All language subtitles for JAG S09E15 Crash

Bennington, approach.

Firefighter, 214.

According to the terms, you've got to
clean up.

Roger, 214. You're in the box.

No threat approach.

My policy's paid up.

214, you're at a mile and three
quarters. Report paddles. Roger. This is

Hornet. Three quarters of a mile ball.

214, this is paddles. Roger, off.

The deck is coming up.

214, roger.

You're below the glide slope, 214. Go
manual.

Already done.

Bring it up. You're too low.

Add power.

Bring her up.

Three nights ago, Lieutenant James Ross
crashed his F -18 Hornet into the ramp

of the USS Bennington. He was killed
instantly.

Airline Jags are overextended, so you
two are heading out there to investigate

this afternoon.

Sir,

could this not wait until tomorrow?

Well, you're the one that's always
begging you to go to sea.

Yeah, um... Well, I'm sure it'll be

fine, sir.

What were the preliminary findings, sir?

I know.

Petty Officer Coates has your orders
dismissed.

Ma 'am, sir, you'll be leaving at 1600
from Andrews, then you pick up a cod and

leave. Guess I'd better call Webb and
tell him dinner's off.

It's kind of nice to be the one
canceling for a change.

Jennifer, would you? It's about Maddie,
right?

It always is when you call me Jennifer.

Could you... I'd be glad to look after
her, sir, as long as you leave me your

credit card.

There is one other thing, though. I'm
supposed to meet with Maddie's English

teacher tomorrow morning. Dragon lady?

Yeah, she threatened to flunk Maddie if
she doesn't finish all the assignments

for the first semester.

But she wasn't even here first semester.

We need to drill that into her head.

By we, do you mean me, sir?

Thank you.

sick about not being able to be there
it's under control sir don't worry about

thing

Well, why would the pilot switch the
manual if the plane was handling well on

automatic?

Well, some of the pilots get a little
squirrely just sitting on their hands. I

never liked flying automatic in a 14.

Does the F -18 have a black box?

No, but it does have maintenance tape,
which should tell us everything that

happened on the flight.

That was a hell of a blast, sir.

I'm afraid the maintenance tape burned
up. You're kidding.

But we did recover the front part of the
plane, more or less.

Half the upper nose just sheared open
into the sea.

Well, what are the pieces telling you,
Senior Chief?

Those stabilization and flight control
systems look good, ma 'am.

Nothing's really jumping out at us. Keep
us updated, huh?

Of course, sir. Can you tell us about
Lieutenant Ross?

Well, he never really gave us a hard
time, but I really didn't know him that

well, ma 'am.

You might want to talk to his squadron
commander.

Why don't I do that, and you can
interview the Air Department personnel.

Sure, you talk to the brass while I talk
to the guys who do the real work. Thank

you, Chief.

I'll show you the way, ma 'am.

Nice to meet you, ma 'am. And you are?
Jennifer Coates. I'm Maddie's

No, she just lives with me.

And your stepfather?

Actually, he's not her stepfather. He's
her guardian. But no, we're not a

couple. But the three of you do live
together.

We live down the hall from Harm.

From Harm? Yeah, that's his name, my
guardian.

This is all rather confusing.

Point is, ma 'am, Harm, her guardian,
asked that I stand in for him today.

Oh. Well, I'm disappointed that he
couldn't be here. He got called away

suddenly.

How long have you been in his care?

Four weeks.

Well, I hope this doesn't become a
pattern.

I've found that when parents don't take
an interest in their child's

education... He is very interested, ma
'am, which is why he sent me.

Well, most of the problems I run into
are directly related to lack of parental

supervision. Ms. Dabrowski, can we get
back to the subject here?

What do I need to do to pass your
course?

Your guardian needs to understand how
important it is that he be truly

He's doing the best he can.

Well, he needs to be more responsible.

Would you stop insulting him, for God's
sake? He's a good father.

Young lady, you need to calm down. Like
hell I do.

No, I'm not just going to stand there
and listen to her trash talk harm.

Lieutenant Ross's death is a terrible
loss.

He was married with a little boy.

How long was he with the squadron?

Nine months.

He was scheduled for six, then extended
indefinitely.

It's a tough break, Commander.

We had a period of minimal flight ops,
so I gave him and some of the other

pilots two weeks' leave to go back home.

When was that?

They came back on board last week.

What kind of a pilot was he? Was he
good?

He won the Golden Tail hook twice.

Did he give you trouble of any kind?

Commander, whatever happened with that
plane, I sincerely doubt it was

Lieutenant Ross' fault.

But you know how that goes.

You crashed a few yourself.

Well, sometimes it's nobody's fault.

But that doesn't keep us from looking,
does it?

It seemed like a routine flight, ma 'am.
Lieutenant Ross coupled up to the ACLS.

Everything looked good for a hands -off
landing. And nothing on the scope

indicated the A -team was coming along?

Not till the very end, ma 'am. As far as
I could tell, the plane was following

the precise approach path programmed
into the computer.

Well, we'll want to examine that
programming data.

Ma 'am, the explosion knocked the
computers offline.

Data was lost.

Who does the programming?

First class Dakey.

This is Colonel McKenzie from JAG. Ma
'am. Eddie.

Thank you.

Ma 'am.

Aren't you kind of young to be a petty
officer, first class?

Ma 'am, when the Navy finds out you
enjoy spending 15 hours a day fiddling

computers, they tend to promote you
pretty fast.

Yeah, I didn't realize that carrier
landings had become so computerized.

Oh, it's incredible, ma 'am.

Three years ago, it was the first time
an F -18 did a fully automated GPS

landing at sea.

Now a lot of CAGs prefer automatic
landings. Why's that?

Less pilot error, ma 'am. And what about
computer error?

Ma 'am, with all the innovations in the
flight management system, computer error

is negligible.

Soon we'll see unmanned planes landing
on carriers.

The pilots will love that.

They will, ma 'am.

So four nights ago, was there any
computer error?

I saw no indications of it, ma 'am. I
was sitting here at my screen when it

happened. You have no thoughts on what
caused the crash?

Maybe the pilot caused problems when he
switched to manual.

Well, we haven't found reason to suspect
that.

Petty officer, if you have...

nagging concerns about anything.

Ma 'am, you have to understand, a
computer system's only as good as the

that's put into it. Meaning?

Nine times out of ten, when we've had
minor problems, it's because of the

of attack vein.

The what?

The angle of attack vein. It's a $30
piece of equipment on the fuselage.

If it's miscalibrated, it sends false
information to the computer, which can

cause the plane to approach at an
incorrect angle.

Well, how does it get miscalibrated?

Sometimes when it's windy, the vane
knocks around and bangs against the

It was real windy the night of the
crash, ma 'am.

Ma 'am, there was nothing wrong with the
angle of the tag vane.

Chief, a miscalibrated vane would
explain what happened that night.

Because it was windy, I told the plane
captain to be sure the vane was secure

before the A -team took off.

I saw the math, Commander.

The CDI signed off on it. We'll check
with them.

Sir, there's no way that my maintenance
department should have to take the rap

for this. Unless they screwed up. Which
they didn't. I'm sure of it.

You're awfully defensive, Senior Chief.

What is it you're not telling us?

I didn't want to speak ill of the dead,
sir.

What is it, Senior Chief?

When Lieutenant Ross returned from
leave, he was acting kind of off

Depressed. Said his wife was having an
affair, and he didn't care what happened

to him.

Sir, ma 'am, I don't believe that crash
was an accident.

He's connecting the autopilot with the
ship's automatic landing system.

Roger, 214, you're in the box.

No sweat approach.

My policy's paid up.

He made this life insurance policy.

He's making a joke about being killed.

A joke or a prediction?

No sweat approach.

My policy's paid up.

214, you're at three quarters of an
hour. I can't tell if that's suicidal or

not. It sounds cocky. It could be the
adrenaline talking.

Why wouldn't he just crash into the
ocean so as not to endanger the crew?

Probably more of the top thing on his
mind.

If it was suicide, maybe he'd have to
know.

He was studying Spanish.

Among other things.

That's nice.

Where would you hide a suicide note if
you were on a carrier?

You hide it somewhere where your rack
mates wouldn't find it until later.

Under a mattress?

Oh, my God.

What? Well, how does someone with a
little baby kill themselves?

I don't care if his wife was having an
affair.

I wonder if he wrote her a letter.

Or an email.

A lot of pilots take out extra insurance
on top of the CGLI. How much insurance

do you have? I'm going to have to take
out a little more now that I got Maddie.

Speak of the devil. Go ahead, I'll get
started.

All right.

Hey, Maddie.

Now it's Jennifer, or Petty Officer
Coates, whoever I am.

Oh, hey, Jennifer.

We had our meeting with the dragon lady
today.

Maddie got mad and stormed off.

You're kidding.

I think she could use some parental
guidance.

Put her on, would you?

Maddie, want to talk to Harm?

You didn't tell him what happened, did
you?

You can't be hiding stuff from him,
Maddie.

Gee, what a great big sister you are.

Hey, Harm.

Hey, yourself.

What's this I hear about you walking out
on Mr. Drabowski?

She was acting like such a witch.

I don't care, Maddie. She's still your
teacher.

You kept talking all this garbage, Harm.

She was saying that you're an
irresponsible father who didn't care

education.

So you were standing up for me.

Somebody had to.

Look, I can stand up for myself, Maddie.
Well, you can do that a week from

Friday. Jennifer talked her into
rescheduling.

Good. Are you going to be there?

Of course I'm going to be there. Nothing
would keep me away from that.

Ma 'am, you can click this icon right
here to access the satellite.

Thanks for walking me through this,
Petty Officer.

You ever have trouble with viruses?

I built a pretty tight firewall, ma 'am.

Don't want any terrorists implanting
false navigation data.

Lieutenant Ross didn't send his wife any
emails after he came back on board.

That's strange.

Most guys email their wives once or
twice a day.

Well, here's one he wrote her, but he
never sent.

Anything interesting, ma 'am?

Arlene, how could you do this to me?
Give me one good reason why I shouldn't

just fly into the back of the ship some
night.

Told Stannis I don't give a damn if I
live or die.

He said he didn't give a damn either and
I should just suck it up and keep

flying. I didn't take his comments
seriously, Colonel.

You didn't take a suicide threat
seriously?

Carrier pilots and sailors have mood
swings all the time.

Especially now with longer deployments.

I worried about every single
questionable remark or joke.

None of my planes would ever get off the
deck.

But Lieutenant Ross did make the
statement.

Commander, you know how it is on a
carrier.

Yeah, well, we're trying to find out how
it is on this carrier.

When you were flying, would you have
wanted your squadron commander to ground

you every time you were feeling a little
down?

Lieutenant Ross wasn't feeling a little
down.

I know he was having a tough time.

But as a carrier pilot, you have to
learn to fight through that.

Your life depends on your ability to
forget everything else and focus on that

heaving little speck of steel deck you
have to land on. Otherwise, you'd die.

Why didn't you tell us Lieutenant Ross
was having problems?

Because Ross was a good man.

And I don't have any evidence that his
problems had anything to do with that

crash. Or were you maybe covering up
your own role in that crash?

I didn't have any role, Colonel.

I was training Lieutenant Ross like I do
all my pilots.

Now that's what I'm concerned about,
Commander.

Colonel, I was selected to command this
squadron to go out and fight wars.

I don't expect to spend my time on
sorority house foolishness.

That's what chaplains and flight
surgeons are for.

Lieutenant Ross didn't go to them,
Commander.

He came to you.

Tech Rep agrees with Senior Chief.

Records analysis shows no evidence of
mechanical problems.

Or computer problems.

Given Ross's email, his statements to
Sanders, his own words on the radio.

And the aircraft's attitude during
approach.

Sure as hell looks like suicide.

It would definitely appear that way.

And squadron commander error. We have to
deal with that harm.

Mac, you're not thinking what I think
you're thinking.

Amanda Sanders never should have sent
Ross in that plane, given that he was

obviously suicidal.

I recommend that Commander Stanis be
charged with dereliction of duty under

Article 92 of the UCMJ.

And an unwarranted one, sir. Commander
Stanis could have shown better judgment,

but his actions certainly don't merit
criminal proceedings.

Lieutenant Ross was severely emotionally
disturbed. He had no business flying in

that plane. He took his own life, Mac.
Shifting plane would be a travesty. Come

on, Harvey. Express clear suicidal
intent.

Guys say all kinds of things when
they've been at sea for months.

With all due respect to the colonel,
sir, she doesn't quite grasp that.

Commander Stannis subscribed to an
outdated macho code that has no place in

today's military.

He refused to save a man who was begging
for help. He was trying to turn that

man into a fighter pilot who could fly
safely in crisis situations.

You can't start court -martialing
officers for trying to do their job.

Well, if he'd done his job properly,
Ross would still be alive.

And you two work together?

Must be a real picnic.

Does Commander Stanage acknowledge
having this discussion with Lieutenant

He does, sir. However... Commander, I've
always trusted Stanage's judgment.

But his primary responsibility is to
take care of his people.

And it sounds as though he's failed to
do that.

Captain, we're holding Commander Stanage
to an impossible standard.

A man's life was lost.

Thousands of lives were endangered.

A $40 million aircraft was destroyed.

No, I agree with the Colonel.

The Stanage's actions, or inactions,
merit an Article 32 investigation.

At the very least.

Bring me the flight schedule as soon as
it's ready.

Roger that, sir. Commander Stennis?

Sir?

Colonel? Could you join us in my
stateroom? We need to talk.

Sir, can I just take a couple of minutes
to change into my flight gear? We

should do it now, Commander.

What is it, sir?

Commander, I've ordered an article 32 on
your performance as Lieutenant Ross's

commanding officer.

Now, pending the outcome of this
investigation,

you are relieved of your command.

Effective immediately.

Howdy, Strange.

Howdy.

I thought you were still off at sea.

Yeah, well, I thought you'd be at
volleyball practice. I went to the

looking for you.

I'm a little sick.

Oh, yeah?

How was practice on Tuesday?

It was okay, I guess.

No one ever sets me to spike the ball.

Well, they will when they find out how
awesome you are.

Yeah, there's all these stupid cliques.

I don't even care.

Is that why you didn't go tonight?
Manny, you know, when things don't go

way, you can't just give up.

I said I'm sick, okay? I didn't want to
puke all over the court.

Hey.

Manny.

You've been through hell these last
couple of months.

I want you to promise me something.

If you're ever feeling overwhelmed,
you'll come to me. I'll definitely do

if you're around.

I'm just trying to figure out who my
guardian is, you or Jennifer.

I am.

I don't like being a teenager and going
to school.

I like running my own business and being
in charge.

You know, Maddie, I never felt like I
got to be a teenager.

And I've always regretted it.

You have plenty of time to grow up.

Enjoy the freedom.

Before I met you, I could pretty much do
what I wanted.

Well, so could I before I met you.

I don't care what my husband wrote in my
email.

He did not kill himself.

Mrs. Ross, a lot of Navy families have
problems when the guy comes home. We

no different.

Well, apparently your husband was
disturbed by your affair.

I wasn't having an affair.

But your husband thought you were.

Why are you doing this to me? Mrs. Roth,
I want justice for him. That's it.

Commander Stanage had a duty to refer
anyone exhibiting the warning signs of

suicide to a chaplain or physician.

He never should have ordered your
husband to fly. I believe he was guilty

negligent dereliction. I need you to
testify against him.

And say what?

Well, talk about your husband's mood
when he was with you on leave.

I know this is a hard thing that I'm
asking you to do. You have no idea.

I am a single mom with half a college
degree and no job.

If Jim Seth is called to suicide, me and
my baby are out $500 ,000 in insurance

money. I want to get to the bottom of
what happened to your husband.

All I care about is taking care of this
little boy.

I understand your feelings, Mrs. Ross.

Unfortunately, I may have to subpoena
you.

The colonel's case pretty much boils
down to person A kills himself, and we

charge person B for not stopping him.
Sir, B was A's commanding officer.

So, God forbid something happens to you,
I would be held responsible?

Admiral, if I tell you I'm feeling self
-destructive and you order me to suck it

up and climb to the top of a tall
building with no railing and look down,

yes, you would be partially responsible.

Commander Stanage simply ordered
Lieutenant Ross to do his job.

Sir, we have to face up to the fact that
military men can commit suicide, too.

Prosecuting Commander Stanage is a
roundabout way of having anyone face up

anything. I agree, Commander.

Stanich, the commanding officer,
disagrees, sir. Which brings us to the

32. I've already assigned Lieutenant
Roberts to second chair the defense.

Colonel, you will defend Commander
Stanich. Commander, you'll prosecute.

Sir. Just kidding.

Dismissed.

Aye, sir.

Max, discovery package.

We need to start shooting holes in it.

Already begun my research, sir.

Research on what?

Well, in a general sense, this is the
suicide prevention software used by the

Army.

Helps to teach you how to deal with
people who may be suicidal.

Like this guy here. He's a virtual
soldier from Kentucky by the name of

Parker.

Billy, you can't do this to yourself.

I just want all this to end.

I hate to be selfish, but I feel like I
can't go on. I hate to think about

hurting my family.

Okay, so if a soldier told you that,
sir, what would be your response?

Don't be a fool.

Sorry, sir, the program scores you zero
for that response.

The program says that you should
establish trust and suspend moral

can't believe we're wasting money on
this kind of nonsense.

Well, sir, if it saves just one life,
it's worth it.

Did you know that one of the leading
causes of death in the military is

People are mixed up everywhere, bud.

It's not just mixed up people, sir.

You know, when I lost my leg, there was
a really rough stretch.

I felt like my life was over.

I just thank God that I didn't have a
gun nearby because...

Now, I'm the happiest that I've ever
been.

Not that nobody knew.

Except for Harriet.

Oh, another great feature, sir, is that
it helps to identify people that are at

high risk for suicide.

So what would...

What would you tell Soldier Billy?

I'd give you a couple of good options.

One of them is to express your concern
or to offer help.

I could mention to him how it might
affect his family.

Maybe I'm going to suggest to him that
he has a hot fudge Sunday.

Always cheers me up.

My husband was a loyal and caring
person.

How did he act when he came home on
leave?

Why should I have to answer that?

Mrs. Ross, you are required to respond
to trial counsel's questions.

When Jim came home, we had a hard time.

In what way?

He wasn't himself.

He got used to being this cocky carrier
pilot.

He ordered me and the baby around like
we were enlisted personnel.

How did that make you feel?

How would you feel?

The baby would cry, I'd yell at Jim, and
then he'd yell back, and...

And... And then what, Mrs. Russell?

He got this crazy idea that I must be
going out with someone else.

An old boyfriend of mine, which is nuts,
because I didn't even like him anymore.

I still loved my husband.

It must have been extremely difficult
for your husband.

Did he ever talk about hurting himself?

Objection. Spousal privilege.

Given our need for the evidence and the
fact that the spouse is deceased, I will

overrule. You must answer, Mrs. Ross.
Your Honor, this is too personal.

Arlene, with your help, we can get the
Navy to take action. So what happened to

your family doesn't happen to any other
family.

Objection. Jim's death doesn't have to
be in vain.

Your Honor, this is a criminal
proceeding, not a crusade.

Colonel, stop editorializing. Mrs. Ross,
please answer the question.

Did your husband talk about hurting
himself?

Jim called from Naples right before you
went back aboard.

He was talking crazy about how we were
going to get divorced and he was never

going to see us then again.

He said he didn't know if life was still
worth living.

What did you tell him?

I begged him to be a chaplain or
somebody.

So Jim promised me that if he really
felt bad and needed help, he would tell

CO.

And that's exactly what he did.

He told Stannis and the bastards sent
him up in that plane to die.

Objection. Sustained.

That'll be all, Your Honor.

Thank you for your courage, Mrs. Ross.

Mrs. Ross, you didn't know that your
husband was going to kill himself, did

No. And you were certainly more intimate
with him than Commander Stanage was,

though.

How could he have known if you didn't?
He should have known enough not to send

him up in that plane to die.

And you can object all you want. It's
the truth.

In retrospect, I wish I hadn't given my
men two weeks' leave.

Why is that, Commander?

When they came back on board, they had a
hard time readjusting to carrier

operations. Well, how did these
difficulties manifest themselves?

Morale problems, bickering, lack of
focus.

So Lieutenant Ross was not the only
pilot affected.

That's correct, Commander.

And a lot of the guys would let off
steam by saying things that were a

off the wall.

What kind of things?

One of my men joked about slugging the
captain so he could get off the ship.

Another pilot made remarks about...
Jumping in the ocean and swimming back

Naples. You have to understand, carrier
pilots risk their lives daily.

A little gallows humor keeps us sane.

And that's how you understood Lieutenant
Ross's remarks?

I looked right in his eyes.

I thought he was fooling around like the
rest of us.

Commander, if I had any idea Jim Ross
was going to fly that plane into the

ramp... I would have grounded him in a
heartbeat.

Thank you, Commander.

Your witness.

Commander Stanich, what exactly did
Lieutenant Ross say to you when you

right in his eyes?

Ma 'am, I don't recall his precise
words.

Government Exhibit 3. Lieutenant Ross
was unsent email.

Would you please read the first
highlighted sentence?

I told Stanich I don't give a damn if I
live or die.

Is that an accurate rendering of what
the lieutenant said to you?

I thought he was blustering, Colonel.

It's a little hard to explain out of
context.

It's hard to explain in any context.

Objection. Badgering the witness.

Sustained. Read the next sentence,
please.

He said he didn't give a damn either,
and I should just suck it up and keep

flying. Is that what you told him?

Colonel, carrier pilots need to be
mentally tough.

I train my men to ignore distractions so
they can complete their missions.

He said he didn't give a damn and I
should just suck it up.

I didn't tell him to crash into the
ship.

But it is ultimately your responsibility
to make sure your pilots are ready to

fly. Isn't that so, Commander?

My squadron's performance during
Operation Iraqi Freedom was outstanding,

Colonel. But you failed this time,
didn't you, Commander?

Mike, I know you're there. Pick up.

For God's sakes, how long is this act
going to go on, Mikey?

Uh, no, I'll, uh, I'll talk to you
later. Bye -bye.

What is your opinion of Commander
Stanage?

He's a good man, a little old school.

He didn't get where he is by being
negligent or by being a bad judge of

character, did he?

What are you getting at, sir?

What if he was right about Ross?

What do you mean?

Let's get moving, bud.

Nice of you to make it. Sorry we're
late, Your Honor. I was conducting a

-minute review of evidence.

May we approach the bench, sir? Granted.

Colonel?

Sir, I would like to request a
continuance at this time to reopen the

investigation into the crash.

A little late for that, Counselor. I am
now completely convinced it was suicide,

Your Honor. Is there new evidence the
trial counsel was not aware of? Some

some old. I believe we may have been a
little hasty in our assumption.

If there is additional evidence, I... I
just received it. I have subpoenaed

Lieutenant Ross's financial records.

Two days before his death, he ordered a
brand new motorcycle on the internet.

Certainly not the kind of behavior you
would expect from someone about to take

their life.

Your Honor, I'm sure Lieutenant Ross had
mood swings.

Your Honor, if Ross committed suicide
out of anger toward his wife, why

he leave a note?

Or forward the email blaming his wife?

causing her even more guilt.

Maybe Ross didn't leave a note because
he wanted his son to get insurance

There's another problem, sir. Why did he
crash into the ramp, endangering the

crew? He had no beef against them. Why
wouldn't he just fly directly into the

ocean? Commander, we've already
discussed this. You can't expect suicide

rational. Are you totally positive it
was suicide, Colonel?

You do raise some interesting questions,
Counselor, however belatedly.

Your Honor, I think we owe it to
Commander Stanish to answer this

we certainly owe it to Arlene Ross.

How much time do you need?

A week. I'll give you two days. Sir,
it'll take two days just to get out and

carry him back.

Make it four.

This hearing is in recess until my call.

You're leaving again?

Sorry, Maddie. I didn't have time to
come home to tell you. Where are you

this time?

I'm going back to the Mediterranean, but
only for four days.

Will you be back on Friday by four o
'clock?

Why? I told you that's when you have the
meeting with the Dragon Lady.

I'm going to try to make it.

That means no.

Maddie, I'm sorry. I have to do this. A
man's life is at stake. He's looking at

prison time.

Yeah, go ahead. Knock yourself out.

Sir, Lieutenant Roberts and I were
hoping to recreate the circumstances

surrounding the incident.

So I'm requesting permission to do an
automatic landing in an F -18.

Aren't you a 14 driver?

I'm qualified for 18s when I was with
another agency in the government.

Another agency?

I can get you official, unofficial
confirmations.

Well,

in that case, I think we can schedule
you. Thank you, Cag.

Sir, here's the...

Tech rep submitted his final report.

Yeah, still no evidence of any
mechanical problems.

What about the computer system, sir? Our
computer tech evaluated the entire J

-PAL system.

No bugs, no glitches.

But with the aircraft maintenance tape
burned up, we have no way to know

how that system was programmed for that
flight.

We'll need to talk to your computer
tech, too, sir. We ran exhaustive tests

every element of the shipboard system.

We also recovered key components of the
18's flight management system.

Everything checked out perfectly, sir.
If there was a programming glitch, would

these radar scopes have indicated that?

Yes, sir.

You sure?

I examined everything, sir.

So did the other two petty officers who
assisted me.

Does your system record any alterations
in programming?

We're still working on that feature,
sir.

Well, fortunately, we can confirm all
that because we were able to recover the

data from the aircraft's maintenance
table.

I thought it burned, sir.

Only... Partially.

We took it to the Naval Research Lab and
they were able to reconstitute the

fragments of the tape of the final 84
seconds of the flight.

Well, that's great news, sir.

Yeah, because I'll be flying an F -18
tonight at the exact automatic settings

you programmed for Lieutenant Ross.

So that will prove that your settings
are accurate, correct?

Yes, sir.

And they had better be accurate or I'm a
dead man.

Sir.

You give me the data, I'll take care of
programming the system myself.

Well, that wouldn't be proper
investigative protocol.

You could hang around and watch me trap,
though, if you'd like.

Thank you, sir.

Is there anything else, sir? No, that'll
be all.

84 seconds.

Just trying to back you up, sir. You
playing a hunch?

Yeah, we had better let the ATC and the
CAG know what we have in mind.

What do we have in mind, sir?

We're putting your computer expertise to
work, Lieutenant.

Commander Rev's a real cowboy, isn't he?

He has a very active inner child, sir.

ATLS contact confirmed.

Sir, may I use the radio?

Go ahead, sir.

Commander, we're ready for you.

You got it, Lieutenant.

Lincoln, this is 210 Hornet commencing
approach 3 .9.

Roger, 210.

Radar contact.

Approach out of the carrier in sight.

Requesting a mode 1 landing.

Mode 1 approved, 210.

You're in the box.

Okay, I'm coupling up.

Three -quarter mile.

Fall. Roger. Fall.

These numbers don't look right. I think
you guys programmed it wrong.

Don't worry. We programmed it just like
you did.

Now send them around. I'll double check.

No, not necessary.

Radar shows him on glide slope.

210, looking good. Continue inbound.

You don't understand.

What don't we understand, Petty Officer?

210, go manual.

System looks good. Stay coupled up.

You crashed.

Radar says he's fine.

Radar's wrong. That's why Ross crashed.

Don't sweat it, Petty Officer.

I've been a manual the whole time.

Looking good, 210.

Bring it in.

This is the trick.

You rigged it.

You left us no choice, Petty Officer.

We had a couple four wires that night.

Planes were landing long.

So I tweaked the system.

But you overcorrected.

That's why Ross came in too low.

I wanted to say something, but I...
Instead, he let his widow believe that

husband had killed himself.

I don't know.

And you were willing to let the men just
stand in space prison?

I never thought it would really happen,
sir. You know, I can deal with

accidents, but you lied and covered up.

And for that, you're going to the brig.

How much time will I get, sir?

If I have my way, here's.

Let's go.

Sir, let me handle this.

Dakey, stop!

Dakey, wait!

You don't want to go up there. There's
nothing up there.

Then be careful.

I got it.

Hey, don't come any closer. I'll jump.

Stay calm.

Hey, hey, it's freezing down there.
Good, I'll die quick.

No, you won't. It'll take hours.

And the whole time you'll be thinking,
what an awful mistake.

I'm not going to let you trick me again.
No tricks, okay?

No tricks. Just take it easy.

I can't go to prison.

Hey, I'd be scared too, Joe.

But you can get through this.

I just want it to be over.

You can't do this to yourself, Joe.

Watch me.

Dinky, don't be a fool!

You'll never see another sunrise!

Or see a family again.

It's not worth it. Just listen to me,
okay?

Let me help you.

Take my hand.

Come on, Joe.

I accept the revised findings that
Lieutenant Ross did not commit suicide.

However, that does not absolve Commander
Stanich of his responsibilities as a

leader. Lieutenant Ross gave clear,
incontrovertible evidence of suicidal

ideation. The commander needed to
respond to that.

The Navy breeds physical and mental
toughness, a quality that has helped to

protect our country from foreign enemies
for over 200 years.

But the Navy must also acknowledge that
military men, however tough,

are not magically immune from
depression, emotional crises, and mental

instability. The fact that the sailor
responsible for the crash almost killed

himself is proof of that. When a man
comes to his commanding officer and asks

for help, help should be provided.

Commander Stanich, your behavior was
indeed regrettable.

However, you acted out of an honest
belief that you were making the right

decisions for your men.

Your safety record prior to this
incident was exemplary. I have no doubt

you have learned from this tragedy and
would handle a similar situation

differently in the future.

Therefore, I see no reason to recommend
this Article 32 to court -martial. This

hearing is adjourned.

Congratulations. Thank you.

Congratulations.

Nice job, Mac.

You too, huh?

Although you know your client is still
responsible for Lieutenant Ross' death.

You never give up, do you? Lieutenant
Ross' death was caused by a computer

was incorrectly programmed.

And because he was depressed. I am sure
that slowed his reaction time when the

plane started having problems.

See, you always want to make life
simple, huh?

But it's not.

Maddie! Hey.

I hold my students to high standards,
Mr. Rapp.

I have no problem with that.

Well, Maddie has completed none of the
required first semester writing

assignments. Ma 'am. I cannot give her a
passing grade unless she makes up that

book. In the past four months, Maddie
has written a business plan for a crop

dusting company, letters to suppliers
and credit agencies, the IRS.

not to mention a 20 -page letter to the
judge at a juvenile court hearing.

You're welcome to review all of them.

Well, I suppose this will do.