:19:53,225 --> 00:19:54,159 Good evening. 375 00:19:54,226 --> 00:19:55,494 How are you? 376 00:19:55,561 --> 00:19:58,030 You are right in the back there. 377 00:19:58,096 --> 00:20:00,666 NARRATOR: One of the passengers reported 378 00:20:00,732 --> 00:20:06,838 that she thought she smelled alcohol on the first officer. 379 00:20:06,905 --> 00:20:09,041 The first officer helped board the passengers. 380 00:20:09,107 --> 00:20:11,944 Very gracious gentleman by all accounts, 381 00:20:12,010 --> 00:20:19,017 but she was disturbed by that. 382 00:20:23,055 --> 00:20:25,090 NARRATOR: The NTSB immediately adds 383 00:20:25,157 --> 00:20:27,326 aviation psychologist Malcolm Brenner 384 00:20:27,392 --> 00:20:29,895 to the investigative team. 385 00:20:29,962 --> 00:20:31,163 We were actually alarmed. 386 00:20:31,229 --> 00:20:33,865 We were very concerned that alcohol might turn out 387 00:20:33,932 --> 00:20:37,436 to be a factor in this case. 388 00:20:37,502 --> 00:20:39,171 As soon as the team came back, I 389 00:20:39,237 --> 00:20:41,840 was launched I think the next day almost immediately 390 00:20:41,907 --> 00:20:43,542 to follow up and see what I could 391 00:20:43,609 --> 00:20:48,246 learn about the first officer. 392 00:20:48,313 --> 00:20:49,681 Unbelievable. 393 00:20:49,748 --> 00:20:51,149 NARRATOR: A check of the first officer's 394 00:20:51,216 --> 00:20:55,721 driving record turns up more damning evidence. 395 00:20:55,787 --> 00:20:58,223 Arrested twice for drunk driving. 396 00:20:58,290 --> 00:21:00,626 For us, that is a major trouble sign. 397 00:21:00,692 --> 00:21:06,531 That would suggest that there is a serious alcohol issue. 398 00:21:06,598 --> 00:21:08,266 NARRATOR: Lab tests are ordered to check 399 00:21:08,333 --> 00:21:12,471 for alcohol in the blood and urine of both pilots. 400 00:21:12,537 --> 00:21:16,074 Let me know when you get the results. 401 00:21:16,141 --> 00:21:18,276 You're handling flying this leg, right? 402 00:21:18,343 --> 00:21:19,578 You bet. 403 00:21:19,645 --> 00:21:21,880 NARRATOR: If the first officer was impaired when Flight 404 00:21:21,947 --> 00:21:27,586 2286 left Denver, that could explain 405 00:21:27,653 --> 00:21:34,626 the aircraft's tragic fate. 406 00:21:37,295 --> 00:21:42,067 So this is the route from Denver to Durango. 407 00:21:42,134 --> 00:21:44,936 And here is where they hit the ground. 408 00:21:45,003 --> 00:21:46,772 NARRATOR: While they wait for lab results, 409 00:21:46,838 --> 00:21:50,609 investigators examine other evidence. 410 00:21:50,676 --> 00:21:53,445 They hope recordings of the controller's conversations 411 00:21:53,512 --> 00:21:55,547 and transponder data can help them 412 00:21:55,614 --> 00:21:59,117 build a better picture of what was happening in the cockpit. 413 00:21:59,184 --> 00:22:01,353 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Trans-Colorado 2286, 414 00:22:01,420 --> 00:22:04,056 climb and maintain flight level 230. 415 00:22:04,122 --> 00:22:05,357 STEPHEN SILVER: Climb and maintain 230. 416 00:22:05,424 --> 00:22:07,025 Thank you. 417 00:22:07,092 --> 00:22:08,226 NARRATOR: For most of the flight, 418 00:22:08,293 --> 00:22:10,629 there's no sign of a problem. 419 00:22:10,696 --> 00:22:13,432 They didn't provide a mayday, any calls, or any warnings 420 00:22:13,498 --> 00:22:14,633 like that. 421 00:22:14,700 --> 00:22:15,801 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Trans-Colorado 422 00:22:15,867 --> 00:22:18,036 2286, across the Durango, one mile, 423 00:22:18,103 --> 00:22:20,472 fixed at or above 1 4,000. 424 00:22:20,539 --> 00:22:23,108 Cleared for runway two zero approach. 425 00:22:23,175 --> 00:22:24,643 So now they're here. 426 00:22:24,710 --> 00:22:25,644 STEPHEN SILVER: OK. 427 00:22:25,711 --> 00:22:27,345 We're down to 1 4. 428 00:22:27,412 --> 00:22:28,647 And we're cleared for the approach. 429 00:22:28,714 --> 00:22:32,317 2286, we'll go. 430 00:22:32,384 --> 00:22:33,652 NARRATOR: But as the plane approaches 431 00:22:33,719 --> 00:22:40,726 Durango, investigators spot something very strange. 432 00:22:45,230 --> 00:22:51,036 They're dropping really fast. 433 00:22:51,103 --> 00:22:52,471 NARRATOR: Planes usually descend 434 00:22:52,537 --> 00:22:56,007 at a slow, steady rate of about 1,000 feet per minute. 435 00:22:56,074 --> 00:23:00,679 Flight 2286 is descending at nearly triple that rate. 436 00:23:00,746 --> 00:23:03,448 A much faster, much greater rate of descent approach 437 00:23:03,515 --> 00:23:05,016 than normal. 438 00:23:05,083 --> 00:23:08,820 And so we're sort of wondering what was happening here. 439 00:23:08,887 --> 00:23:10,455 NARRATOR: Did alcohol impairment 440 00:23:10,522 --> 00:23:13,925 caused the pilot flying to make a reckless descent? 441 00:23:13,992 --> 00:23:23,001 Was the first officer flying drunk? 442 00:23:26,037 --> 00:23:30,742 Blood and urine tests are in. 443 00:23:30,809 --> 00:23:32,244 Technicians have carefully checked 444 00:23:32,310 --> 00:23:36,615 samples from both pilots. 445 00:23:36,681 --> 00:23:41,887 Despite suspicions raised by a passenger's tip-off, 446 00:23:41,953 --> 00:23:46,158 the results show no alcohol in the first officer's blood. 447 00:23:46,224 --> 00:23:48,226 He was not drinking before the crash. 448 00:23:48,293 --> 00:23:49,461 Hello, sir. 449 00:23:49,528 --> 00:23:52,497 The passenger must have been mistaken. 450 00:23:52,564 --> 00:23:55,167 Either she smelled cologne or something else. 451 00:23:55,233 --> 00:24:01,373 But fortunately, it turns out alcohol was not an issue. 452 00:24:01,439 --> 00:24:04,409 And I was relieved to find out that the first officer 453 00:24:04,476 --> 00:24:06,645 had dealt with that issue. 454 00:24:06,711 --> 00:24:12,083 And it did seem to be in a commendable way. 455 00:24:12,150 --> 00:24:14,019 NARRATOR: What went wrong in the final minutes 456 00:24:14,085 --> 00:24:16,888 of Flight 2286 is still a mystery. 457 00:24:16,955 --> 00:24:18,156 OK. 458 00:24:18,223 --> 00:24:20,859 We're down to 1 4, and we're cleared with approach. 459 00:24:20,926 --> 00:24:24,429 2286, we'll go. 460 00:24:24,496 --> 00:24:27,032 NARRATOR: Investigators now wonder about the instructions 461 00:24:27,098 --> 00:24:31,303 the crew received from air traffic control. 462 00:24:31,369 --> 00:24:33,305 Were they told to fly an approach 463 00:24:33,371 --> 00:24:40,378 that was simply too risky for the conditions that night? 464 00:24:45,283 --> 00:24:47,118 The air traffic recording soon gives 465 00:24:47,185 --> 00:24:49,688 investigators their answer. 466 00:24:49,754 --> 00:24:52,691 Trans-Colorado 2286, for your approach to Durango, 467 00:24:52,757 --> 00:24:55,360 would you rather shoot the ILS, or will the approach to runway 468 00:24:55,427 --> 00:24:57,362 two zero be sufficient? 469 00:24:57,429 --> 00:25:00,031 NARRATOR: The recording reveals that the controller did not 470 00:25:00,098 --> 00:25:02,200 dictate the approach to Durango. 471 00:25:02,267 --> 00:25:08,240 Instead, he gave the crew two options. 472 00:25:08,306 --> 00:25:11,243 The first was to fly an easy path around the airport 473 00:25:11,309 --> 00:25:13,211 to a runway equipped with an instrument 474 00:25:13,278 --> 00:25:17,682 landing system or ILS that guides the pilots down. 475 00:25:17,749 --> 00:25:21,686 The second option, runway two zero, has no ILS. 476 00:25:21,753 --> 00:25:25,290 It requires pilots to descend in a series of steep steps 477 00:25:25,357 --> 00:25:28,693 to avoid mountains north of Durango. 478 00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:31,196 The way that the air traffic controller handled 479 00:25:31,263 --> 00:25:34,299 the flight was exemplary. 480 00:25:34,366 --> 00:25:37,269 They offered them the choice of which runway 481 00:25:37,335 --> 00:25:40,038 and which instrument procedure that they would like to do, 482 00:25:40,105 --> 00:25:44,676 but left the decision appropriately to the captain. 483 00:25:44,743 --> 00:25:46,711 We'll plan on using the two zero. 484 00:25:46,778 --> 00:25:48,013 Thank you. 485 00:25:48,079 --> 00:25:49,614 NARRATOR: For some reason, the captain 486 00:25:49,681 --> 00:25:55,754 chose to fly the steeper, more difficult approach. 487 00:25:55,820 --> 00:26:02,327 We have hills here, here, and here. 488 00:26:02,394 --> 00:26:05,730 Why didn't they take the easy way down? 489 00:26:05,797 --> 00:26:08,466 These are normally very, very well trained pilots. 490 00:26:08,533 --> 00:26:15,507 So what could have been the factors that occurred here? 491 00:26:21,212 --> 00:26:22,681 Thanks for coming. 492 00:26:22,747 --> 00:26:24,082 Have a seat. 493 00:26:24,149 --> 00:26:26,584 NARRATOR: Malcolm Brenner hopes other Trans-Colorado pilots 494 00:26:26,651 --> 00:26:29,254 can explain the decision. 495 00:26:29,321 --> 00:26:30,388 So tell me about Captain Silver. 496 00:26:30,455 --> 00:26:32,891 What kind of a pilot was he? 497 00:26:32,958 --> 00:26:34,426 NARRATOR: Everyone agrees that Stephen 498 00:26:34,492 --> 00:26:37,262 Silver was a skilled pilot. 499 00:26:37,329 --> 00:26:40,432 But he was known to want a rush at times. 500 00:26:40,498 --> 00:26:42,834 A number of people noted he tended to push 501 00:26:42,901 --> 00:26:44,402 to keep the airplane on time. 502 00:26:44,469 --> 00:26:48,506 He was a person that pushed the limit on things 503 00:26:48,573 --> 00:26:52,210 as a personality type. 504 00:26:52,277 --> 00:26:53,812 NARRATOR: There's even a letter in his file 505 00:26:53,878 --> 00:26:56,848 praising him for his ability to get in and out of an airport 506 00:26:56,915 --> 00:27:02,620 in just 7 minutes. 507 00:27:02,687 --> 00:27:03,855 Listen. 508 00:27:03,922 --> 00:27:05,256 When we get to Durango, I'd like to get in the air 509 00:27:05,323 --> 00:27:06,658 again as quickly as possible. 510 00:27:06,725 --> 00:27:07,993 It shouldn't be a problem. 511 00:27:08,059 --> 00:27:09,794 We won't need to refuel. 512 00:27:09,861 --> 00:27:11,129 Let's see what else we could do to get 513 00:27:11,196 --> 00:27:13,565 these folks back on time. 514 00:27:13,631 --> 00:27:15,667 NARRATOR: The captain's concern over lateness 515 00:27:15,734 --> 00:27:19,504 helps explain his chosen approach to Durango. 516 00:27:19,571 --> 00:27:21,406 So we're still doing this straight into runway two 517 00:27:21,473 --> 00:27:22,574 zero, OK? 518 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:23,742 Runway two zero. 519 00:27:23,808 --> 00:27:25,844 Sounds good. 520 00:27:25,910 --> 00:27:29,714 Control, we're planning on a DME to runway two zero. 521 00:27:29,781 --> 00:27:33,251 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL: Cleared for runway two zero approach. 522 00:27:33,318 --> 00:27:35,453 NARRATOR: Estimates show that the straight in approach 523 00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:41,192 to runway two zero saves about 10 minutes of flight time. 524 00:27:41,259 --> 00:27:43,294 To me, it seems almost instinctive 525 00:27:43,361 --> 00:27:48,533 that he thought this is his way to catch up and get in faster. 526 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:50,168 Folks, this is your captain speaking. 527 00:27:50,235 --> 00:27:52,837 We'll soon be landing in Durango. 528 00:27:52,904 --> 00:27:56,875 I think what this captain felt as though it was 529 00:27:56,941 --> 00:27:59,744 his responsibility to try to get 530 00:27:59,811 --> 00:28:02,347 the passengers where they wanted to go, 531 00:28:02,414 --> 00:28:04,215 when they were expected to be there. 532 00:28:04,282 --> 00:28:07,752 And he took that very personally. 533 00:28:07,819 --> 00:28:10,522 NARRATOR: The information explains why Captain silver 534 00:28:10,588 --> 00:28:13,958 chose such a challenging approach on a snowy night, 535 00:28:14,025 --> 00:28:17,962 but it doesn't explain the crash. 536 00:28:18,029 --> 00:28:22,700 Other pilots say they often use the very same runway approach. 537 00:28:22,767 --> 00:28:25,203 Professional pilots do these kinds of approaches 538 00:28:25,270 --> 00:28:26,971 with great regularity. 539 00:28:27,038 --> 00:28:31,042 So I suspect that they were aware of the challenging 540 00:28:31,109 --> 00:28:35,413 nature of the approach. 541 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:37,582 Tricky approach. 542 00:28:37,649 --> 00:28:40,385 But lots of pilots say they did it all the time. 543 00:28:40,452 --> 00:28:43,188 NARRATOR: To try to understand where things went wrong, 544 00:28:43,254 --> 00:28:45,890 investigators compare the flight path pilots are 545 00:28:45,957 --> 00:28:49,994 supposed to follow for runway two zero to the actual descent 546 00:28:50,061 --> 00:28:53,498 of Flight 2286. 547 00:28:53,565 --> 00:28:56,201 What they discover is astonishing. 548 00:28:56,267 --> 00:28:58,036 Look at this. 549 00:28:58,103 --> 00:29:01,706 They're way too steep, even for this approach. 550 00:29:01,773 --> 00:29:03,108 NARRATOR: The comparison reveals 551 00:29:03,174 --> 00:29:06,111 that after opting for a challenging approach requiring 552 00:29:06,177 --> 00:29:09,447 a steep descent, the Trans-Colorado pilots 553 00:29:09,514 --> 00:29:11,749 flew in even steeper. 554 00:29:11,816 --> 00:29:16,387 And here, they're finally on the right flight path. 555 00:29:16,454 --> 00:29:19,924 But they just keep dropping. 556 00:29:19,991 --> 00:29:24,129 It's like they had no idea of their altitude. 557 00:29:24,195 --> 00:29:26,231 We don't know exactly what happened obviously because we 558 00:29:26,297 --> 00:29:28,099 don't have the recorded information 559 00:29:28,166 --> 00:29:30,935 we do in a modern airplane. 560 00:29:31,002 --> 00:29:33,304 It's quite clear that the crew descended 561 00:29:33,371 --> 00:29:36,074 below the published approach. 562 00:29:36,141 --> 00:29:40,278 Why exactly, we don't know. 563 00:29:40,345 --> 00:29:42,280 NARRATOR: Investigators wonder if the plane's 564 00:29:42,347 --> 00:29:44,716 altimeters or any other flight instruments 565 00:29:44,782 --> 00:29:46,484 might have malfunctioned. 566 00:29:46,551 --> 00:29:48,820 Was it possibly internal failures? 567 00:29:48,887 --> 00:29:54,192 Do we see anything clogging the lines that provide 568 00:29:54,259 --> 00:29:55,693 pressure to the instruments? 569 00:29:55,760 --> 00:29:59,297 And so you look at all the connections. 570 00:29:59,364 --> 00:30:02,100 NARRATOR: A thorough inspection turns up nothing. 571 00:30:02,167 --> 00:30:04,435 All the control systems were properly hooked up 572 00:30:04,502 --> 00:30:06,804 and should have been functional at the time. 573 00:30:06,871 --> 00:30:10,241 We found nothing mechanically wrong with the aircraft. 574 00:30:10,308 --> 00:30:16,848 NARRATOR: Once again, the investigation hits a wall. 575 00:30:17,849 --> 00:30:19,551 Do you have the runway? 576 00:30:19,617 --> 00:30:21,052 NARRATOR: There's still no explanation 577 00:30:21,119 --> 00:30:23,788 for why two trained airline pilots flew 578 00:30:23,855 --> 00:30:26,057 their plane into a hillside just 579 00:30:26,124 --> 00:30:28,259 short of the Durango airport. 580 00:30:28,326 --> 00:30:29,260 Damn. 581 00:30:29,327 --> 00:30:30,261 We're too low. 582 00:30:30,328 --> 00:30:31,496 Pull up. 583 00:30:31,563 --> 00:30:34,399 No, no, no, no, no. 584 00:30:34,465 --> 00:30:41,472 Hold on. 585 00:30:47,212 --> 00:30:49,013 NARRATOR: In Denver, Malcolm Brenner 586 00:30:49,080 --> 00:30:51,783 digs into the qualifications of the two pilots 587 00:30:51,849 --> 00:30:55,320 on Trans-Colorado flight 2286. 588 00:30:55,386 --> 00:30:56,988 People don't normally go out with an intention 589 00:30:57,055 --> 00:30:58,489 of crashing airplanes. 590 00:30:58,556 --> 00:31:02,293 So what was it in their training, their background, 591 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:03,928 something in their personal history, 592 00:31:03,995 --> 00:31:05,930 anything else that could have caused 593 00:31:05,997 --> 00:31:09,534 them to make this error? 594 00:31:09,601 --> 00:31:11,069 NARRATOR: The file the First Officer Ralph 595 00:31:11,135 --> 00:31:13,371 Harvey, the pilot who was flying, 596 00:31:13,438 --> 00:31:19,043 contained some disturbing details. 597 00:31:19,110 --> 00:31:22,547 Tested for captain, failed. 598 00:31:22,614 --> 00:31:25,717 Proficiency test, failed. 599 00:31:25,783 --> 00:31:30,088 Instrument flying, below average. 600 00:31:30,154 --> 00:31:33,424 NARRATOR: Brenner uncovers a history of failed tests. 601 00:31:33,491 --> 00:31:36,227 He learns that the first officer's mediocre flying 602 00:31:36,294 --> 00:31:38,329 actually cost him a job. 603 00:31:38,396 --> 00:31:41,833 He was released from a previous employer 604 00:31:41,899 --> 00:31:45,103 because he failed to be able to upgrade in complex instrument 605 00:31:45,169 --> 00:31:46,170 flying conditions. 606 00:31:46,237 --> 00:31:48,806 This particular individual was very 607 00:31:48,873 --> 00:31:55,880 challenged to do this on a regular basis and do it well. 608 00:31:58,583 --> 00:32:00,451 So we're still doing this straight into runway two 609 00:32:00,518 --> 00:32:01,653 zero, OK? 610 00:32:01,719 --> 00:32:04,589 Runway two zero, sounds good. 611 00:32:04,656 --> 00:32:06,991 Nothing we can't handle. 612 00:32:07,058 --> 00:32:09,260 NARRATOR: Brenner suspects that flying the challenging 613 00:32:09,327 --> 00:32:11,763 approach to Durango and limited visibility 614 00:32:11,829 --> 00:32:14,999 was more than the first officer could manage. 615 00:32:15,066 --> 00:32:17,035 I think as long as the weather is good, 616 00:32:17,101 --> 00:32:19,370 he would probably be a very adequate pilot. 617 00:32:19,437 --> 00:32:21,205 His trouble is when things start to happen 618 00:32:21,272 --> 00:32:23,775 very fast it seems like. 619 00:32:23,841 --> 00:32:26,311 NARRATOR: But there's another troubling question. 620 00:32:26,377 --> 00:32:30,481 The duties of airline pilots are usually carefully divided. 621 00:32:30,548 --> 00:32:32,684 Landing lights. 622 00:32:32,750 --> 00:32:33,785 On. 623 00:32:33,851 --> 00:32:36,921 NARRATOR: The first officer was flying. 624 00:32:36,988 --> 00:32:38,323 Speed set. 625 00:32:38,389 --> 00:32:39,691 NARRATOR: So the captain should have 626 00:32:39,757 --> 00:32:43,194 been monitoring the instruments and watching for mistakes. 627 00:32:43,261 --> 00:32:45,596 This first officer had a history 628 00:32:45,663 --> 00:32:48,800 of having some difficulties with complex 629 00:32:48,866 --> 00:32:50,601 instrument procedures. 630 00:32:50,668 --> 00:32:53,671 And so this would be a first officer that a captain would 631 00:32:53,738 --> 00:32:56,140 want to watch pretty closely. 632 00:32:56,207 --> 00:32:57,542 NARRATOR: It seems Captain Silver 633 00:32:57,608 --> 00:32:59,744 was not watching closely. 634 00:32:59,811 --> 00:33:02,146 The evidence suggests he never corrected 635 00:33:02,213 --> 00:33:03,881 his first officer's mistakes. 636 00:33:03,948 --> 00:33:05,350 For some reason, the captain didn't 637 00:33:05,416 --> 00:33:07,352 take over and save the plane. 638 00:33:07,418 --> 00:33:14,359 I need to know why. 639 00:33:14,425 --> 00:33:17,495 NARRATOR: They contact friends and family, trying 640 00:33:17,562 --> 00:33:20,231 to piece together what the pilots were doing in the hours 641 00:33:20,298 --> 00:33:23,234 leading up to their last flight. 642 00:33:23,301 --> 00:33:26,938 They're looking for any sign of stress or fatigue. 643 00:33:27,004 --> 00:33:28,706 Fatigue can be insidious. 644 00:33:28,773 --> 00:33:33,911 And a lot of it depends on what was the quality of sleep 645 00:33:33,978 --> 00:33:36,914 that he got the night before. 646 00:33:36,981 --> 00:33:38,583 NARRATOR: Brenner learns that the captain 647 00:33:38,649 --> 00:33:42,687 had dinner with his parents the night before the crash. 648 00:33:42,754 --> 00:33:45,790 Looks like plenty of time to rest. 649 00:33:45,857 --> 00:33:47,525 NARRATOR: As far as anyone can tell, 650 00:33:47,592 --> 00:33:50,495 Captain Silver spent a quiet evening with family, 651 00:33:50,561 --> 00:33:57,568 then went home to sleep. 652 00:34:05,510 --> 00:34:07,812 What a day. 653 00:34:07,879 --> 00:34:09,914 NARRATOR: Less than 24 hours later, he 654 00:34:09,981 --> 00:34:12,583 would fail to correct his first officer's perilously 655 00:34:12,650 --> 00:34:18,423 quick descent towards Durango. 656 00:34:18,489 --> 00:34:20,558 After an exhaustive investigation, 657 00:34:20,625 --> 00:34:26,164 Brenner and his colleagues still don't know why. 658 00:34:26,230 --> 00:34:27,532 What are we missing here? 659 00:34:27,598 --> 00:34:29,834 When you find a mechanical failure, it's obvious. 660 00:34:29,901 --> 00:34:31,702 Something fatigued and broke. 661 00:34:31,769 --> 00:34:34,338 And because that part failed, this happened. 662 00:34:34,405 --> 00:34:37,141 Trying to really understand why people make mistakes 663 00:34:37,208 --> 00:34:44,048 can be very difficult. 664 00:34:44,115 --> 00:34:47,919 NARRATOR: The case seems to have hit a dead end. 665 00:34:47,985 --> 00:34:49,086 Hello. 666 00:34:49,153 --> 00:34:51,322 NARRATOR: Until a phone call changes everything. 667 00:34:51,389 --> 00:34:53,324 Yes. 668 00:34:53,391 --> 00:34:57,595 What? 669 00:34:57,662 --> 00:35:00,765 What exactly did she say? 670 00:35:00,832 --> 00:35:05,203 We got a call from a member of the public. 671 00:35:05,269 --> 00:35:10,975 This was a pilot who said that he had met with a woman who he 672 00:35:11,042 --> 00:35:15,313 believed was the fiancee of the captain who 673 00:35:15,379 --> 00:35:20,485 died in the accident. 674 00:35:20,551 --> 00:35:22,153 What a day. 675 00:35:22,220 --> 00:35:25,356 NARRATOR: Investigators learn that on the eve of the crash, 676 00:35:25,423 --> 00:35:27,258 Captain Silver may not have spent 677 00:35:27,325 --> 00:35:29,527 a quiet night alone after all. 678 00:35:29,594 --> 00:35:31,496 Time to have a bit of fun. 679 00:35:31,562 --> 00:35:35,766 Now you're speaking my language. 680 00:35:35,833 --> 00:35:38,236 NARRATOR: They hear a story about drug use 681 00:35:38,302 --> 00:35:39,971 and a woman who is alleged to have 682 00:35:40,037 --> 00:35:43,341 made a stunning admission. 683 00:35:43,407 --> 00:35:46,844 I'm sure glad to be buried and right after the accident. 684 00:35:46,911 --> 00:35:51,382 The night before, we'd done a bag of cocaine. 685 00:35:51,449 --> 00:35:56,854 We did a bag of cocaine. 686 00:35:56,921 --> 00:35:58,890 Would you like to go first? 687 00:35:58,956 --> 00:36:02,093 Yeah. 688 00:36:02,159 --> 00:36:03,528 Bag of cocaine. 689 00:36:03,594 --> 00:36:06,998 That's the expression she used. 690 00:36:07,064 --> 00:36:11,802 It's enough for a couple to party all night. 691 00:36:11,869 --> 00:36:14,705 You realize this is a very serious allegation? 692 00:36:14,772 --> 00:36:16,841 The best way I could describe the investigators 693 00:36:16,908 --> 00:36:18,009 was astounded. 694 00:36:18,075 --> 00:36:20,411 Thank you. 695 00:36:20,478 --> 00:36:24,415 It's very disturbing to have a drug involved. 696 00:36:24,482 --> 00:36:30,321 Cocaine was something that we hadn't really expected. 697 00:36:30,388 --> 00:36:33,324 We've got a new story on the captain. 698 00:36:33,391 --> 00:36:35,192 NARRATOR: The stunning claim contradicts 699 00:36:35,259 --> 00:36:37,061 what many friends and family have said 700 00:36:37,128 --> 00:36:39,263 about the dedicated pilot. 701 00:36:39,330 --> 00:36:42,366 Everything that we received on the captain of the aircraft 702 00:36:42,433 --> 00:36:45,269 is that he was well trained, a good pilot, 703 00:36:45,336 --> 00:36:46,871 certainly had all the experience, 704 00:36:46,938 --> 00:36:52,209 and there were no issues. 705 00:36:52,276 --> 00:36:53,611 NARRATOR: And the captain's fiancee 706 00:36:53,678 --> 00:36:58,382 denies the entire story. 707 00:36:58,449 --> 00:37:00,084 A letter from her lawyer contends 708 00:37:00,151 --> 00:37:01,719 she wasn't even with the captain 709 00:37:01,786 --> 00:37:05,389 the night before the crash. 710 00:37:05,456 --> 00:37:08,726 The ingestion of these drugs, you just don't see 711 00:37:08,793 --> 00:37:15,499 this with professional pilots. 712 00:37:15,566 --> 00:37:17,268 NARRATOR: Though the captain's blood has already 713 00:37:17,335 --> 00:37:20,204 been analyzed, the test wasn't sensitive enough 714 00:37:20,271 --> 00:37:26,310 to detect cocaine use. 715 00:37:26,377 --> 00:37:28,245 The first one was done by the hospital. 716 00:37:28,312 --> 00:37:30,014 And their testing was at a very high level. 717 00:37:30,081 --> 00:37:31,782 They were looking only for overdose. 718 00:37:31,849 --> 00:37:33,017 Call the lab. 719 00:37:33,084 --> 00:37:35,419 We need to run the captain samples again. 720 00:37:35,486 --> 00:37:39,824 Subsequently, the specimens were sent to the toxicology 721 00:37:39,890 --> 00:37:41,525 lab in Oklahoma City. 722 00:37:41,592 --> 00:37:47,732 In that case, they go down to very sensitive levels. 723 00:37:47,798 --> 00:37:50,234 NARRATOR: If the captain of Flight 2286 724 00:37:50,301 --> 00:37:53,537 really was using cocaine, the implications 725 00:37:53,604 --> 00:38:00,244 for the entire aviation industry will be huge. 726 00:38:00,311 --> 00:38:03,648 I always thought pilots were squeaky clean. 727 00:38:03,714 --> 00:38:06,584 I mean, they are carrying people's lives. 728 00:38:06,651 --> 00:38:15,660 They have people's lives in their hands. 729 00:38:16,894 --> 00:38:18,963 NARRATOR: Technicians conduct a second and then 730 00:38:19,030 --> 00:38:21,666 a third toxicology test on blood samples 731 00:38:21,732 --> 00:38:26,637 from the deceased captain of Flight 2286. 732 00:38:26,704 --> 00:38:28,005 Because of the seriousness of it, 733 00:38:28,072 --> 00:38:29,707 they wanted to make sure that there wasn't 734 00:38:29,774 --> 00:38:33,377 laboratory error involved. 735 00:38:33,444 --> 00:38:37,982 NARRATOR: The results leave no room for doubt. 736 00:38:38,049 --> 00:38:39,917 They reported that in the blood, 737 00:38:39,984 --> 00:38:45,556 there had been cocaine in the recent past. 738 00:38:45,623 --> 00:38:48,426 He wasn't asleep. 739 00:38:48,492 --> 00:38:51,829 He was up using cocaine. 740 00:38:51,896 --> 00:38:54,131 If, as the evidence suggests, the captain 741 00:38:54,198 --> 00:38:57,068 had been partying all night and had come to work, 742 00:38:57,134 --> 00:38:59,704 he probably got very limited sleep. 743 00:38:59,770 --> 00:39:02,339 He was in withdrawal by the time of the accident. 744 00:39:02,406 --> 00:39:05,142 And many of the things that are characteristic of withdrawal, 745 00:39:05,209 --> 00:39:08,145 such as a slowing of reaction and a general feeling 746 00:39:08,212 --> 00:39:10,114 of not being well, would not help 747 00:39:10,181 --> 00:39:13,117 him on this type of approach. 748 00:39:13,184 --> 00:39:15,820 NARRATOR: Brenner now understands the shocking chain 749 00:39:15,886 --> 00:39:18,622 of errors, negligence, and criminal behavior 750 00:39:18,689 --> 00:39:24,128 that led to the crash. 751 00:39:24,195 --> 00:39:25,730 This accident begins with a captain 752 00:39:25,796 --> 00:39:32,503 who was in no shape to fly. 753 00:39:33,604 --> 00:39:39,043 NARRATOR: After a long night of drug use, 754 00:39:39,110 --> 00:39:43,948 the captain sets off for work. 755 00:39:44,014 --> 00:39:45,916 His first flight of the day is scheduled 756 00:39:45,983 --> 00:39:50,755 to depart at 1:15 PM. 757 00:39:50,821 --> 00:39:56,627 He must report for duty at 12:30. 758 00:39:56,694 --> 00:39:59,630 Seven hours later, after three flights, 759 00:39:59,697 --> 00:40:02,233 the twin turboprop is running late. 760 00:40:02,299 --> 00:40:06,370 And the captain is feeling the effects of cocaine withdrawal. 761 00:40:06,437 --> 00:40:07,738 Listen, when we get to Durango, 762 00:40:07,805 --> 00:40:09,707 I'd like to get in the air again as quickly as possible. 763 00:40:09,774 --> 00:40:11,075 It shouldn't be a problem. 764 00:40:11,142 --> 00:40:12,910 We won't need to refuel. 765 00:40:12,977 --> 00:40:16,614 Because of his actions, his deliberate actions, 766 00:40:16,680 --> 00:40:19,817 he presented himself for duty not qualified. 767 00:40:19,884 --> 00:40:23,087 And that goes against everything 768 00:40:23,154 --> 00:40:30,161 that professional pilots are taught. 769 00:40:33,330 --> 00:40:35,065 Trans-Colorado 2286. 770 00:40:35,132 --> 00:40:36,867 For your approach to Durango, would you rather 771 00:40:36,934 --> 00:40:39,603 shoot the ILS, or would the approach to runway two zero 772 00:40:39,670 --> 00:40:42,339 be sufficient? 773 00:40:42,406 --> 00:40:46,544 Control, we'll plan on a DME to runway two zero. 774 00:40:46,610 --> 00:40:48,245 NARRATOR: The captain's habit of rushing 775 00:40:48,312 --> 00:40:50,581 leads him to choose a risky approach when 776 00:40:50,648 --> 00:40:54,752 a safer option is available. 777 00:40:54,819 --> 00:40:56,754 What a horrible decision. 778 00:40:56,821 --> 00:40:59,657 In withdrawal, he's not half the pilot 779 00:40:59,723 --> 00:41:04,895 he is when he's alert. 780 00:41:04,962 --> 00:41:06,330 NARRATOR: The struggling first officer 781 00:41:06,397 --> 00:41:11,168 is soon overwhelmed by the difficult approach. 782 00:41:11,235 --> 00:41:15,005 But the captain doesn't notice. 783 00:41:15,072 --> 00:41:21,245 Do you have the runway? 784 00:41:21,312 --> 00:41:23,981 For this individual to have allowed himself 785 00:41:24,048 --> 00:41:28,319 to fall into this condition is very, very 786 00:41:28,385 --> 00:41:30,254 hard for me to understand. 787 00:41:30,321 --> 00:41:32,857 NARRATOR: With one pilot struggling at the controls 788 00:41:32,923 --> 00:41:35,860 and the other battling fatigue, neither is 789 00:41:35,926 --> 00:41:39,930 watching the plane's altitude. 790 00:41:39,997 --> 00:41:40,931 Damn. 791 00:41:40,998 --> 00:41:41,932 We're too low. 792 00:41:41,999 --> 00:41:45,302 Pull up. 793 00:41:45,369 --> 00:41:52,343 No, no, no, no, no. 794 00:42:06,056 --> 00:42:08,292 Once he lost track of their altitude, 795 00:42:08,359 --> 00:42:09,793 they didn't have a chance. 796 00:42:09,860 --> 00:42:13,731 NARRATOR: The NTSB final report cites the first officer's 797 00:42:13,797 --> 00:42:16,066 poor flying and the captain's use 798 00:42:16,133 --> 00:42:18,903 of cocaine as contributing causes 799 00:42:18,969 --> 00:42:22,840 of the Trans-Colorado crash. 800 00:42:22,907 --> 00:42:26,977 The drug revelations make headlines across the country. 801 00:42:27,044 --> 00:42:28,512 It's thought to be the first time 802 00:42:28,579 --> 00:42:30,714 that a commercial pilot involved in a crash 803 00:42:30,781 --> 00:42:37,788 has tested positive for drugs. 804 00:42:39,490 --> 00:42:42,726 I was totally naive to the situation with Steve. 805 00:42:42,793 --> 00:42:44,695 It totally shocked me. 806 00:42:44,762 --> 00:42:46,563 NARRATOR: The FAA soon implements 807 00:42:46,630 --> 00:42:49,366 important changes, including more frequent drug 808 00:42:49,433 --> 00:42:51,869 testing for pilots. 809 00:42:51,936 --> 00:42:55,439 As a result of this accident, to a large extent, 810 00:42:55,506 --> 00:42:58,175 drug testing programs became practical. 811 00:42:58,242 --> 00:43:01,512 And they've been very, very successful. 812 00:43:01,578 --> 00:43:02,846 To my knowledge, there has not been 813 00:43:02,913 --> 00:43:05,082 any other case of drugs involved 814 00:43:05,149 --> 00:43:07,084 in an airline accident. 815 00:43:07,151 --> 00:43:09,286 NARRATOR: The Durango crash leads to other reforms 816 00:43:09,353 --> 00:43:11,088 as well. 817 00:43:11,155 --> 00:43:16,293 Regulations now require black boxes in all commuter planes. 818 00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:18,395 And any plane with 10 or more seats 819 00:43:18,462 --> 00:43:21,532 must have a ground proximity warning device. 820 00:43:21,598 --> 00:43:23,968 WARNING DEVICE: Pull up. 821 00:43:24,034 --> 00:43:28,105 NARRATOR: To alert pilots if they're flying too low. 822 00:43:28,172 --> 00:43:30,908 In the case of this accident, the Safety Board 823 00:43:30,975 --> 00:43:34,011 reconstructed that a ground proximity device would 824 00:43:34,078 --> 00:43:36,647 have given warning at least 23 seconds 825 00:43:36,714 --> 00:43:38,048 prior to the collision. 826 00:43:38,115 --> 00:43:43,821 And in aviation, that actually is quite a bit of time. 827 00:43:43,887 --> 00:43:45,923 NARRATOR: For survivors like Susie Welch, 828 00:43:45,990 --> 00:43:49,293 painful memories linger. 829 00:43:49,360 --> 00:43:53,197 But she knows her ordeal and the terrible loss of life 830 00:43:53,263 --> 00:43:54,631 were not in vain. 831 00:43:54,698 --> 00:43:59,870 Flying is safer now than it ever was because they're 832 00:43:59,937 --> 00:44:01,071 making these changes. 833 00:44:01,138 --> 00:44:04,208 And so I think that makes me really happy. 834 00:44:04,274 --> 00:44:05,809 Yeah.