Original subtitles

Gentlemen, you look good.

Gentlemen, you have a race.

A thrilling day at the air show

A thrilling day at the air show

turns into a nightmare for spectators on the ground.

turns into a nightmare for spectators on the ground.

He's coming right at us!

By the time they got to the point of,

By the time they got to the point of,

oh my God, this is headed right for us,

it was too late to move.

A plane spirals into the center of Mexico City.

A plane spirals into the center of Mexico City.

I remember thinking that, well, this is it.

This is it for me.

This is it for me.

The out-of-control jet sets the financial core ablaze.

The out-of-control jet sets the financial core ablaze.

It was disaster for a lot of innocent people on the ground.

It was disaster for a lot of innocent people on the ground.

A DC-9 plummets into a Los Angeles suburb destroying

A DC-9 plummets into a Los Angeles suburb destroying

a residential neighborhood.

When you've got an airplane that falls out of the sky

When you've got an airplane that falls out of the sky

and hurts or kills somebody on the ground

who's just innocently there, there is

a heightened level of concern.

a heightened level of concern.

Three

Flights gone wrong reign terror from the sky.

Flights gone wrong reign terror from the sky.

Ladies and gentlemen,

we are starting our approach.

We lost both engines.

We lost both engines.

Put the mask over your nose.

Emergency...

Mayday.

Mayday.

Brace for impact!

He's gonna crash!

Reno, Nevada, is hosting

a high-stakes competition known as the National

a high-stakes competition known as the National

Championship Air Races.

The Reno Air Races are all about

The Reno Air Races are all about

one thing and only one thing, and that's all-out speed.

one thing and only one thing, and that's all-out speed.

100,000 spectators converge on the site

to watch everything from biplanes to jets

to watch everything from biplanes to jets

race around an eight-mile oval.

The highlight of the event is the unlimited class, unlimited

The highlight of the event is the unlimited class, unlimited

because there are no limits on how World War

II fighters can be customized.

ROBERT "HOOT" GIBSON: Many of the airplanes

have been highly modified just to make them go faster.

have been highly modified just to make them go faster.

The course is marked by 10 50-foot pylons

planted in the desert.

The finish line is directly in front of the grandstand.

Pilot Jimmy Leeward is competing with his legendary highly

Pilot Jimmy Leeward is competing with his legendary highly

modified P-51 Mustang, the Galloping Ghost.

modified P-51 Mustang, the Galloping Ghost.

OK, Ghost here.

We're looking good.

Roger, Jimmy.

Roger, Jimmy.

Standing by.

Just past 4:00 PM, the last heat for the

unlimited class is set to go.

unlimited class is set to go.

Racer number seven,

you are next for the runway.

With six planes in the air,

With six planes in the air,

pilots line up beside a pace plane.

The racers follow that plane toward the start line.

Gentlemen, you look good.

Gentlemen, you have a race.

Gentlemen, you have a race.

Leeward starts on the outside of the path.

ROBERT "HOOT" GIBSON: And you're flying

in 100 feet above the ground, and you're accelerating.

in 100 feet above the ground, and you're accelerating.

And at the same time, you've got to be

avoiding the other airplanes.

avoiding the other airplanes.

You've got to be not hitting the ground, obviously.

You've got to be not hitting the pylons.

So it's busy.

So it's busy.

It's real busy.

Here we go.

Spectators cheer on the Galloping Ghost

as it passes pylon six near the end of lap three.

as it passes pylon six near the end of lap three.

Looks like the Ghost is gaining on him!

Looks like the Ghost is gaining on him!

Jimmy Leeward is now in third place in chasing

Voodoo, another P-51.

But at pylon eight, the Galloping Ghost

But at pylon eight, the Galloping Ghost

suddenly pitches up hard, then spirals and dives

suddenly pitches up hard, then spirals and dives

toward thousands of spectators.

toward thousands of spectators.

The airplane is coming straight at me.

The last thing I saw was the sunlight

The last thing I saw was the sunlight

shining off the Chrome spinner.

He's coming right at us!

The Galloping Ghost slams into the ground.

The Galloping Ghost slams into the ground.

It's the worst disaster in the history of the Reno Air Races.

It's the worst disaster in the history of the Reno Air Races.

64 spectators are injured, 11 people are killed,

64 spectators are injured, 11 people are killed,

including pilot Jimmy Leeward.

including pilot Jimmy Leeward.

ROBERT "HOOT" GIBSON: I knew right away Jimmy was gone.

I knew there was no way that he could have

survived something like that.

survived something like that.

He had been such a dear, dear friend.

I just cried.

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety

Board, who were already at the show promoting air safety,

Board, who were already at the show promoting air safety,

reached the crash site in minutes.

I'm Clint Crookshanks.

This is Howard Plangens with the NTSB.

This is Howard Plangens with the NTSB.

We've been authorized to take over this investigation.

They've actually witnessed the air crash.

They've actually witnessed the air crash.

Watching the accident happen was quite unique.

We saw the airplane pitch up, roll over, hit the crowd.

We saw the airplane pitch up, roll over, hit the crowd.

And the three of us working were stunned.

And the three of us working were stunned.

It often takes days to start an investigation.

But, today, investigators are at work within minutes.

But, today, investigators are at work within minutes.

Nothing can be touched until we get photographs and nothing

Nothing can be touched until we get photographs and nothing

moves, OK?

The airplane hit the ground at over 500 miles an hour.

The airplane hit the ground at over 500 miles an hour.

And so, there was not much left.

But most of the airplane, especially the forward part

of the airplane, was little tiny bits.

of the airplane, was little tiny bits.

Investigators divide the grounds into a grid

Investigators divide the grounds into a grid

as they search for evidence to explain the plane's

sudden loss of control.

Listen up, everybody.

Everything you find goes into one of these bags, OK?

Everything you find goes into one of these bags, OK?

OK, and then we got four, five, six, and...

OK, and then we got four, five, six, and...

A searcher appears with something she

found outside the search grid.

Where did you find this?

Out there?

It was a light piece and it was far away, further than some

It was a light piece and it was far away, further than some

of the other heavier pieces.

OK.

OK.

It landed between pylons nine and one...

How did it get all the way over there?

Perfect.

Perfect.

...1,500 feet away from the crash site.

We would not have expected to find it where we did.

In a hangar near Sacramento, California,

investigators examined the accident debris as news reports

investigators examined the accident debris as news reports

broadcast a detailed photo of the Ghost

just before it crashed.

just before it crashed.

It shows the left tail trim tab detaching from the plane.

It shows the left tail trim tab detaching from the plane.

Where did you find this?

That's the same piece found away from the crash site.

That's the same piece found away from the crash site.

Trim tabs are key to controlling an airplane.

Trim tabs are key to controlling an airplane.

While tail elevators direct an aircraft to climb or descend,

While tail elevators direct an aircraft to climb or descend,

trim tabs keep the elevator in place

without the need for constant adjustment.

without the need for constant adjustment.

If the trim tabs fail, the aircraft

If the trim tabs fail, the aircraft

could go out of control.

Why did you break?

So this is the actual data from the aircraft

just before it crashed.

just before it crashed.

Investigators examine the Galloping Ghost's

telemetry system, which is used in place

of a conventional black box.

of a conventional black box.

It collects data on the plane's performance

It collects data on the plane's performance

and transmits it to the ground crew.

Speed and RPM look good.

Speed and RPM look good.

Oil pressure seems fine.

Almost all data points show the plane performing

exactly as it should.

exactly as it should.

But one point stands out.

But one point stands out.

Wow.

Look at the G load.

G level refers to the gravitational force

G level refers to the gravitational force

that we experience here on the Earth.

And all of us sitting on the ground

And all of us sitting on the ground

here are seeing one G. In the races, we'd be pulling six Gs.

here are seeing one G. In the races, we'd be pulling six Gs.

But Jimmy saw more than that.

He went right off the scale.

Through video evidence, we were

able to determine that that G spike was actually

able to determine that that G spike was actually

in the neighborhood of 17 Gs.

17 Gs is more than five times

17 Gs is more than five times

what astronauts experience on liftoff.

I would have been unconscious.

Someone 30 years old would have been unconscious.

Someone 30 years old would have been unconscious.

"Top Gun" would have been unconscious at the G level

that that airplane experienced.

that that airplane experienced.

It's very likely that the G forces incapacitated the pilot

It's very likely that the G forces incapacitated the pilot

within a couple of seconds so that the airplane was then

uncontrolled as it hit the ground.

There was no way the pilot could have

steered clear of the crowd.

The spike in G force raises questions.

Did the left trim tab fall off, pitching

Did the left trim tab fall off, pitching

the aircraft violently upward?

Or did the violent G force of the climb

Or did the violent G force of the climb

tear the plane apart mid-air?

You know, this plane flew in World War II.

It's almost 70 years old.

It's almost 70 years old.

And it was highly modified for speed.

Investigators try to uncover

Investigators try to uncover

why a modified P-51 Mustang crashed

into a crowd of thousands.

They wonder, could years of modifications to the Galloping

Ghost have turned a sturdy fighter into an unstable racing

Ghost have turned a sturdy fighter into an unstable racing

machine?

The original P-51 was designed to fly long range,

carry extra fuel tanks underneath the wings,

carry extra fuel tanks underneath the wings,

and fly at, I think, something like

12,000 pounds gross weight.

12,000 pounds gross weight.

Well, we don't need that for air racing.

So we don't need that much wing.

In the 60s, the Galloping Ghost

had its wings shortened by eight feet and its tail

had its wings shortened by eight feet and its tail

by one foot, a change that made the plane

lighter and more streamlined.

The less wing that you're dragging

through the air at high speed, the less

drag you're going to have.

Therefore, the faster you're going to go.

Therefore, the faster you're going to go.

In 1983, Leeward bought the plane.

In 1985, he painted it yellow and raced it over the years

In 1985, he painted it yellow and raced it over the years

at Reno.

In 2007, he began making his own modifications

In 2007, he began making his own modifications

to the Galloping Ghost, modifications

that took its top speed from 300 to 500 miles per hour.

that took its top speed from 300 to 500 miles per hour.

Did that extra speed affect the plane's reliability?

Did that extra speed affect the plane's reliability?

Look at this safety report.

Look at this safety report.

The pre-race service report shows

investigators how the Galloping Ghost was maintained.

investigators how the Galloping Ghost was maintained.

Entries before its final race provide a startling clue.

Entries before its final race provide a startling clue.

They had to retighten the trim tab

screws on several occasions.

screws on several occasions.

So the airplane was talking to the crew.

They never investigated the reason

They never investigated the reason

for the screws coming loose.

The question now is, did the left trim tab have

The question now is, did the left trim tab have

a defect that wasn't noticed?

The team searches the debris with renewed purpose,

looking for the hinge that fastened

looking for the hinge that fastened

the tab to the plane's tail.

It looks like a piece of the trim tab assembly.

It may be the investigation's smoking gun.

Half the screw is snapped off.

Half the screw is snapped off.

And what's left is loose.

A screw that once fastened the tab to the hinge

A screw that once fastened the tab to the hinge

is loose, something that shouldn't happen.

It turns real easy.

It turns real easy.

The screw is supposed to be secured

tightly by a lock nut fixed to the underside

tightly by a lock nut fixed to the underside

of the hinge assembly.

The lock nut is specially designed

to grip the threads of the screw to ensure it

to grip the threads of the screw to ensure it

can't be loosened by vibration.

Analysis of the locknut leads to a discovery.

The lock nuts on this particular airplane

The lock nuts on this particular airplane

had some yellow paint on them.

The airplane was last painted yellow in 1985.

The airplane was last painted yellow in 1985.

It means, the critical part is at least 26 years old.

It means, the critical part is at least 26 years old.

The deteriorated nut should have been replaced long ago.

Microscopic analysis also reveals

fatigue cracks, the result of years of vibration.

fatigue cracks, the result of years of vibration.

So vibration finally broke the screw.

So vibration finally broke the screw.

We knew that it had been loose in order for it

We knew that it had been loose in order for it

to cause the necessary forces to fatigue the screw over time.

to cause the necessary forces to fatigue the screw over time.

Investigators now believe

they know what caused the Galloping Ghost's

fatal nosedive into spectators.

fatal nosedive into spectators.

Aging parts, a loosely fastened trim tab,

Aging parts, a loosely fastened trim tab,

and extreme aerodynamic forces proved

to be a fatal combination.

11 months after the crash of the Galloping Ghost

at the Reno Air Races...

at the Reno Air Races...

Let's go Ghost!

...the NTSB announces the probable cause

of the accident.

of the accident.

Traveling at 512 miles per hour, 200 feet above the Nevada

Traveling at 512 miles per hour, 200 feet above the Nevada

desert, a loose 26-year-old locknut causes a weakened screw

in the P-51's left trim tab to snap, sending the plane

in the P-51's left trim tab to snap, sending the plane

into a violent upward pitch.

into a violent upward pitch.

The extreme G force instantly incapacitated

The extreme G force instantly incapacitated

pilot Jimmy Leeward.

I'm sure Jimmy never saw himself hit the ground.

As a result of their investigation,

the NTSB issued safety recommendations

requiring engineering evaluations

requiring engineering evaluations

of highly modified aircraft.

It also recommends improving safety

for spectators and personnel near the racecourse.

for spectators and personnel near the racecourse.

One area that is consistently dangerous,

One area that is consistently dangerous,

and that is taking old planes, modifying them, and then flying

in the vicinity of a lot of people who

in the vicinity of a lot of people who

really are posing a huge risk.

And regular civilians don't know.

And regular civilians don't know.

But sometimes, that threat from above

comes not from the planes but from the pilots who fly them.

comes not from the planes but from the pilots who fly them.

Mexico's capital, Mexico City, is a sprawling metropolis

Mexico's capital, Mexico City, is a sprawling metropolis

of 20 million people.

Thousands of feet above it, a Learjet 45

is one of several jets lining up to land at the city's

is one of several jets lining up to land at the city's

busy international airport.

Victor Mike Charlie, radar contact,

Victor Mike Charlie, radar contact,

descend to 200.

200, Mike Charlie.

200, Mike Charlie.

Alvaro Sanchez and Martin Oliva

are at the controls.

are at the controls.

Both pilots are captains.

But tonight, It's Oliva who's flying the plane.

But tonight, It's Oliva who's flying the plane.

The Mexican government chartered the Learjet

to carry the interior minister and his entourage

to Mexico City.

to Mexico City.

Juan Camilo Mouriño is just 37 years

old and already a rising star in the Mexican political scene.

old and already a rising star in the Mexican political scene.

Anybody who becomes Interior Secretary

Anybody who becomes Interior Secretary

has become a very important figure in Mexican politics.

He was considered a personal friend

He was considered a personal friend

of President Felipe Calderon.

Victor Mike Charlie,

descend to one 5,000 feet.

Altimeter at 3024.

Altimeter at 3024.

One 5,000 with 3024, Mike Charlie.

One 5,000 with 3024, Mike Charlie.

As the Learjet approaches

the outskirts of Mexico City, the pilots prepare to land.

the outskirts of Mexico City, the pilots prepare to land.

Landing lights.

Yep.

Yep.

Checked.

They keep a close eye on the aircraft

flying ahead of them.

flying ahead of them.

Look.

Yeah.

They're all lined up in front of us.

They're all lined up in front of us.

Just in time for the rush hour.

Victor Mike Charlie, reduce your speed to 180 knots.

Victor Mike Charlie, reduce your speed to 180 knots.

Reducing speed to 180, Mike Charlie.

The air traffic controller asks the Learjet

crew to slow down to maintain their distance from the plane

crew to slow down to maintain their distance from the plane

ahead.

It's a busy international airport.

It's a busy international airport.

It's the main airport for Mexico City, which is a huge city.

So things are coming at you fast.

So things are coming at you fast.

ATC telling you to, you know, turn this heading,

maintain this speed, slow down to this speed.

maintain this speed, slow down to this speed.

There, speed stabilized.

There, speed stabilized.

OK.

This is one of the busiest and most critical

stages of any flight.

Flap down.

Flap down.

Sanchez extends the flap so he can maintain

lift and further reduce speed.

They're about five and 1/2 miles from the airport,

They're about five and 1/2 miles from the airport,

right over the heart of downtown Mexico City.

Oh my God!

All of a sudden, chaos.

All of a sudden, chaos.

They're flown upside down and they're

hurtling towards the ground.

Without warning, the Learjet goes into a steep dive

Without warning, the Learjet goes into a steep dive

and plummets toward the ground.

What do we do, Alvaro?

What do we do, Alvaro?

What do we do?

Alvaro!

Alvaro!

Give it to me.

Give it to me.

All of a sudden, I saw this plane flying, like, really low.

All of a sudden, I saw this plane flying, like, really low.

I had the time to turn around and I

started running away from it.

started running away from it.

Oh, Alvaro!

No!

Ah!

The crashed Learjet has devastated Mexico

City's financial district.

City's financial district.

All nine people on board have been killed.

Seven people on the ground are also dead

Seven people on the ground are also dead

and dozens more are injured.

Just remember, like, a lot of explosions, cars exploding.

Just remember, like, a lot of explosions, cars exploding.

Mexico City is in chaos as crews

Mexico City is in chaos as crews

battle to control the fire.

The sudden loss of the interior minister

The sudden loss of the interior minister

leaves the country in shock.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Mexico asks for help from

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Mexico asks for help from

the United States and the NTSB.

the United States and the NTSB.

As soon as we heard that there was,

what we would say, the equivalent of the Mexican vice

what we would say, the equivalent of the Mexican vice

president on board, I knew that it was going to be a very

political investigation and would require a lot

political investigation and would require a lot

of politics, a lot of interpersonal skills,

more than even just the technical side of things.

more than even just the technical side of things.

Joe Sedor, NTSB.

Amid the confusion of the crash,

Amid the confusion of the crash,

the investigators' first job is to identify

the aircraft debris.

All right.

All right.

If you're absolutely sure it's from the plane,

it goes over there, OK?

Everything else I want here.

This plane crashed into rush hour traffic

This plane crashed into rush hour traffic

in the middle of one of the world's

biggest, busiest cities.

There's wreckage everywhere.

There's wreckage everywhere.

There's debris.

Is it a car?

Is it a plane?

Well, this is the nose.

Yeah, the whole plane's here.

Yeah, the whole plane's here.

An intensive search turns

up both the cockpit voice recorder

up both the cockpit voice recorder

and the flight data recorder.

They are sent off to Washington DC, where experts at the NTSB

They are sent off to Washington DC, where experts at the NTSB

will try to recover the data.

Meanwhile, the position of the wreckage

provides a vital clue about the direction the plane was

flying just before it crashed.

It looks like the plane was heading

west when they hit the ground, flying the wrong way.

west when they hit the ground, flying the wrong way.

We knew that he was coming into Mexico City.

And the first thing that we noticed

was that the aircraft, when it struck the ground,

was that the aircraft, when it struck the ground,

was actually moving away from the airport.

was actually moving away from the airport.

Investigators must answer an obvious question.

Why was the Learjet flying in the wrong direction?

Why was the Learjet flying in the wrong direction?

At the NTSB lab in Washington DC,

At the NTSB lab in Washington DC,

investigators realize the flight data recorder will be no help

in finding out why the Learjet carrying

in finding out why the Learjet carrying

Mexican politician Juan Camilo Moreño crashed

in the heart of Mexico City.

in the heart of Mexico City.

That's because the recorder stopped working almost two

That's because the recorder stopped working almost two

years before his final flight.

Investigators now examine security

camera footage around Mexico City's financial district.

camera footage around Mexico City's financial district.

Yeah, one of these cameras must have been

looking in the right direction.

If they're right, the cameras could have captured

If they're right, the cameras could have captured

the moments before the crash.

Video is very important to us, especially

if we don't have any FDR data.

if we don't have any FDR data.

Next?

They get a break.

Oh, hello, there.

Oh, hello, there.

You see the streak of the aircraft going down.

And we were like, hey, we got something here.

And we were like, hey, we got something here.

The video reveals that the plane

went into an extremely steep dive

went into an extremely steep dive

and then reversed course in mid-air.

But what exactly caused the plane to suddenly change

direction is not obvious.

direction is not obvious.

We knew it was coming in in this direction.

And then, all of a sudden, then the next thing we know,

And then, all of a sudden, then the next thing we know,

it's going in this direction.

How does it get there?

An airplane can't just automatically turn in flight

and go down.

and go down.

So we had to determine what would actually

have to happen in order to get that airplane in that position.

have to happen in order to get that airplane in that position.

All right.

I think we waited long enough.

I think we waited long enough.

Let's hear it.

Investigators finally get a chance to hear

the cockpit voice recorder.

Flap down.

Flap down.

They listen to the pilots

descend toward the runway.

Look.

Yeah.

Yeah.

They're all lined up in front of us.

There's nothing unusual until...

The turbulence from that thing.

Oh, man.

One of the interesting things that we did here

was that the flight crew did mention turbulence.

was that the flight crew did mention turbulence.

What the hell?

Alvaro!

All right, sounds like that's where the trouble starts.

Where are we at?

Where are we at?

14 seconds before hitting the ground.

It sounds like a Learjet hit

It sounds like a Learjet hit

a patch of very unstable air.

Oh my God.

No, Alvaro, no!

No, Alvaro, no!

Alvaro!

We had a normal flight coming in,

We had a normal flight coming in,

and then we had a loss of control relatively quick.

So what do you think?

Wake turbulence?

Wake turbulence?

It's an intriguing possibility.

It's an intriguing possibility.

Wake turbulence forms when the low pressure air above the wing

draws high pressure air upward, creating a swirling vortex,

draws high pressure air upward, creating a swirling vortex,

like a tiny horizontal tornado, the trails behind the aircraft.

like a tiny horizontal tornado, the trails behind the aircraft.

When a smaller plane flies into these rotating columns

When a smaller plane flies into these rotating columns

of air at low altitude, they can spin out of control and crash

of air at low altitude, they can spin out of control and crash

into the ground within seconds.

Investigators learn that during the approach,

Investigators learn that during the approach,

the controller slotted the Learjet

behind a much larger aircraft.

A Boeing 767 was flying its approach directly

in front of the Lear 45.

in front of the Lear 45.

Just in time for rush hour.

But when radar data from air traffic control

is analyzed, the surprising discovery is made.

is analyzed, the surprising discovery is made.

Separation is not ideal, but it

Separation is not ideal, but it

shouldn't have been a problem.

To rule out all possibility of wake turbulence,

To rule out all possibility of wake turbulence,

investigators double check the conditions of the flight.

investigators double check the conditions of the flight.

They discover a critical detail.

The night of the crash, the 767's wake vortices

The night of the crash, the 767's wake vortices

would have lingered dangerously longer than usual.

would have lingered dangerously longer than usual.

The reason, exceptionally calm weather.

The reason, exceptionally calm weather.

In calm conditions, there's no wind to disperse the turbulence

In calm conditions, there's no wind to disperse the turbulence

into harmless air currents.

We had a heavy aircraft in front,

we had a light aircraft behind.

we had a light aircraft behind.

All the circumstances came together

to have that trailing Lear 45 have an encounter with the wake

to have that trailing Lear 45 have an encounter with the wake

turbulence of the 767.

The crew could see the 767 ahead of them.

The crew could see the 767 ahead of them.

So he's five miles from us.

So he's five miles from us.

But they mistakenly thought they were traveling

at a safe distance away.

Like a sledgehammer from above, the wake turbulence

slammed into the smaller plane, flipping it over.

slammed into the smaller plane, flipping it over.

It's this powerful force, but you

don't know that you're about to hit

don't know that you're about to hit

it until you're already in it.

They had flown into the deadly vortex.

Alvaro!

Alvaro!

This explains the mid-air change of direction.

The aircraft rolled around into a sort of a barrel roll.

And then, as it was coming around, they were pulling out.

And if they would have had another maybe a thousand feet

And if they would have had another maybe a thousand feet

or a couple thousand feet, that they could have actually

recovered the aircraft.

No, Alvaro!

No!

No!

Investigators now understand why the jet carrying

Mexico's interior minister crashed into the streets

of Mexico City.

But something doesn't add up.

They wonder why a crew entrusted with flying top government

They wonder why a crew entrusted with flying top government

officials didn't use more caution, especially given

the calm winds that evening.

the calm winds that evening.

The 767 is coming down nice and steady.

The 767 is coming down nice and steady.

Now, look at the Lear.

Should I pull the nozzle?

Should I pull the nozzle?

No, leave it.

Leave it for now.

In sharp contrast to the 767,

In sharp contrast to the 767,

the Learjet is descending unevenly,

speeding downward to lose altitude,

speeding downward to lose altitude,

then leveling off to slow down.

If a pilot is really in control of his airplane,

he can lose altitude and lose speed at the same time.

he can lose altitude and lose speed at the same time.

If he's not really in control, he'll

focus on one or the other.

The Learjet pilots were

The Learjet pilots were

unsuccessful controlling both their speed and their altitude.

There, speed stabilized.

There, speed stabilized.

OK.

They flew too fast toward the plane ahead

and dropped down too far...

and dropped down too far...

Flaps down.

...directly into the deadly vortex.

...directly into the deadly vortex.

If they had maintained the airspeeds that were requested

to them by air traffic control, then this approach would

to them by air traffic control, then this approach would

have gone without a hitch.

Investigators dig into the work records of the two

Learjet pilots to understand why they

Learjet pilots to understand why they

flew such an erratic approach.

flew such an erratic approach.

What the hell?

When you look at the paperwork for both the pilot

and the co-pilot, there were signatures missing,

and the co-pilot, there were signatures missing,

there were forms missing.

When they try to track down Captain

Oliva's flight instructor...

Oliva's flight instructor...

Let me guess, no sign of the instructor?

...they find no evidence of any training.

...they find no evidence of any training.

Investigators learn that many of the training

Investigators learn that many of the training

flights Captain Oliva claimed to have made never happened.

flights Captain Oliva claimed to have made never happened.

It's a similar story with Alvaro Sanchez.

The pilots flying a Mexican government Learjet

The pilots flying a Mexican government Learjet

had fraudulent credentials.

It's pretty mind boggling that a pilot

would fake his own credentials.

would fake his own credentials.

Your life is at stake too.

You'd think you would want to have the proper credentials

You'd think you would want to have the proper credentials

to fly an airplane.

It's a devastating revelation.

Two pilots who couldn't control their jet

Two pilots who couldn't control their jet

during a demanding descent in high risk conditions

caused a violent crash in the heart of Mexico City.

caused a violent crash in the heart of Mexico City.

It's highly irresponsible.

It's irresponsible because, at that point,

It's irresponsible because, at that point,

you're putting yourself in danger,

you're putting the people that you're flying,

you're putting them in danger, you're violating their trust.

you're putting them in danger, you're violating their trust.

In the aftermath, Mexican authorities

suspend the licenses of two flight schools they suspected

suspend the licenses of two flight schools they suspected

issued false training documents to the Learjet pilots.

issued false training documents to the Learjet pilots.

Under no circumstances, whether we're dealing

with military, civilian, private, whatever form

with military, civilian, private, whatever form

of aviation, never must we ever allow

people to get in an airplane they're not qualified to fly.

people to get in an airplane they're not qualified to fly.

Whether it's a Piper Cub or whether it's a Boeing

747 or anything in between.

Because we know where that leads.

Because we know where that leads.

Ready when you are, Captain.

But even highly skilled

But even highly skilled

pilots cannot avert a mid-air tragedy

in the skies over Los Angeles.

in the skies over Los Angeles.

East of Los Angeles, the suburban city of Cerritos

is waking up.

is waking up.

It's a fast-growing, bustling community in LA County.

Aeroméxico flight 498's flight path

Aeroméxico flight 498's flight path

takes it right over Cerritos on its way

to Los Angeles International Airport.

to Los Angeles International Airport.

First officer Jose Valencia is piloting

First officer Jose Valencia is piloting

this leg of the journey.

Ready when you are, Captain.

Captain Antonio Valdez Prome navigates.

Captain Antonio Valdez Prome navigates.

Down below in the tower, air traffic controller Walter White

Down below in the tower, air traffic controller Walter White

gets his first call from Aeroméxico flight 498.

Los Angeles approach.

Los Angeles approach.

Good morning, this is Aeroméxico 498.

Aeroméxico 488, Los Angeles approach.

Aeroméxico 488, Los Angeles approach.

25 left, final approach course.

Do you have information?

Los Angeles approach, good morning.

Los Angeles approach, good morning.

This is Aeroméxico.

Flight 488 is now officially

inside what's known as the terminal control area, or TCA.

inside what's known as the terminal control area, or TCA.

It's restricted airspace that's normally found

around heavily congested airports or hub airports where

around heavily congested airports or hub airports where

the traffic density is extremely high

and you need to control the access

into and out of that airspace.

into and out of that airspace.

What speed do you want?

What speed do you want?

We're reducing to 290...

no, no, to 190.

no, no, to 190.

OK, you can hold what you have, sir.

As the crew of flight 498 flies over Cerritos...

As the crew of flight 498 flies over Cerritos...

Seatbelts, airspeed.

...their DC-9 is rocked by a violent jolt.

...their DC-9 is rocked by a violent jolt.

Aeroméxico 498.

This can't be.

On the ground, Cerritos residents

watch in horror as the DC-9 nosedives

watch in horror as the DC-9 nosedives

into a quiet neighborhood.

I think I lost one.

Aeroméxico 498, Los Angeles approach.

Aeroméxico 498, Los Angeles approach.

Local emergency crews arrive

on the scene within minutes.

As we approached, I realized that, in addition

As we approached, I realized that, in addition

to the aircraft parts in the street,

there were people, body parts.

there were people, body parts.

As I surveyed the houses and the crash site around me,

As I surveyed the houses and the crash site around me,

it was a very surreal experience to stand right there

it was a very surreal experience to stand right there

for probably four or five minutes

before anybody else showed up and not

see another living soul.

see another living soul.

FIREFIGHTER You've got

wreckage all over the place.

There are no survivors, just fatalities.

There are no survivors, just fatalities.

Oh, gosh.

Oh, gosh.

This neighborhood has just been devastated, just flattened.

16 houses have been damaged,

16 houses have been damaged,

many completely destroyed.

All the passengers and crew on Aeroméxico flight 498 are dead

as well as 15 people on the ground.

as well as 15 people on the ground.

As emergency crews grapple with the horrifying situation,

As emergency crews grapple with the horrifying situation,

emergency workers in a different part of Cerritos

are shocked by another grisly discovery.

are shocked by another grisly discovery.

In the playground of a local school,

they find the wreckage of a Piper Cherokee Archer

they find the wreckage of a Piper Cherokee Archer

and the bodies of its three passengers.

and the bodies of its three passengers.

The two crashes must be connected.

But how?

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board

arrive in Cerritos that night.

Proof of a collision between the two aircraft comes quickly.

Proof of a collision between the two aircraft comes quickly.

There are propeller marks and paint from the Piper Cherokee

There are propeller marks and paint from the Piper Cherokee

on the tail of the DC-9.

It looks like the Piper collided

It looks like the Piper collided

at the tail section of the DC-9 and the horizontal

stabilizer came off.

And once that happened, you could no longer

And once that happened, you could no longer

control the pitch of the DC-9.

The wreckage reveals that the DC-9 and the Cherokee

The wreckage reveals that the DC-9 and the Cherokee

collided at a 90 degree angle.

collided at a 90 degree angle.

The impact tore off the airliner's tail

section, causing the nose dive.

The cause of the crash is clear.

But investigators must now.

But investigators must now.

Solve a deeper mystery how did the two aircraft

Solve a deeper mystery how did the two aircraft

get close enough to collide?

In the wake of the Aeroméxico crash in Cerritos

California, investigators turned to the DC-9's flight

California, investigators turned to the DC-9's flight

data recorder to find out why it was

clipped by a Piper Cherokee.

They discover the Aeroméxico flight was exactly

where it should have been...

where it should have been...

Ready when you are, Captain.

...inside the terminal control area.

...inside the terminal control area.

But no one gave the Cherokee authorization

to fly into the TCA.

to fly into the TCA.

The fact of the matter is that the Cherokee flew into the TCA

and hit the DC-9 in restricted airspace without a clearance.

and hit the DC-9 in restricted airspace without a clearance.

How did the Cherokee end up in the TCA?

How did the Cherokee end up in the TCA?

Walter White, the air traffic controller on duty,

should have been able to see it on his radar.

should have been able to see it on his radar.

Richard Wentworth was one of the investigators

who interviewed the controller.

At any time, did you see the Piper Cherokee on your scope?

At any time, did you see the Piper Cherokee on your scope?

No.

No, sir.

The Piper's target was not displayed.

The Piper's target was not displayed.

While the radar data is being analyzed,

While the radar data is being analyzed,

investigators learn that the Cherokee's pilot, William

Kramer, like most private pilots,

Kramer, like most private pilots,

was navigating by landmarks, such as freeways.

was navigating by landmarks, such as freeways.

And that's definitely the 405.

Where is it again?

Where is it again?

Perhaps confused by the tangle of freeways below him,

Kramer may have flown into the terminal control area

Kramer may have flown into the terminal control area

without knowing it.

There are no lines on the ground that says the TCA starts

There are no lines on the ground that says the TCA starts

here and at this altitude.

But investigators still need

to know why the air traffic controller failed

to know why the air traffic controller failed

to keep the two planes apart.

Hey, Carl.

How's it going?

How's it going?

They here from controllers from Los Angeles

International Airport, who've described

problems with their equipment.

We had reported problems with the radar

We had reported problems with the radar

not picking up targets several times.

not picking up targets several times.

It's a terrifying theory.

Was the disaster in Cerritos caused by failing technology?

Was the disaster in Cerritos caused by failing technology?

Investigators pour over radar data

from Los Angeles International Airport traffic control,

from Los Angeles International Airport traffic control,

hoping to answer that question.

hoping to answer that question.

When radar signals strike a target,

they bounce back to the receiver.

But if buildings or mountains interrupt the radar,

But if buildings or mountains interrupt the radar,

the return signal can disappear.

the return signal can disappear.

We reviewed that data.

We had no evidence that there were any malfunctions

We had no evidence that there were any malfunctions

of any systems in Los Angeles.

of any systems in Los Angeles.

But investigators do discover the controller

was simultaneously handling another small plane, a Grumman

was simultaneously handling another small plane, a Grumman

Tiger.

There was an aircraft that was east of the airport,

which he became involved in.

which he became involved in.

OK, you are right in the middle of the TCA, sir.

Roman 66, Romeo, I suggest in future,

Roman 66, Romeo, I suggest in future,

you look at your TCA chart.

The problem with the conversation

between the controller and the pilot of the Grumman

between the controller and the pilot of the Grumman

is that it went on too long.

Why were you so mesmerized by the Grumman?

Why were you so mesmerized by the Grumman?

I thought he posed a risk.

This occurred during a critical time

This occurred during a critical time

at which the Aeroméxico and the Cherokee were merging.

at which the Aeroméxico and the Cherokee were merging.

Investigators believe that the controller's divided

attention, perhaps made worse by the limitations of an older

attention, perhaps made worse by the limitations of an older

radar system, is the reason why he didn't warn the DC-9

about the approaching Cherokee.

about the approaching Cherokee.

And see if you can find any landmarks that we might

And see if you can find any landmarks that we might

be able to use as a visual.

They suspect that the Cherokee's pilot was searching

They suspect that the Cherokee's pilot was searching

for landmarks on the ground...

I just wanted a visual landmark that I can see.

...while the DC-9 was approaching

...while the DC-9 was approaching

from the other direction.

In addition, NTSB investigators also

believe the DC-9's busy flight crew

believe the DC-9's busy flight crew

may have missed spotting the Cherokee

because of its small size.

because of its small size.

It's possible that during part of the approach

the aircraft was actually behind the center post.

the aircraft was actually behind the center post.

And unless the pilot moved his head back and forth

to clear that airspace, it's possible the aircraft

to clear that airspace, it's possible the aircraft

was obscured.

The NTSB report reveals

several tragic weaknesses in the air traffic control system.

several tragic weaknesses in the air traffic control system.

Chief among them, pilots cannot be relied upon

to see and avoid each other.

to see and avoid each other.

It recommends improvements that are still in place to this day.

It recommends improvements that are still in place to this day.

The Federal Aviation Administration,

which regulates the United States airline industry,

which regulates the United States airline industry,

reacted swiftly.

A new system for radar facilities,

A new system for radar facilities,

called Mode C Intruder, is designed

to aid air traffic controllers.

to aid air traffic controllers.

If an aircraft should inadvertently intrude,

the controller will now be given a visual and an aural alert,

the controller will now be given a visual and an aural alert,

thus giving him time to provide a timely warning to the pilot.

thus giving him time to provide a timely warning to the pilot.

In addition, an early warning system

for pilots called, Traffic Collision and Avoidance,

for pilots called, Traffic Collision and Avoidance,

or TCAS, is also developed.

TCAS alerts pilots almost a minute

before a potential collision, instructing them to climb

before a potential collision, instructing them to climb

or descend to avoid the approaching aircraft.

Within a year, the old radars at Los Angeles International

Airport were replaced.

Airport were replaced.

Whenever you've got an airplane falling out of the sky

and hitting a civilian community,

and hitting a civilian community,

that is doubly frightening.

It's one thing to just being reactive to a crash.

It's one thing to just being reactive to a crash.

It's another thing when the crash has

just rained death from the air.