1 00:00:01,735 --> 00:00:04,171 NARRATOR: September 1978. 2 00:00:06,673 --> 00:00:09,142 A Boeing 727 is headed for the ground. 3 00:00:09,276 --> 00:00:11,478 MCFERON: Easy baby, easy. 4 00:00:11,612 --> 00:00:13,614 FOX: Mom, I love ya. 5 00:00:13,747 --> 00:00:15,849 (SCREAMING) 6 00:00:15,983 --> 00:00:17,851 (EXPLOSION) 7 00:00:19,353 --> 00:00:22,173 NARRATOR: San Diego becomes the site of the worst aviation 8 00:00:22,256 --> 00:00:24,391 disaster in US history. 9 00:00:24,525 --> 00:00:26,644 My hair stood up on the back of my head when 10 00:00:26,727 --> 00:00:29,997 I learned that this crash had occurred. 11 00:00:32,366 --> 00:00:35,602 FUNK: Oh, my word. The accident scene was horrendous. 12 00:00:35,736 --> 00:00:37,688 How am I gonna put this puzzle together was a 13 00:00:37,771 --> 00:00:39,373 real big concern of mine. 14 00:00:39,740 --> 00:00:42,893 NARRATOR: Evidence leads investigators to a remarkable conclusion. 15 00:00:42,976 --> 00:00:45,062 MCFERON: Oh, yeah, before we turned downwind I saw him. 16 00:00:45,145 --> 00:00:46,446 Hold on. 17 00:00:46,747 --> 00:00:49,033 NARRATOR: A horrendous accident may have been caused. 18 00:00:49,116 --> 00:00:52,803 MCFERON: (OVER RADIO) Oh, yeah, before we turned downwind I saw him about 1:00. 19 00:00:52,886 --> 00:00:55,239 NARRATOR: By a single misheard syllable. 20 00:00:59,459 --> 00:01:01,342 MAN: (OVER RADIO) Mayday, mayday! 21 00:01:01,695 --> 00:01:03,697 (THEME MUSIC PLAYING) 22 00:01:22,749 --> 00:01:26,753 {\an8}NARRATOR: Pacific Southwest Airlines flight 182 is on an 23 00:01:26,887 --> 00:01:31,558 {\an8}early morning run down the coast of California from 24 00:01:31,692 --> 00:01:33,994 Sacramento to San Diego. 25 00:01:36,496 --> 00:01:39,566 First Officer Bob Fox is at the controls. 26 00:01:39,700 --> 00:01:42,836 Approach, PSA 182, coming out of 9-5, 27 00:01:42,970 --> 00:01:45,172 descending to 7,000. 28 00:01:45,305 --> 00:01:47,207 Airport is in sight. 29 00:01:47,341 --> 00:01:50,711 NARRATOR: A nine-year veteran with PSA, 30 00:01:50,844 --> 00:01:53,814 he's on track to becoming a captain. 31 00:01:53,947 --> 00:01:59,219 Captain Jim McFeron has been with the airline for 17 years. 32 00:01:59,353 --> 00:02:01,455 Known as a born pilot, 33 00:02:01,588 --> 00:02:04,191 he is highly regarded by his colleagues. 34 00:02:05,592 --> 00:02:08,475 This is the second flight of the day for both men. 35 00:02:10,397 --> 00:02:13,934 PSA 182 is cleared. Visual approach, runway 2-7. 36 00:02:14,067 --> 00:02:16,837 Thank you, cleared visual approach, 2-7. 37 00:02:18,705 --> 00:02:21,441 NARRATOR: Among the 128 passengers, 38 00:02:21,575 --> 00:02:24,711 there are 30 Pacific Southwest employees. 39 00:02:24,845 --> 00:02:28,434 Many are heading back to the company's home base in San Diego. 40 00:02:28,916 --> 00:02:30,622 PSA was an excellent airline. 41 00:02:30,717 --> 00:02:35,689 {\an8}They had a super maintenance record, super, um, safety record. 42 00:02:35,822 --> 00:02:38,792 {\an8}They were recognized in the industry as wow, 43 00:02:38,926 --> 00:02:40,561 these guys are good. 44 00:02:43,697 --> 00:02:46,984 NARRATOR: Pilots are cautious when arriving at San Diego. 45 00:02:47,067 --> 00:02:51,126 Lindbergh Field is the busiest single-runway airport in North America. 46 00:02:56,176 --> 00:02:59,313 San Diego Lindbergh Airport is a challenging place 47 00:02:59,446 --> 00:03:03,150 {\an8}to fly into because of its proximity to downtown and also 48 00:03:03,283 --> 00:03:05,342 {\an8}some of the obstructions around it. 49 00:03:07,254 --> 00:03:09,573 HOGUE: There's a very drastic terrain drop. 50 00:03:09,656 --> 00:03:13,126 Pilots do it all the time and, some of them don't like to 51 00:03:13,260 --> 00:03:15,729 talk about it but it's a little scary. 52 00:03:17,164 --> 00:03:19,984 There was always concern that wow someday, you know, 53 00:03:20,067 --> 00:03:21,773 there could be a major crash. 54 00:03:28,475 --> 00:03:31,299 NARRATOR: Several other airports nearby are abuzz 55 00:03:31,411 --> 00:03:34,181 with commercial, military and private planes. 56 00:03:34,715 --> 00:03:37,684 The airspace around San Diego International is 57 00:03:37,818 --> 00:03:42,189 quite busy because of the 600 flights a day in and out 58 00:03:42,322 --> 00:03:46,226 so there are planes taking off and landing constantly. 59 00:03:48,629 --> 00:03:51,649 NARRATOR: Flight 182 will have to thread its way through all 60 00:03:51,732 --> 00:03:54,601 this traffic while passing over the city, 61 00:03:54,735 --> 00:03:57,337 preparing to land on runway 27. 62 00:03:59,573 --> 00:04:03,277 Martin Wayne is at the engineer's console. 63 00:04:05,712 --> 00:04:07,264 As they approach the airport, 64 00:04:07,347 --> 00:04:10,017 he contacts the company's head office. 65 00:04:10,150 --> 00:04:14,288 We're out of Los Angeles, San Diego at 0905. 66 00:04:14,421 --> 00:04:17,691 MAN: (OVER RADIO) (LAUGHING) PSA 182, roger. 67 00:04:17,824 --> 00:04:20,294 A little late but thank you. 68 00:04:20,427 --> 00:04:22,646 I just called my off report. The guy started laughing. 69 00:04:22,729 --> 00:04:24,431 (LAUGHTER) 70 00:04:24,565 --> 00:04:26,484 Make it up by reporting our next takeoff now. 71 00:04:26,567 --> 00:04:28,168 (LAUGHTER) 72 00:04:28,302 --> 00:04:30,337 Very nice. 73 00:04:30,771 --> 00:04:32,790 HOGUE: Even though they were fun and laidback, 74 00:04:32,873 --> 00:04:35,509 they were still highly professional. 75 00:04:35,642 --> 00:04:37,678 The crews were just personable. 76 00:04:37,811 --> 00:04:40,765 You felt like they wanted you to be on their airplanes. 77 00:04:40,848 --> 00:04:42,883 It was great. 78 00:04:43,016 --> 00:04:45,519 "Catch Our Smile" was their motto. 79 00:04:45,652 --> 00:04:47,754 It was an experience, it was fun. 80 00:04:54,194 --> 00:04:56,781 NARRATOR: Flight 182's approach to Lindbergh Field is 81 00:04:56,864 --> 00:05:00,167 being handled by an approach controller at a facility 82 00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:03,070 {\an8}15 kilometers North of the airport. 83 00:05:06,173 --> 00:05:08,942 {\an8}The approach control facility is quite busy and 84 00:05:09,076 --> 00:05:11,095 {\an8}that's stressful because you're handling so many 85 00:05:11,178 --> 00:05:13,564 {\an8}different airplanes in the same airspace. 86 00:05:13,647 --> 00:05:16,333 NARRATOR: When the controller spots a Cessna flying ahead of 87 00:05:16,416 --> 00:05:19,586 flight 182, he makes sure that they can see it. 88 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,523 PSA 182, traffic's at 12:00 89 00:05:22,656 --> 00:05:24,858 (OVER RADIO) Three miles out, 1,700. 90 00:05:25,926 --> 00:05:28,195 Got it. 91 00:05:28,328 --> 00:05:30,330 Traffic in sight. 92 00:05:31,365 --> 00:05:33,400 They were issued traffic. 93 00:05:33,534 --> 00:05:35,519 They acknowledged sight of the traffic. 94 00:05:35,602 --> 00:05:37,304 Okay sir. 95 00:05:37,437 --> 00:05:38,522 Maintain visual separation. 96 00:05:38,605 --> 00:05:39,757 Contact Lindbergh tower, 97 00:05:39,840 --> 00:05:43,944 - (OVER RADIO) 133.3. Have a nice day. - Okay. 98 00:05:44,077 --> 00:05:46,897 Visual separation means that the pilot has another 99 00:05:46,980 --> 00:05:50,101 - aircraft in sight and acknowledges it. - FOX: Got it. 100 00:05:50,184 --> 00:05:53,287 Once the visual approach is accepted by the pilot, 101 00:05:53,420 --> 00:05:57,457 he's then responsible for maintaining separation from that traffic. 102 00:05:57,591 --> 00:05:58,976 It's somewhat like two boats passing. 103 00:05:59,059 --> 00:06:02,162 It's the responsibility of the overtaking boat 104 00:06:02,296 --> 00:06:04,264 to maintain separation visually. 105 00:06:05,399 --> 00:06:07,251 NARRATOR: As it approaches the airport, 106 00:06:07,334 --> 00:06:11,872 flight 182 banks left so that it's flying parallel to the runway, 107 00:06:12,005 --> 00:06:14,492 ready to turn and land when given permission. 108 00:06:14,575 --> 00:06:17,578 I would characterize this as wonderfully routine. 109 00:06:17,711 --> 00:06:21,123 There wasn't anything out of the ordinary with this flight. 110 00:06:21,582 --> 00:06:23,868 NARRATOR: With the plane now less than eight kilometers 111 00:06:23,951 --> 00:06:26,470 from the runway, a controller in the airport's tower takes 112 00:06:26,553 --> 00:06:28,906 over to guide the flight in for landing. 113 00:06:29,823 --> 00:06:30,924 Lindbergh, PSA. 114 00:06:31,058 --> 00:06:32,826 (OVER RADIO) 182 down wind. 115 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,896 182, roger. 116 00:06:36,296 --> 00:06:39,683 BROWN: Within the airport traffic area, which is that five mile radius, 117 00:06:39,766 --> 00:06:42,386 the airplanes coming into the airport to land and takeoff 118 00:06:42,469 --> 00:06:45,339 are controlled by that controller. 119 00:06:45,472 --> 00:06:48,125 NARRATOR: The tower controller is juggling several planes in 120 00:06:48,208 --> 00:06:51,278 addition to the PSA 727. 121 00:06:52,346 --> 00:06:56,116 PSA 182, traffic 12:00 one mile, a Cessna. 122 00:06:56,884 --> 00:06:59,303 Because there's only one runway at Lindbergh, ah, 123 00:06:59,386 --> 00:07:01,739 it requires some air traffic control spacing 124 00:07:01,822 --> 00:07:04,675 because of the difference in the speeds of the aircraft. 125 00:07:04,758 --> 00:07:07,160 PSA 182, cleared to land. 126 00:07:07,294 --> 00:07:09,630 182 is cleared to land. 127 00:07:09,763 --> 00:07:12,550 The jet's quite a significantly faster approach speed 128 00:07:12,633 --> 00:07:16,069 than the Cessna so you have to give them more spacing. 129 00:07:19,006 --> 00:07:21,041 NARRATOR: It's now 9:00 AM. 130 00:07:21,175 --> 00:07:23,928 Many passengers on flight 182 are planning to put in a 131 00:07:24,011 --> 00:07:26,313 full day's work in San Diego. 132 00:07:30,284 --> 00:07:32,085 (BEEPING) 133 00:07:40,460 --> 00:07:41,562 Gear down. 134 00:07:41,695 --> 00:07:45,899 NARRATOR: Minutes from landing, pilot Bob Fox spots a distant plane. 135 00:07:46,033 --> 00:07:47,801 There's one underneath. 136 00:07:47,935 --> 00:07:50,904 I was looking at that inbound over there. 137 00:07:51,205 --> 00:07:56,210 - (CRASHING) - (SCREAMING) 138 00:07:56,743 --> 00:07:59,179 Easy baby, easy baby. 139 00:08:02,416 --> 00:08:04,401 NARRATOR: A professional photographer happens to spot 140 00:08:04,484 --> 00:08:06,420 flight 182 in flames. 141 00:08:08,255 --> 00:08:09,707 Hey, what have we got here? 142 00:08:09,790 --> 00:08:10,958 - It's bad. - Huh? 143 00:08:11,091 --> 00:08:13,093 We're hit man, we're hit. 144 00:08:13,427 --> 00:08:15,462 Tower. 145 00:08:15,596 --> 00:08:17,281 (OVER RADIO) We're going down. This is PSA. 146 00:08:17,364 --> 00:08:20,367 Okay, we'll call the equipment for ya. 147 00:08:20,501 --> 00:08:25,105 (BEEPING) 148 00:08:26,874 --> 00:08:28,659 NARRATOR: The approach controller's radar 149 00:08:28,742 --> 00:08:32,412 reveals that the 727 has collided with the Cessna. 150 00:08:35,782 --> 00:08:38,519 Jesus Christ, it's an aluminum shower. 151 00:08:40,187 --> 00:08:43,207 BROWN: To have two aircraft under your control collide is 152 00:08:43,290 --> 00:08:46,360 the worst nightmare I think for any controller. 153 00:08:46,493 --> 00:08:49,141 I don't think anything else could be that bad. 154 00:08:50,797 --> 00:08:51,932 This is it baby. 155 00:08:52,065 --> 00:08:54,134 (OVER PA): Brace yourself. 156 00:08:55,269 --> 00:08:56,937 FOX: Mom, I love ya. 157 00:09:02,776 --> 00:09:04,378 (EXPLOSION) 158 00:09:09,049 --> 00:09:10,817 (BLARING SIRENS) 159 00:09:14,888 --> 00:09:16,640 All of a sudden it just went right in, 160 00:09:16,723 --> 00:09:18,425 just a burst of flames. 161 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,495 It was just incredible. 162 00:09:25,899 --> 00:09:27,601 (OVERLAPPING CHATTER) 163 00:09:27,734 --> 00:09:30,621 - My home, it's burning up. - We can't do anything about it. 164 00:09:30,704 --> 00:09:32,790 My hair stood up on the back of my head when I 165 00:09:32,873 --> 00:09:36,743 learned that this crash had occurred. 166 00:09:39,246 --> 00:09:43,851 This huge mushroom cloud of smoke and fire was seen by thousands of people. 167 00:09:43,984 --> 00:09:47,120 (RADIO CHATTER) 168 00:09:48,522 --> 00:09:51,142 NARRATOR: Two planes have collided and fallen from 169 00:09:51,225 --> 00:09:53,627 the sky over San Diego. 170 00:09:55,629 --> 00:09:58,232 The city is in shock. 171 00:10:00,901 --> 00:10:04,490 But the full scope of the tragedy is only beginning to emerge. 172 00:10:17,050 --> 00:10:19,270 REPORTER: Hundreds of people watched in horror as 173 00:10:19,353 --> 00:10:21,939 the two planes collided and crashed into a quiet San Diego 174 00:10:22,022 --> 00:10:23,557 residential neighborhood. 175 00:10:24,791 --> 00:10:27,344 This is the biggest disaster that's ever happened 176 00:10:27,427 --> 00:10:28,662 in San Diego County. 177 00:10:31,431 --> 00:10:33,608 REPORTER: One witness reported seeing 178 00:10:33,700 --> 00:10:35,171 falling bodies hit a car. 179 00:10:35,302 --> 00:10:37,755 MAN (OVER TV): Two bodies were bounced out of the PSA. 180 00:10:37,838 --> 00:10:40,974 One hit through the windshield, killed the mother. 181 00:10:41,108 --> 00:10:44,728 The other one hit on the side and killed her four month old baby. 182 00:10:44,811 --> 00:10:47,131 Police officers covered up the bodies and that's about all 183 00:10:47,214 --> 00:10:48,749 they could do. 184 00:10:50,083 --> 00:10:53,966 NARRATOR: It's feared that everyone onboard the two planes is dead. 185 00:10:54,321 --> 00:10:58,492 {\an8}The PSA plane landed at Dwight and Nile streets. 186 00:11:02,162 --> 00:11:07,367 {\an8}The Cessna landed about six blocks away in front of a house, near 32nd and Polk. 187 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,609 NARRATOR: 22 homes are destroyed. 188 00:11:17,611 --> 00:11:20,113 Seven residents are killed. 189 00:11:21,748 --> 00:11:23,450 Nine more are injured. 190 00:11:24,218 --> 00:11:25,853 The city feels overwhelmed. 191 00:11:26,153 --> 00:11:27,872 WOMAN (OVER TV): We heard it on the news 192 00:11:27,955 --> 00:11:30,107 so we came down here to see what we could do to help. 193 00:11:30,190 --> 00:11:33,344 We've been walking through here carrying water and it's 194 00:11:33,427 --> 00:11:36,129 just such a bad scene, it's really horrible. 195 00:11:38,599 --> 00:11:41,185 NARRATOR: Greg Clark is a San Diego police officer who 196 00:11:41,268 --> 00:11:44,092 rushes to the scene to help search for survivors. 197 00:11:45,105 --> 00:11:49,176 {\an8}For me it looked like, um, a large bomb had gone off. 198 00:11:49,309 --> 00:11:51,061 Everything that was in the path of the aircraft 199 00:11:51,144 --> 00:11:53,714 just completely destroyed. 200 00:11:55,048 --> 00:11:58,318 There were passenger seats stuck in the side of houses 201 00:11:58,452 --> 00:12:01,588 and pieces of fuselage just, just everywhere. 202 00:12:07,528 --> 00:12:09,796 I found nobody that was in one piece. 203 00:12:11,231 --> 00:12:12,650 NARRATOR: Two hours after the crash, 204 00:12:12,733 --> 00:12:16,270 NTSB investigator Wally Funk arrives from Los Angeles. 205 00:12:17,971 --> 00:12:19,924 FUNK: Since I was the lead investigator for that 206 00:12:20,007 --> 00:12:23,677 particular day, I got the call from the FAA duty officer and 207 00:12:23,810 --> 00:12:27,981 {\an8}he informed me that there had been a midair collision in San Diego. 208 00:12:29,650 --> 00:12:33,554 Oh, my word. The accident scene was horrendous. 209 00:12:33,687 --> 00:12:36,957 First the San Diego police department escorted me in and 210 00:12:37,090 --> 00:12:39,643 introduced me to the fire marshal 'cause they had 211 00:12:39,726 --> 00:12:42,196 control of the entire wreckage. 212 00:12:42,329 --> 00:12:43,897 Any survivors yet? 213 00:12:45,332 --> 00:12:47,868 That was just chilling that you suddenly you 214 00:12:48,001 --> 00:12:50,704 realized there's, there are no survivors. 215 00:12:52,873 --> 00:12:55,809 The medical personnel were frustrated because 216 00:12:55,943 --> 00:12:58,095 everybody came to the realization that there was 217 00:12:58,178 --> 00:12:59,767 nothing that they could do. 218 00:13:01,315 --> 00:13:03,650 NARRATOR: 144 people are dead, 219 00:13:03,784 --> 00:13:06,253 including the seven on the ground. 220 00:13:07,955 --> 00:13:11,425 It's the biggest airline disaster in American history. 221 00:13:11,558 --> 00:13:15,562 FUNK: It was entirely something that I had not expected. 222 00:13:15,696 --> 00:13:19,399 There was so many bits and parts and pieces around, 223 00:13:19,533 --> 00:13:22,769 not only the aircraft but the homes. 224 00:13:23,704 --> 00:13:26,940 I just started by photographing 225 00:13:29,042 --> 00:13:31,245 and writing notes. 226 00:13:32,346 --> 00:13:36,464 A real big concern of mine was how am I gonna put this puzzle together? 227 00:13:37,217 --> 00:13:39,303 NARRATOR: Funk needs to confirm that the wreckage of a 228 00:13:39,386 --> 00:13:43,090 small plane found six blocks away is in fact what collided 229 00:13:43,223 --> 00:13:44,658 with the 727. 230 00:13:45,325 --> 00:13:46,610 There's no doubt about it. 231 00:13:46,693 --> 00:13:48,962 We had paint transfers. 232 00:13:49,096 --> 00:13:52,499 We had pieces and parts from the two different aircraft. 233 00:13:53,300 --> 00:13:55,771 Yes, this was an absolute midair collision. 234 00:13:55,869 --> 00:13:57,399 There's no doubt about it. 235 00:13:58,105 --> 00:14:00,758 NARRATOR: But there's a much larger question looming: 236 00:14:00,841 --> 00:14:03,744 how could such an accident happen? 237 00:14:03,877 --> 00:14:07,981 FUNK: We had to visualize from a very mangled mess of metal 238 00:14:08,115 --> 00:14:10,450 where the two came together. 239 00:14:10,584 --> 00:14:12,085 (CRASHING) 240 00:14:12,219 --> 00:14:15,856 I really felt compelled to bring the Cessna wreckage over 241 00:14:15,989 --> 00:14:17,491 to the main wreckage. 242 00:14:17,624 --> 00:14:19,743 Put that downright, uh, there please. 243 00:14:19,826 --> 00:14:23,415 FUNK: So we could kind of understand really what had happened. 244 00:14:24,031 --> 00:14:26,083 NARRATOR: Eventually, the wreckage of the two planes is 245 00:14:26,166 --> 00:14:30,121 - sent to a hangar for reconstruction. - FUNK: It's just a big puzzle. 246 00:14:30,204 --> 00:14:33,440 You have to try one piece at a time putting it together. 247 00:14:34,074 --> 00:14:36,694 NARRATOR: Funk records as many witness interviews as possible 248 00:14:36,777 --> 00:14:39,780 while memories are still fresh. 249 00:14:39,913 --> 00:14:43,650 But I find in all my investigations that children 250 00:14:43,784 --> 00:14:47,821 up to 17, 18 years old are my best witnesses 251 00:14:47,955 --> 00:14:52,092 because a youngster will give me a really good 252 00:14:52,226 --> 00:14:55,729 interpretation of what they saw, 253 00:14:55,863 --> 00:14:57,348 not what they thought they heard or 254 00:14:57,431 --> 00:14:58,749 what they thought they saw. 255 00:14:58,832 --> 00:15:00,584 Quite a few people described what 256 00:15:00,667 --> 00:15:02,153 they saw falling out of the sky. 257 00:15:02,236 --> 00:15:04,989 Can you tell me exactly what you saw when you looked up? 258 00:15:05,072 --> 00:15:08,208 NARRATOR: But all the interviews are disappointing. 259 00:15:08,342 --> 00:15:10,944 So you didn't see the actual collision. 260 00:15:11,612 --> 00:15:15,215 FUNK: We had nobody that really saw the whole thing happen. 261 00:15:15,349 --> 00:15:17,751 We only saw it after the bang. 262 00:15:17,885 --> 00:15:19,953 (CRASHING) 263 00:15:21,555 --> 00:15:24,375 NARRATOR: The closest thing to a sighting of the collision is 264 00:15:24,458 --> 00:15:28,341 a television crew's footage of the Cessna plummeting to the ground. 265 00:15:31,031 --> 00:15:34,134 The NTSB sends additional staff from Washington, 266 00:15:34,268 --> 00:15:36,770 including senior investigator Philip Hogue. 267 00:15:37,104 --> 00:15:38,472 HOGUE: Great work here. 268 00:15:38,605 --> 00:15:40,291 Let's get right down to it, all right? 269 00:15:40,374 --> 00:15:42,726 I know that you've done a heck of a lot of research and 270 00:15:42,809 --> 00:15:45,696 you've been mainly concentrating on the larger aircraft. 271 00:15:45,779 --> 00:15:49,100 FUNK: But it was great to see the guys when they finally got there. 272 00:15:49,183 --> 00:15:51,102 The technical support was wonderful. 273 00:15:51,185 --> 00:15:54,154 We kind of divvied up the duties. 274 00:15:54,288 --> 00:15:56,990 So I will tackle the Cessna. 275 00:15:57,124 --> 00:15:59,643 {\an8}NARRATOR: Needing to know more about the smaller plane, 276 00:15:59,726 --> 00:16:02,329 they review its records for the day. 277 00:16:02,462 --> 00:16:05,866 The Cessna belonged to a flight training school. 278 00:16:05,999 --> 00:16:08,902 A student pilot was having a lesson. 279 00:16:09,036 --> 00:16:10,755 We had a flight instructor sitting on 280 00:16:10,838 --> 00:16:14,508 the right side and we had a student pilot learning to get 281 00:16:14,641 --> 00:16:16,410 his instrument rating. 282 00:16:17,911 --> 00:16:20,131 NARRATOR: Investigators learn that the student pilot 283 00:16:20,214 --> 00:16:22,449 approached runway nine twice, 284 00:16:22,583 --> 00:16:25,252 practicing landing using only his instruments. 285 00:16:30,390 --> 00:16:32,643 {\an8}Instrument pilots need more practice of approaching 286 00:16:32,726 --> 00:16:35,062 {\an8}the runways as opposed to the landings. 287 00:16:37,698 --> 00:16:39,917 NARRATOR: Local media jump to a conclusion. 288 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,936 There were a lot of people who thought that 289 00:16:43,070 --> 00:16:46,757 the crash had to be the fault of that Cessna because they had a, 290 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:49,343 it had a student pilot. 291 00:16:49,643 --> 00:16:52,663 There can be a built in bias in the traveling public's 292 00:16:52,746 --> 00:16:55,749 mind and the media's mind that airliners should have 293 00:16:55,883 --> 00:16:58,552 priority in and out of airports and 294 00:16:58,685 --> 00:17:00,337 this is not the way that it works. 295 00:17:00,420 --> 00:17:02,891 It, it's a first come, first served system. 296 00:17:03,590 --> 00:17:05,242 However, with a jetliner on a, 297 00:17:05,325 --> 00:17:09,096 on an assigned glide path coming in to a major airport, 298 00:17:09,229 --> 00:17:11,649 people wanted to know how come that little airplane was up 299 00:17:11,732 --> 00:17:13,267 there in the way. 300 00:17:15,836 --> 00:17:17,788 NARRATOR: Hopefully, the black boxes salvaged from 301 00:17:17,871 --> 00:17:20,519 the crash site will help answer this question. 302 00:17:23,210 --> 00:17:26,180 One was up front, which was the voice recorder, 303 00:17:26,313 --> 00:17:28,448 and one was in the AFT stairwell, 304 00:17:28,582 --> 00:17:31,218 which was the instrument recorder. 305 00:17:31,351 --> 00:17:34,121 They were flown back to Washington, DC. 306 00:17:34,254 --> 00:17:37,424 Figuring out what was said in the cockpit and what the 307 00:17:37,558 --> 00:17:40,060 instruments said takes a lot of time. 308 00:17:42,496 --> 00:17:44,782 NARRATOR: In the meantime, investigators interview the 309 00:17:44,865 --> 00:17:48,160 first of the two controllers who were guiding the planes. 310 00:17:48,902 --> 00:17:51,138 Can you show us the two flight paths? 311 00:17:51,271 --> 00:17:53,457 NARRATOR: The approach controller remembers the 312 00:17:53,540 --> 00:17:56,060 planned routes of the two planes but he can't be sure 313 00:17:56,143 --> 00:18:00,202 what routes they actually flew because approach radar is not recorded. 314 00:18:01,648 --> 00:18:06,186 So the 727 was flying East to do a turn around and 315 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,423 land on runway 27. 316 00:18:09,556 --> 00:18:12,626 And the Cessna was flying Northeast but it was miles 317 00:18:12,759 --> 00:18:16,163 ahead of the 727, probably headed home after doing touch 318 00:18:16,296 --> 00:18:18,131 and goes on runway nine. 319 00:18:18,265 --> 00:18:21,501 FUNK: They should have missed each other by over a mile. 320 00:18:23,003 --> 00:18:26,090 FUNK: Since I had been into Lindbergh several times as a pilot, 321 00:18:26,173 --> 00:18:31,612 it occurred to me were they on the right headings, altitudes? 322 00:18:33,614 --> 00:18:35,866 NARRATOR: Learning the exact flight paths will require 323 00:18:35,949 --> 00:18:38,719 complex calculations that include data from an 324 00:18:38,852 --> 00:18:40,911 air traffic station in Los Angeles. 325 00:18:44,691 --> 00:18:47,478 Meanwhile, a transcript of the controller's conversation with 326 00:18:47,561 --> 00:18:51,503 both planes reveals the pilots were aware of each other's positions. 327 00:18:53,066 --> 00:18:57,504 So the PSA crew reported seeing the Cessna 328 00:18:57,638 --> 00:19:00,107 when they were still three miles apart. 329 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:06,013 The planes would have been somewhere around here and here. 330 00:19:07,447 --> 00:19:09,416 Got it. 331 00:19:09,550 --> 00:19:10,684 Traffic in sight. 332 00:19:10,817 --> 00:19:12,703 NARRATOR: The Cessna pilot was also made aware of 333 00:19:12,786 --> 00:19:14,788 the 727 behind them. 334 00:19:14,922 --> 00:19:17,308 MAN: (OVER RADIO) Traffic at 6:00, two miles Eastbound. 335 00:19:17,391 --> 00:19:19,076 A PSA jet inbound to Lindbergh out of 336 00:19:19,159 --> 00:19:21,762 3,200 has you in sight. 337 00:19:22,829 --> 00:19:24,515 NARRATOR: Investigators want to know, 338 00:19:24,598 --> 00:19:27,351 if the pilots of both planes knew of each other, 339 00:19:27,434 --> 00:19:29,870 why did their aircraft collide? 340 00:19:30,838 --> 00:19:33,991 New radar equipment installed just one month earlier was 341 00:19:34,074 --> 00:19:37,010 designed to prevent exactly this type of incident. 342 00:19:39,146 --> 00:19:41,465 {\an8}The collision alert system was instituted to 343 00:19:41,548 --> 00:19:44,268 {\an8}prevent collisions, to alert controllers to the fact that 344 00:19:44,351 --> 00:19:47,371 {\an8}there was an imminent collision between two aircraft. 345 00:19:47,454 --> 00:19:52,659 Um, didn't you get any warning? 346 00:19:52,793 --> 00:19:56,129 We did, we ignored it. 347 00:19:59,032 --> 00:20:01,034 Explain. 348 00:20:01,168 --> 00:20:04,639 Well when the alert sounded I mentioned it to my supervisor. 349 00:20:05,405 --> 00:20:08,842 (BEEPING) 350 00:20:12,212 --> 00:20:14,565 It's the alarm again. I talked to both planes. 351 00:20:14,648 --> 00:20:17,635 PSA 182's confirmed a visual sighting of the Cessna. 352 00:20:17,718 --> 00:20:20,037 We're not expected to contact the pilots if they're flying 353 00:20:20,120 --> 00:20:22,473 by visual rules, not to mention we get about 354 00:20:22,556 --> 00:20:24,658 13 alarms a day so. 355 00:20:24,791 --> 00:20:29,096 He went to his advisor and told him what he had but 356 00:20:29,229 --> 00:20:31,749 since they had had so many false ones they really just 357 00:20:31,832 --> 00:20:33,500 kind of disregarded it. 358 00:20:34,401 --> 00:20:37,321 NARRATOR: The controllers decide not to act on the alert 359 00:20:37,404 --> 00:20:39,581 but they still contact the Cessna and 360 00:20:39,706 --> 00:20:41,808 repeat an earlier message. 361 00:20:41,942 --> 00:20:45,012 Traffic in your vicinity, PSA jet has you in sight. 362 00:20:45,145 --> 00:20:46,464 He's descending for Lindbergh. 363 00:20:46,547 --> 00:20:48,566 You could almost call it a courtesy call by the 364 00:20:48,649 --> 00:20:50,651 approach controller to the Cessna. 365 00:20:50,984 --> 00:20:53,353 (CRASHING) 366 00:20:54,021 --> 00:20:56,040 - NARRATOR: But at that exact moment... - Get over here. 367 00:20:56,123 --> 00:20:57,641 NARRATOR: The planes collide. 368 00:20:57,724 --> 00:21:01,728 I feel they should have 369 00:21:01,862 --> 00:21:05,599 watched these two aircraft a little closer. 370 00:21:05,732 --> 00:21:08,203 I think they were rather cavalier about it. 371 00:21:09,203 --> 00:21:12,623 NARRATOR: Investigators interview the Lindbergh tower controller, 372 00:21:12,706 --> 00:21:15,108 trying to understand why he also failed 373 00:21:15,242 --> 00:21:18,242 to warn both planes about their impending collision. 374 00:21:19,112 --> 00:21:21,766 They discover that to monitor traffic he relied on a less 375 00:21:21,849 --> 00:21:23,584 sophisticated form of radar. 376 00:21:25,118 --> 00:21:28,372 The tower controller did not have the collision alert system at the time. 377 00:21:28,455 --> 00:21:30,875 NARRATOR: When the controller saw the planes within 378 00:21:30,958 --> 00:21:33,410 one and a half kilometers of each other he made contact, 379 00:21:33,493 --> 00:21:35,262 warning the 727. 380 00:21:35,395 --> 00:21:36,614 MAN: (OVER RADIO) PSA 182. 381 00:21:36,697 --> 00:21:38,599 Traffic 12:00, one mile, 382 00:21:38,732 --> 00:21:41,268 - A Cessna. - I think he's passing 383 00:21:41,401 --> 00:21:42,970 off to our right. 384 00:21:43,103 --> 00:21:44,104 Yeah. 385 00:21:44,238 --> 00:21:47,641 If the pilot says he's passing off to our right this 386 00:21:47,774 --> 00:21:50,361 implies that he's still maintaining visual separation. 387 00:21:50,444 --> 00:21:54,248 It was his responsibility and you would not worry about it. 388 00:21:54,381 --> 00:21:56,200 NARRATOR: After talking to both controllers, 389 00:21:56,283 --> 00:21:59,853 investigators still have no answer to the key question in 390 00:21:59,987 --> 00:22:01,655 the midair collision. 391 00:22:02,356 --> 00:22:06,059 Who crashed into whom? 392 00:22:08,962 --> 00:22:11,532 Now let's have the next acetate please and 393 00:22:11,665 --> 00:22:13,200 see where that takes us. 394 00:22:13,333 --> 00:22:15,286 NARRATOR: When they finally calculate the two planes' 395 00:22:15,369 --> 00:22:18,906 actual radar tracks, the answer becomes clear. 396 00:22:19,039 --> 00:22:24,444 This is where the 727 has rear-ended the Cessna. 397 00:22:26,079 --> 00:22:28,615 The Cessna never passed off to the right. 398 00:22:28,749 --> 00:22:31,752 He was always in front of PSA. 399 00:22:31,885 --> 00:22:34,472 NARRATOR: The 91 ton aircraft flying at almost 400 00:22:34,555 --> 00:22:38,625 300 kilometers per hour simply tore apart 401 00:22:38,759 --> 00:22:40,544 the much slower and lighter Cessna. 402 00:22:40,627 --> 00:22:42,947 We have plotted down here, this is the third position of... 403 00:22:43,030 --> 00:22:45,983 NARRATOR: The radar track reveals another important detail. 404 00:22:46,066 --> 00:22:48,235 Just before the impact, 405 00:22:48,368 --> 00:22:51,772 the Cessna turned right into the 727's path. 406 00:22:51,905 --> 00:22:54,608 Why the change in heading? 407 00:22:54,741 --> 00:22:57,711 The trajectories of the two airplanes are such that 408 00:22:57,845 --> 00:22:59,513 had the Cessna not drifted, 409 00:22:59,646 --> 00:23:01,882 the airplanes would not have collided. 410 00:23:02,482 --> 00:23:05,336 NARRATOR: Close examination of the Cessna's training flight log 411 00:23:05,419 --> 00:23:08,655 reveals one possible reason for the change in direction. 412 00:23:11,458 --> 00:23:13,427 He was wearing a training hood. 413 00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:16,396 NARRATOR: The Cessna pilot wore a training hood. 414 00:23:16,530 --> 00:23:19,589 It's a device worn during instrument flight training. 415 00:23:20,567 --> 00:23:23,637 A pilot undergoing training for an instrument rating 416 00:23:23,770 --> 00:23:26,090 must learn to fly with exclusive reference to 417 00:23:26,173 --> 00:23:29,393 the instruments so on good weather days there has to be some 418 00:23:29,476 --> 00:23:32,679 means to block the natural horizon, the outside. 419 00:23:32,813 --> 00:23:35,566 And it was a black hood that came out about this far 420 00:23:35,649 --> 00:23:39,286 from his face so that he couldn't see outside. 421 00:23:39,419 --> 00:23:41,872 NARRATOR: Funk wonders if the hood could have caused him to 422 00:23:41,955 --> 00:23:44,625 go off course at the worst possible time. 423 00:23:46,493 --> 00:23:49,963 The Cessna was told to stay on a 70 degree heading. 424 00:23:50,931 --> 00:23:54,201 Cessna 7, 711 Golf, San Diego departure 425 00:23:54,635 --> 00:23:57,371 fly heading 0-7-0. 426 00:23:57,504 --> 00:23:59,690 NARRATOR: Pilots are taught to scan their instruments to 427 00:23:59,773 --> 00:24:01,675 maintain their heading. 428 00:24:01,808 --> 00:24:03,894 COX: On occasion you'll see headings that will drift 429 00:24:03,977 --> 00:24:07,748 because a learning pilot doesn't have the heading in 430 00:24:07,881 --> 00:24:09,750 that scan fast enough. 431 00:24:09,883 --> 00:24:12,937 NARRATOR: But even if the hood did play a role in causing the 432 00:24:13,020 --> 00:24:14,521 Cessna to drift... 433 00:24:14,655 --> 00:24:20,027 That does not explain why the PSA crew couldn't see the Cessna. 434 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:21,695 Got it. 435 00:24:21,828 --> 00:24:24,298 MCFERON: (OVER RADIO) Traffic in sight. 436 00:24:24,898 --> 00:24:29,603 NARRATOR: How did the veteran crew of a 727 lose sight of a 437 00:24:29,736 --> 00:24:32,005 plane flying directly in front of it? 438 00:24:38,145 --> 00:24:40,464 NARRATOR: Investigators now realize they may never find 439 00:24:40,547 --> 00:24:43,817 out why the pilot of a Cessna changed its heading, 440 00:24:43,951 --> 00:24:46,787 putting it on the same flight path as a 727. 441 00:24:48,055 --> 00:24:53,060 {\an8}Why the Cessna pilot did not stay on his, uh, assigned heading, 442 00:24:53,193 --> 00:24:55,262 {\an8}I can't answer that question. 443 00:24:55,395 --> 00:24:57,648 {\an8}But it's important to know that that drift of that 444 00:24:57,731 --> 00:25:00,284 {\an8}heading wasn't so severe that the air traffic controller 445 00:25:00,367 --> 00:25:03,570 called him and said what's your heading so clearly they 446 00:25:03,704 --> 00:25:06,624 did turn according to the radar but the significance of 447 00:25:06,707 --> 00:25:10,677 it is, uh, is a bit more questionable. 448 00:25:10,811 --> 00:25:13,130 NARRATOR: What's not in question is that it was the 449 00:25:13,213 --> 00:25:18,285 responsibility of the 727's crew to avoid the Cessna. 450 00:25:18,418 --> 00:25:20,704 COX: The PSA crew, when they acknowledged they had 451 00:25:20,787 --> 00:25:24,925 the Cessna in sight at that moment became responsible for keeping 452 00:25:25,058 --> 00:25:26,411 the airplanes separate. 453 00:25:30,998 --> 00:25:33,767 NARRATOR: In Washington, investigators review 454 00:25:33,901 --> 00:25:38,605 the PSA crew's last moments on the recovered cockpit voice recording. 455 00:25:38,939 --> 00:25:41,008 HOGUE: All right, hit it. 456 00:25:42,809 --> 00:25:44,662 FOX (OVER RADIO): Are we clear of that Cessna? 457 00:25:44,745 --> 00:25:46,297 WAYNE (OVER RADIO): Supposed to be. 458 00:25:46,380 --> 00:25:48,232 MCFERON: (OVER RADIO) I guess, I hope. 459 00:25:48,315 --> 00:25:50,817 (LAUGHTER) 460 00:25:50,951 --> 00:25:51,952 Oh, yeah. 461 00:25:52,085 --> 00:25:54,021 Hold on. Go back. 462 00:25:54,154 --> 00:25:56,273 NARRATOR: Philip Hogue focuses in on the conversation 463 00:25:56,356 --> 00:25:59,259 recorded 35 seconds before the collision. 464 00:26:00,260 --> 00:26:01,979 FOX (OVER RADIO): Are we clear of that Cessna? 465 00:26:02,062 --> 00:26:03,614 WAYNE (OVER RADIO): Supposed to be. 466 00:26:03,697 --> 00:26:05,999 MCFERON: (OVER RADIO) I guess, I hope. 467 00:26:06,133 --> 00:26:08,235 (LAUGHTER) 468 00:26:08,368 --> 00:26:12,139 Oh yeah, before we turned downwind I saw them about 1:00. 469 00:26:12,272 --> 00:26:14,074 Probably behind us now. 470 00:26:15,409 --> 00:26:18,645 NARRATOR: The PSA crew not only doesn't see the Cessna, 471 00:26:18,779 --> 00:26:21,031 they assume they have already passed it. 472 00:26:21,114 --> 00:26:23,917 It was right in front of them the whole time. 473 00:26:24,051 --> 00:26:27,888 The 727 when it's flying in level flight is a slightly 474 00:26:28,021 --> 00:26:33,160 nose up condition so that the pilots as they look out 475 00:26:33,293 --> 00:26:35,913 they're looking over the nose of the airplane. 476 00:26:35,996 --> 00:26:40,434 FUNK: Was the nose of the aircraft high and they didn't see the Cessna? 477 00:26:40,567 --> 00:26:44,938 They may not have realized the Cessna was as close as it was. 478 00:26:45,072 --> 00:26:48,742 NARRATOR: The NTSB conducts a study to determine how long 479 00:26:48,876 --> 00:26:52,129 the PSA crew could see the Cessna through their windscreen. 480 00:26:52,212 --> 00:26:53,313 Welcome aboard. 481 00:26:53,447 --> 00:26:56,416 Now use the reference points to adjust your seat. 482 00:26:56,550 --> 00:26:58,636 NARRATOR: They start by adjusting the pilots' seats 483 00:26:58,719 --> 00:27:01,755 for optimal viewing using a device called 484 00:27:01,889 --> 00:27:04,091 the design eye reference point. 485 00:27:04,224 --> 00:27:06,793 The manufacturers designed a very simple but 486 00:27:06,927 --> 00:27:10,397 very effective system where you line up little balls in 487 00:27:10,531 --> 00:27:13,473 the center post of the windscreen that put your eye 488 00:27:13,567 --> 00:27:15,602 in the same position every time. 489 00:27:15,736 --> 00:27:18,255 Now if you would please take a measurement from 490 00:27:18,338 --> 00:27:21,842 my eye line to the white ball in the middle. 491 00:27:26,647 --> 00:27:29,295 Okay now from the eyeball to the floor please. 492 00:27:30,584 --> 00:27:33,571 NARRATOR: Once the pilots' viewing positions have been determined, 493 00:27:33,654 --> 00:27:36,207 the photographer uses a special camera to take 494 00:27:36,290 --> 00:27:38,825 {\an8}panoramic images of each pilot's view. 495 00:27:42,663 --> 00:27:45,049 Okay let's have a look at what the pilots can see. 496 00:27:45,132 --> 00:27:46,183 Would you put up the view. 497 00:27:46,266 --> 00:27:48,486 NARRATOR: He starts with the captain's view. 498 00:27:48,569 --> 00:27:51,638 Radar tracks provide the Cessna's heading, 499 00:27:51,772 --> 00:27:54,141 {\an8}pitch and bank angle. 500 00:27:54,675 --> 00:27:57,928 {\an8}They plot this data on top of the photographs in ten second intervals. 501 00:27:58,011 --> 00:28:02,082 {\an8}All right, let's see what the copilot can see please. 502 00:28:02,950 --> 00:28:04,969 {\an8}NARRATOR: What they find is surprising, 503 00:28:05,052 --> 00:28:08,522 {\an8}a longer than expected time period in which the PSA crew 504 00:28:08,655 --> 00:28:10,090 {\an8}could see the Cessna. 505 00:28:11,158 --> 00:28:14,228 170 seconds of clear view. 506 00:28:16,830 --> 00:28:21,001 The pilots could have seen the Cessna in plain view. 507 00:28:21,134 --> 00:28:27,107 How can you miss a plane that is staring you in the face? 508 00:28:27,808 --> 00:28:31,979 Yeah it's something falling, she doesn't say what but okay. 509 00:28:32,112 --> 00:28:34,615 All right, I'll take that, Sue Pritchard. 510 00:28:35,616 --> 00:28:38,369 NARRATOR: Investigators wonder if witness reports can shed 511 00:28:38,452 --> 00:28:40,721 some light on the mystery. 512 00:28:41,388 --> 00:28:43,574 They discover that there may have been something in the air 513 00:28:43,657 --> 00:28:45,492 that misled the pilots. 514 00:28:48,395 --> 00:28:52,833 We had collected 220 witness reports. 515 00:28:52,966 --> 00:28:57,337 16 of those witness reports revealed that they 516 00:28:57,471 --> 00:29:00,307 thought they saw other aircraft in the area. 517 00:29:02,609 --> 00:29:04,021 (PLANE PASSING OVERHEAD) 518 00:29:06,446 --> 00:29:08,265 NARRATOR: Air traffic controllers don't remember 519 00:29:08,348 --> 00:29:12,286 a third plane flying nearby but many small planes don't carry 520 00:29:12,419 --> 00:29:16,256 a transponder, the device needed to identify them. 521 00:29:17,191 --> 00:29:19,226 Had they not had a transponder, 522 00:29:19,359 --> 00:29:22,446 the third airplane may not have been visible to the radar 523 00:29:22,529 --> 00:29:24,698 in the San Diego approach facility. 524 00:29:25,899 --> 00:29:29,153 NARRATOR: Investigators study the cockpit recordings more closely, 525 00:29:29,236 --> 00:29:34,441 - searching for clues about a third plane. - Oh, yeah. 526 00:29:34,575 --> 00:29:36,961 Before we turned downwind I saw him about 1:00. 527 00:29:37,044 --> 00:29:38,262 Probably behind us now. 528 00:29:38,345 --> 00:29:40,397 NARRATOR: 35 seconds before the crash, 529 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:43,598 the crew assumed the Cessna was safely out of the way. 530 00:29:45,385 --> 00:29:47,988 But the captain's 1:00 reference seems odd. 531 00:29:49,022 --> 00:29:51,542 The flight paths of the two planes show that the Cessna 532 00:29:51,625 --> 00:29:53,427 was never in that position. 533 00:29:54,862 --> 00:30:00,834 The Cessna was at their 11:00 so what plane were they looking for? 534 00:30:01,835 --> 00:30:05,105 The fact that it was at 1:00 instead of 11:00 535 00:30:05,239 --> 00:30:08,859 indicates that there's a possibility that he saw another aircraft. 536 00:30:08,942 --> 00:30:10,895 It may have been quite some distance away but 537 00:30:10,978 --> 00:30:12,846 he saw another aircraft. 538 00:30:14,147 --> 00:30:17,500 NARRATOR: Then, another clue about a possible third plane. 539 00:30:18,652 --> 00:30:20,271 FOX: (OVER RADIO) There's one underneath. 540 00:30:20,354 --> 00:30:22,139 I was looking at that inbound over there. 541 00:30:22,222 --> 00:30:24,992 NARRATOR: The plane he spots is flying inbound. 542 00:30:25,125 --> 00:30:27,278 That means it's flying in the opposite direction of the 543 00:30:27,361 --> 00:30:28,695 Cessna that was hit. 544 00:30:31,031 --> 00:30:34,134 It does open and add further credibility to 545 00:30:34,268 --> 00:30:37,210 the possibility that they saw a different airplane. 546 00:30:38,772 --> 00:30:41,742 NARRATOR: But what plane exactly may never be known 547 00:30:41,875 --> 00:30:45,817 even after factoring in the 16 reported sightings of other aircraft. 548 00:30:49,983 --> 00:30:55,255 The team concluded that the 16 witnesses could 549 00:30:55,389 --> 00:31:00,894 not really put a aircraft in that particular area at that 550 00:31:01,028 --> 00:31:02,529 particular time. 551 00:31:02,930 --> 00:31:05,216 NARRATOR: Investigators are at an impasse. 552 00:31:05,299 --> 00:31:07,985 Their visibility study tells them that the Cessna was 553 00:31:08,068 --> 00:31:11,438 technically visible for 170 seconds, 554 00:31:11,572 --> 00:31:13,841 nearly three full minutes. 555 00:31:13,974 --> 00:31:17,544 So why did the crew of the 727 lose sight of it? 556 00:31:17,678 --> 00:31:19,597 They go back to the cockpit recording. 557 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:22,533 MAN: (OVER RADIO) Three miles just North of the field, Northwest. 558 00:31:22,616 --> 00:31:25,269 - Cessna 172 climbing VFR at. - Okay stop tape. 559 00:31:25,352 --> 00:31:26,954 MAN: (OVER RADIO) 1,400. 560 00:31:27,087 --> 00:31:30,791 135 seconds to impact. 561 00:31:32,125 --> 00:31:34,712 This is when the controller first mentioned the Cessna. 562 00:31:34,795 --> 00:31:37,197 Okay, roll tape again. 563 00:31:40,467 --> 00:31:41,552 MAN: (OVER RADIO) PSA 182. 564 00:31:41,635 --> 00:31:43,621 NARRATOR: Two minutes before the collision, 565 00:31:43,704 --> 00:31:46,457 the crew hears the Cessna's position being described but 566 00:31:46,540 --> 00:31:48,208 they haven't spotted it yet. 567 00:31:48,742 --> 00:31:52,346 COX: The silhouette of the Cessna would have been 568 00:31:52,479 --> 00:31:55,166 difficult as they were approximately the same altitude. 569 00:31:55,249 --> 00:31:58,919 They're going in the same direction so one of the things 570 00:31:59,052 --> 00:32:02,723 that the human eye picks up is movement and for a good part 571 00:32:02,856 --> 00:32:05,680 of the time this is not moving in the windscreen. 572 00:32:07,761 --> 00:32:11,665 San Diego Ops, we're number two because we try harder. 573 00:32:14,101 --> 00:32:15,986 NARRATOR: The Cessna has now been visible for nearly 574 00:32:16,069 --> 00:32:20,007 80 seconds out of their window but the crew has failed to see it. 575 00:32:20,774 --> 00:32:24,344 90 seconds to impact they get another warning. 576 00:32:24,478 --> 00:32:29,116 And after we read and saw what the CVR said I feel 577 00:32:29,249 --> 00:32:32,686 that they were distracted in their conversation. 578 00:32:34,087 --> 00:32:35,088 Roll tape. 579 00:32:38,158 --> 00:32:43,864 MAN: (OVER RADIO) PSA 182, traffic's at 12:00 three miles out, 1,700. 580 00:32:43,997 --> 00:32:45,699 Got it. 581 00:32:45,832 --> 00:32:47,918 MCFERON: (OVER RADIO) Traffic in sight. 582 00:32:48,001 --> 00:32:49,603 Stop tape. 583 00:32:52,005 --> 00:32:54,141 NARRATOR: 85 seconds before impact, 584 00:32:54,274 --> 00:32:58,312 the 727's pilots spot the Cessna flying ahead of them. 585 00:33:04,151 --> 00:33:07,404 The crew is then instructed to use visual flight rules and 586 00:33:07,487 --> 00:33:09,790 contact the Lindbergh tower. 587 00:33:11,058 --> 00:33:14,194 Okay sir, maintain visual separation. 588 00:33:14,328 --> 00:33:15,546 Contact Lindbergh tower, 589 00:33:15,629 --> 00:33:18,866 133.3. Have a nice day. 590 00:33:18,999 --> 00:33:20,033 Okay. 591 00:33:20,167 --> 00:33:22,803 They saw it one second and then they didn't 592 00:33:22,936 --> 00:33:24,121 see it another second. 593 00:33:24,204 --> 00:33:28,809 Was the conversation such that they looked away and missed it? 594 00:33:29,877 --> 00:33:32,196 NARRATOR: The crew must now keep the Cessna in view while 595 00:33:32,279 --> 00:33:34,515 performing other tasks. 596 00:33:34,648 --> 00:33:38,531 The captain contacts the tower controller and prepares for landing. 597 00:33:39,620 --> 00:33:42,556 Lindbergh, PSA 182 downwind. 598 00:33:43,490 --> 00:33:45,443 The wings need to be configured with 599 00:33:45,526 --> 00:33:47,511 the proper slats and flap settings. 600 00:33:47,594 --> 00:33:48,979 The landing gear must be lowered. 601 00:33:49,062 --> 00:33:50,998 Systems have to be adjusted. 602 00:33:51,131 --> 00:33:53,517 All of these things are going on so it's, 603 00:33:53,600 --> 00:33:57,304 it's a busy place for three people in a 727. 604 00:33:58,805 --> 00:34:00,424 NARRATOR: At this critical moment, 605 00:34:00,507 --> 00:34:03,310 no one is keeping an eye on the Cessna. 606 00:34:03,777 --> 00:34:07,307 MAN: (OVER RADIO) PSA 182, traffic 12:00, one mile, a Cessna. 607 00:34:09,383 --> 00:34:10,868 Is that the one we're looking at? 608 00:34:10,951 --> 00:34:13,987 Yeah, but I don't see him now. 609 00:34:14,121 --> 00:34:18,025 The Cessna should be right here in front of them. 610 00:34:18,292 --> 00:34:21,828 The Cessna was visible just at about the windshield 611 00:34:21,962 --> 00:34:26,867 level of PSA and it's really incredible somehow 612 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:29,269 they lost sight of it. 613 00:34:33,073 --> 00:34:37,077 Okay. Can you show me how you normally adjust your seat please? 614 00:34:37,211 --> 00:34:39,130 NARRATOR: But when investigators learn more about 615 00:34:39,213 --> 00:34:42,216 how PSA pilots adjust their seats, 616 00:34:42,349 --> 00:34:45,336 they begin to understand how the crew may have lost sight 617 00:34:45,419 --> 00:34:47,020 of the Cessna. 618 00:34:47,154 --> 00:34:50,023 That's it? You don't use your reference points? 619 00:34:50,157 --> 00:34:53,293 It's not a requirement to utilize the manufacturer's 620 00:34:53,427 --> 00:34:55,596 designed eye reference position. 621 00:34:55,729 --> 00:34:57,681 NARRATOR: Investigators discover that many pilots 622 00:34:57,764 --> 00:35:01,168 adjust their seats to their own personal settings. 623 00:35:02,769 --> 00:35:04,422 Pilots come in all sizes and shapes. 624 00:35:04,505 --> 00:35:07,074 They learn quickly to adjust the seats to 625 00:35:07,207 --> 00:35:09,443 the position that's comfortable. 626 00:35:09,877 --> 00:35:11,929 Some pilots want to sit lower so they can see 627 00:35:12,012 --> 00:35:13,483 their instruments better. 628 00:35:15,782 --> 00:35:17,635 NARRATOR: From this new seat position, 629 00:35:17,718 --> 00:35:20,954 the Cessna's location on the windshield is recalculated. 630 00:35:22,022 --> 00:35:24,175 The results show an important difference between 631 00:35:24,258 --> 00:35:26,293 the two seat settings. 632 00:35:26,426 --> 00:35:29,113 With the new setting the crew would have had the Cessna in 633 00:35:29,196 --> 00:35:31,732 view for only five to ten seconds, 634 00:35:31,865 --> 00:35:33,567 not a few minutes. 635 00:35:37,804 --> 00:35:40,474 Five seconds, that's all. 636 00:35:40,607 --> 00:35:43,490 The position of the Cessna was down below the nose 637 00:35:43,610 --> 00:35:45,629 or the reference that the pilots could see. 638 00:35:45,712 --> 00:35:48,582 If they had moved their heads up, uh, 639 00:35:48,715 --> 00:35:52,833 the Cessna was still visible but otherwise it was below the windscreen. 640 00:35:52,953 --> 00:35:55,722 Okay, let's play find the Cessna. 641 00:35:55,856 --> 00:35:58,809 NARRATOR: But even assuming that the crew did lean forward, 642 00:35:58,892 --> 00:36:01,728 investigators now realize they would face other 643 00:36:01,862 --> 00:36:03,745 problems in spotting the Cessna. 644 00:36:05,532 --> 00:36:07,467 It's almost camouflaged. 645 00:36:09,336 --> 00:36:13,040 They become harder to see and the terrain makes it even 646 00:36:13,173 --> 00:36:15,709 more so because you have white roofs. 647 00:36:15,843 --> 00:36:19,346 You have dark roofs. You have roads, you have lakes. 648 00:36:19,479 --> 00:36:22,482 You have trees so that the background changes and 649 00:36:22,616 --> 00:36:25,385 the aircraft will move across this background. 650 00:36:25,886 --> 00:36:27,171 Is that the one we're looking at? 651 00:36:27,254 --> 00:36:30,090 Yeah, but I don't see him now. 652 00:36:31,358 --> 00:36:34,645 NARRATOR: The Cessna is now flying too close to the 727 to 653 00:36:34,728 --> 00:36:37,548 be viewed without leaning forward and it's against 654 00:36:37,631 --> 00:36:40,102 a backdrop that makes it hard to recognize. 655 00:36:40,701 --> 00:36:42,219 MAN: (OVER RADIO) PSA 182, 656 00:36:42,302 --> 00:36:43,604 Cleared to land. 657 00:36:43,737 --> 00:36:46,607 182 is cleared to land. 658 00:36:47,841 --> 00:36:50,694 NARRATOR: A collision is now imminent and the six men 659 00:36:50,777 --> 00:36:53,881 involved in preventing it are oblivious. 660 00:36:54,014 --> 00:36:56,850 The Cessna pilot can't see out his window. 661 00:36:56,984 --> 00:37:00,888 His trainer has failed to notice the plane is off course. 662 00:37:01,021 --> 00:37:04,791 The 727's crew have the Cessna in a blind spot but both 663 00:37:04,925 --> 00:37:07,928 controllers assume the crew can see the Cessna and 664 00:37:08,061 --> 00:37:09,463 will avoid it. 665 00:37:11,732 --> 00:37:13,984 There's only one thing that can stop this accident from 666 00:37:14,067 --> 00:37:17,571 happening and 144 lives depend on it. 667 00:37:18,038 --> 00:37:21,158 FUNK: The PSA captain should have made the suggestion to 668 00:37:21,241 --> 00:37:23,610 the tower, I don't see him anymore. 669 00:37:24,111 --> 00:37:26,330 NARRATOR: Captain McFeron will talk to the tower about 670 00:37:26,413 --> 00:37:31,718 the Cessna but a misunderstanding over a single word will prove deadly. 671 00:37:34,288 --> 00:37:37,759 The two planes are 70 seconds from colliding over San Diego. 672 00:37:42,095 --> 00:37:43,414 MAN: (OVER RADIO) PSA 182, 673 00:37:43,497 --> 00:37:45,232 Traffic 12:00, one mile, 674 00:37:45,365 --> 00:37:47,100 A Cessna. 675 00:37:47,234 --> 00:37:49,403 Flaps five. 676 00:37:52,906 --> 00:37:54,425 Is that the one we're looking for? 677 00:37:54,508 --> 00:37:57,611 Yeah, but I don't see him now. 678 00:37:58,612 --> 00:38:01,899 NARRATOR: The fate of flight 182 now depends on the captain 679 00:38:01,982 --> 00:38:04,852 clearly communicating this to the tower. 680 00:38:05,385 --> 00:38:08,088 Okay, we had him there a minute ago. 681 00:38:08,222 --> 00:38:10,557 NARRATOR: But the captain is not clear. 682 00:38:10,691 --> 00:38:13,227 182, roger. 683 00:38:13,360 --> 00:38:16,947 NARRATOR: And the controller assumes the Cessna is still in sight. 684 00:38:17,030 --> 00:38:20,200 COX: When the PSA crew lost visual contact, 685 00:38:20,334 --> 00:38:23,254 they were responsible to tell the air traffic controller 686 00:38:23,337 --> 00:38:25,138 I no longer see the Cessna. 687 00:38:25,272 --> 00:38:27,792 NARRATOR: Still uncertain about the Cessna's location, 688 00:38:27,875 --> 00:38:31,758 once again the captain tries to explain his situation to the tower. 689 00:38:31,879 --> 00:38:34,114 I think he's passed off to our right. 690 00:38:34,248 --> 00:38:37,551 The comment that the captain makes indicates that 691 00:38:37,684 --> 00:38:40,070 they're not sure, that they don't have him in 692 00:38:40,153 --> 00:38:42,322 sight at that moment. 693 00:38:42,456 --> 00:38:44,875 NARRATOR: The controller could force the PSA flight or the 694 00:38:44,958 --> 00:38:48,028 Cessna to change course but he does nothing. 695 00:38:48,161 --> 00:38:51,932 It's very difficult to determine what that exchange 696 00:38:52,065 --> 00:38:55,736 between the air traffic controller and PSA meant to 697 00:38:55,869 --> 00:38:57,004 each of the pilots. 698 00:38:57,137 --> 00:38:58,722 The captain made the comment... 699 00:38:58,805 --> 00:39:01,041 I think he's passed off to our right. 700 00:39:01,175 --> 00:39:04,361 Indicating that he wasn't 100% sure but the air traffic controller 701 00:39:04,444 --> 00:39:07,268 heard it as a declarative statement and answered: 702 00:39:07,381 --> 00:39:08,715 Yeah. 703 00:39:08,849 --> 00:39:10,367 What that meant to the PSA crew, 704 00:39:10,450 --> 00:39:11,702 I'm not sure we'll ever know. 705 00:39:11,785 --> 00:39:13,304 He was right over here a minute ago. 706 00:39:13,387 --> 00:39:15,455 Yeah. 707 00:39:15,589 --> 00:39:19,293 But they were satisfied with the situation enough that 708 00:39:19,426 --> 00:39:21,946 they continued the approach and the air traffic controller 709 00:39:22,029 --> 00:39:24,615 was satisfied with the situation enough that he did 710 00:39:24,698 --> 00:39:26,993 not make any further comments about it. 711 00:39:27,935 --> 00:39:29,453 MCFERON: (OVER RADIO) Okay we have... 712 00:39:29,536 --> 00:39:31,722 NARRATOR: Investigators want to know why the controller 713 00:39:31,805 --> 00:39:33,140 took no action. 714 00:39:33,273 --> 00:39:35,893 They compare two separate recordings of the conversation 715 00:39:35,976 --> 00:39:38,195 between the captain and the controller. 716 00:39:38,278 --> 00:39:40,814 Okay, Chris, let's hear the cockpit first. 717 00:39:40,948 --> 00:39:43,934 MCFERON: (OVER RADIO) I think he's passed off to our right? 718 00:39:44,017 --> 00:39:46,070 Passed. I thought I heard passing before. 719 00:39:46,153 --> 00:39:47,955 Double check that please. 720 00:39:53,060 --> 00:39:55,312 MCFERON: (OVER RADIO) I think he's passed off to our right? 721 00:39:55,395 --> 00:39:56,480 He's still saying passed. 722 00:39:56,563 --> 00:40:00,334 Let's compare it with the tower 'cause I think I heard passing. 723 00:40:02,336 --> 00:40:04,388 NARRATOR: They make a startling discovery. 724 00:40:04,471 --> 00:40:07,024 MCFERON: (OVER RADIO) Think he's passing off to our right. 725 00:40:07,107 --> 00:40:08,342 Passing. 726 00:40:08,475 --> 00:40:12,646 I was right, it does sound like passing. 727 00:40:14,047 --> 00:40:15,666 NARRATOR: Due to radio static, 728 00:40:15,749 --> 00:40:19,453 the controller heard the word passing, not passed. 729 00:40:19,586 --> 00:40:24,157 The difference may have sealed the fate of flight 182. 730 00:40:24,291 --> 00:40:27,394 Passing, big difference. 731 00:40:31,431 --> 00:40:33,951 NARRATOR: The recordings reveal that while the pilot of 732 00:40:34,034 --> 00:40:38,238 PSA 182 said one thing, the Lindbergh tower controller 733 00:40:38,372 --> 00:40:41,275 - heard something else. - I think he's passing 734 00:40:41,408 --> 00:40:42,910 off to our right. 735 00:40:43,043 --> 00:40:44,478 Yeah. 736 00:40:44,611 --> 00:40:47,264 NARRATOR: Now investigators understand why the controller 737 00:40:47,347 --> 00:40:48,849 took no action. 738 00:40:48,982 --> 00:40:50,034 If he had heard the words 739 00:40:50,117 --> 00:40:52,986 "he's passed off to our right," 740 00:40:53,120 --> 00:40:56,273 he would have seen from his radar that the pilot was mistaken 741 00:40:56,356 --> 00:41:01,228 and that the 727 had not actually passed the Cessna. 742 00:41:01,361 --> 00:41:03,864 The air traffic controller heard it as 743 00:41:03,997 --> 00:41:05,282 he's passing off to our right. 744 00:41:05,365 --> 00:41:08,718 That indicated that they still had visual contact with it. 745 00:41:09,303 --> 00:41:11,322 BROWN: He would believe that the pilot was being able to 746 00:41:11,405 --> 00:41:12,757 maintain the separation. 747 00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:16,252 It was his responsibility and you would not worry about it. 748 00:41:18,912 --> 00:41:21,081 {\an8}NARRATOR: In the spring of 1979, 749 00:41:21,215 --> 00:41:24,518 {\an8}investigators finally conclude who is at fault. 750 00:41:25,085 --> 00:41:29,857 {\an8}The determination of the board's report is very clear 751 00:41:29,990 --> 00:41:35,395 that the crew obviously did not see the aircraft, 752 00:41:35,529 --> 00:41:41,001 the Cessna, in time to divert it away from a catastrophic accident. 753 00:41:42,936 --> 00:41:47,508 The PSA crew, when they lost visual contact is 754 00:41:47,641 --> 00:41:49,727 responsible to tell the air traffic controller, 755 00:41:49,810 --> 00:41:52,987 "I no longer see the Cessna," and that they did not do. 756 00:41:55,115 --> 00:41:58,235 NARRATOR: The Cessna pilot is also mentioned as a factor. 757 00:41:58,318 --> 00:42:01,655 For changing course without notifying the tower. 758 00:42:02,356 --> 00:42:05,910 Both controllers are criticized for not following protocol and 759 00:42:05,993 --> 00:42:09,763 giving the 727's crew the specific heading of the Cessna. 760 00:42:20,607 --> 00:42:22,809 HOGUE: Thinking back to that day, 761 00:42:22,943 --> 00:42:25,696 there is just a tremendous sadness that comes to mind 762 00:42:25,779 --> 00:42:27,648 You know that accidents happen 763 00:42:27,781 --> 00:42:31,618 but you think, this was an accident that could have been prevented 764 00:42:31,752 --> 00:42:33,053 but it wasn't. 765 00:42:38,926 --> 00:42:41,512 {\an8}NARRATOR: Recommendations in the report focus on improving 766 00:42:41,595 --> 00:42:44,478 the air traffic control system at Lindbergh Field. 767 00:42:50,904 --> 00:42:52,656 BROWN: They changed procedures after this, 768 00:42:52,739 --> 00:42:54,425 they put in a terminal control area. 769 00:42:54,508 --> 00:42:56,627 There was a great deal of restriction on what kind of 770 00:42:56,710 --> 00:42:58,963 traffic could go through and at what altitudes. 771 00:42:59,046 --> 00:43:03,250 So in frank, many different restrictions to make it safe for operation, 772 00:43:03,383 --> 00:43:06,203 were put in to place at Lindbergh after this accident. 773 00:43:06,286 --> 00:43:10,591 We're out of Los Angeles, San Diego at 0-9-0-5. 774 00:43:10,724 --> 00:43:13,694 MAN: (OVER RADIO) (LAUGHING) PSA 182, roger. 775 00:43:13,827 --> 00:43:15,179 I just called my off report. 776 00:43:15,262 --> 00:43:16,580 The guy started laughing. 777 00:43:16,663 --> 00:43:17,698 (LAUGHTER) 778 00:43:17,831 --> 00:43:20,384 Make it up by reporting our next takeoff now. 779 00:43:20,467 --> 00:43:24,071 NARRATOR: There's another legacy of PSA 182, 780 00:43:24,204 --> 00:43:26,991 new rules governing all conversations in the cockpit 781 00:43:27,074 --> 00:43:29,710 when flying below 10,000 feet. 782 00:43:31,245 --> 00:43:35,148 Today's regulation requires that you concentrate 783 00:43:35,282 --> 00:43:38,369 your conversation exclusively to the operation of the airplane. 784 00:43:38,452 --> 00:43:43,023 At the time of the PSA 182 accident, the, 785 00:43:43,156 --> 00:43:45,893 that regulation was not in effect. 786 00:43:46,026 --> 00:43:49,096 NARRATOR: PSA 182 also helped push the FAA in 787 00:43:49,229 --> 00:43:52,432 the search for new technology. 788 00:43:52,566 --> 00:43:55,235 Three years after the accident, in 1981, 789 00:43:55,369 --> 00:43:58,005 a safety device called TCAS, 790 00:43:58,138 --> 00:44:00,291 or Traffic Collision Avoidance System, 791 00:44:00,374 --> 00:44:03,277 was put into development. 792 00:44:03,410 --> 00:44:06,113 {\an8}Now installed in all passenger aircraft, 793 00:44:06,246 --> 00:44:10,450 {\an8}the system warns pilots when another plane comes too close. 794 00:44:13,921 --> 00:44:15,622 FUNK: TCAS was a God bless. 795 00:44:15,756 --> 00:44:21,028 We now can put it on our transponders and we can see or 796 00:44:21,161 --> 00:44:24,565 hear what's going on or be told what's going on 797 00:44:24,698 --> 00:44:26,300 with aircraft around us. 798 00:44:29,670 --> 00:44:35,943 We have come in big leaps to make aviation safer for people 799 00:44:36,076 --> 00:44:39,063 to fly and feel comfortable that their airplane is gonna 800 00:44:39,146 --> 00:44:40,676 get where they want to go.