1 00:00:01,167 --> 00:00:03,937 Narrator: MORNING RUSH HOUR, CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. 2 00:00:03,937 --> 00:00:08,875 ITS BUSY AIRPORT IS ROCKED BY A MASSIVE EXPLOSION. 3 00:00:08,875 --> 00:00:11,711 Man: THE FLAMES WERE COMING OVER THE FENCE, JUST TOTAL CRAZINESS, 4 00:00:11,711 --> 00:00:14,614 EVERYBODY WAS JUST RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES. 5 00:00:14,614 --> 00:00:17,851 Narrator: FIREFIGHTERS RUSH TO ONE OF THE AIRPORT'S MAIN HANGARS. 6 00:00:17,851 --> 00:00:19,953 THEY CONFRONT AN INFERNO. 7 00:00:23,089 --> 00:00:24,524 Woman: IT WAS QUITE A WHILE 8 00:00:24,524 --> 00:00:28,061 BEFORE WE REALIZED A PLANE HAD HIT THE HANGAR. 9 00:00:28,061 --> 00:00:30,630 Narrator: A PACKED COMMUTER FLIGHT HAS PLUNGED TO THE GROUND 10 00:00:30,630 --> 00:00:32,465 SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. 11 00:00:32,465 --> 00:00:35,568 EVERYONE ON BOARD IS KILLED. 12 00:00:35,568 --> 00:00:37,837 Woman: WE KEPT SCRATCHING OUR HEAD WONDERING, 13 00:00:37,837 --> 00:00:41,241 OKAY, THIS AIRPLANE FLEW NINE TIMES PREVIOUSLY, 14 00:00:41,241 --> 00:00:43,643 AND WE HAD NO PROBLEMS. 15 00:00:43,643 --> 00:00:46,946 Narrator: INVESTIGATORS UNCOVER A STRING OF ERRORS... 16 00:00:46,946 --> 00:00:49,149 Woman: BILL, I HAVE AN IDEA. 17 00:00:49,149 --> 00:00:51,317 Narrator: ...AND LEARN THAT PASSENGERS ON SMALL PLANES 18 00:00:51,317 --> 00:00:54,587 HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN IN DANGER FOR YEARS. 19 00:00:56,723 --> 00:00:58,892 Flight attendant: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ARE STARTING OUR APPROACH. 20 00:00:58,892 --> 00:01:00,326 Pilot: WE LOST BOTH ENGINES! 21 00:01:00,326 --> 00:01:01,361 Flight attendant: PUT THE MASK OVER YOUR NOSE. 22 00:01:01,361 --> 00:01:02,328 EMERGENCY DESCENT. 23 00:01:02,328 --> 00:01:03,696 Pilot: MAYDAY, MAYDAY. 24 00:01:03,696 --> 00:01:05,432 Flight attendant: BRACE FOR IMPACT! 25 00:01:05,432 --> 00:01:06,366 Controller: I THINK I LOST ONE. 26 00:01:06,366 --> 00:01:08,134 Man: INVESTIGATION STARTING... 27 00:01:09,602 --> 00:01:11,104 Man: HE'S GONNA CRASH! 28 00:01:23,650 --> 00:01:26,219 Narrator: IT'S MORNING ON JANUARY 8, 2003, 29 00:01:26,219 --> 00:01:28,421 IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA. 30 00:01:34,027 --> 00:01:36,863 A CITY OF HALF A MILLION PEOPLE IS WAKING UP. 31 00:01:39,165 --> 00:01:41,634 AT CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, 32 00:01:41,634 --> 00:01:47,407 COMMERCIAL AIRLINE PILOT CAPTAIN KATIE LESLIE IS AT WORK EARLY. 33 00:01:47,407 --> 00:01:50,109 ONLY 25 YEARS OLD, THIS TEXAS NATIVE 34 00:01:50,109 --> 00:01:53,613 HAS BEEN FLYING FOR AIR MIDWEST FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS. 35 00:01:57,150 --> 00:02:00,086 ONE OF THE YOUNGEST FLIGHT CAPTAINS AT HER AIRLINE... 36 00:02:00,086 --> 00:02:02,956 Katie Leslie: HEY, TOM, HAVE A GREAT FLIGHT. 37 00:02:02,956 --> 00:02:05,191 Narrator: SHE'S A TOP-RATED PILOT BUILDING HER CAREER 38 00:02:05,191 --> 00:02:08,695 AT ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING AIRPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES. 39 00:02:12,565 --> 00:02:16,669 THIS AIRPORT IS AN IMPORTANT DOMESTIC HUB FOR U.S. AIRWAYS, 40 00:02:16,669 --> 00:02:18,137 WITH FLIGHTS TO MOST MAJOR CITIES 41 00:02:18,137 --> 00:02:20,240 IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. 42 00:02:23,443 --> 00:02:28,581 AIR MIDWEST RUNS A COMMUTER SERVICE AS U.S. AIRWAYS EXPRESS. 43 00:02:28,581 --> 00:02:32,185 IT OPERATES A FLEET OF BEECHCRAFT 1900-D PLANES-- 44 00:02:32,185 --> 00:02:34,988 A 19-PASSENGER SHORT HAUL COMMUTER PLANE 45 00:02:34,988 --> 00:02:37,357 AND A TRUSTED WORKHORSE IN THE INDUSTRY. 46 00:02:39,225 --> 00:02:42,695 TODAY, CAPTAIN LESLIE IS IN COMMAND OF A 1900-D, 47 00:02:42,695 --> 00:02:45,532 ON A 30-MINUTE HOP TO GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG AIRPORT 48 00:02:45,532 --> 00:02:48,301 IN GREER, SOUTH CAROLINA. 49 00:02:48,301 --> 00:02:51,571 HER CO-PILOT IS 27-YEAR-OLD JONATHAN GIBBS. 50 00:02:53,640 --> 00:02:55,441 Jonathan Gibbs: HOW'D YOU SLEEP LAST NIGHT? 51 00:02:55,441 --> 00:02:57,410 Leslie: HAD A DREAM I WAS IN MIAMI. 52 00:03:01,014 --> 00:03:03,716 Narrator: AMONG THE PASSENGERS FLYING TO GREER THIS MORNING, 53 00:03:03,716 --> 00:03:06,619 18-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIANA SHEPHERD. 54 00:03:14,027 --> 00:03:16,496 CHRISTIANA'S PARENTS, DOUG AND TEREASA, 55 00:03:16,496 --> 00:03:21,367 ARE BAPTIST MISSIONARIES WORKING IN THE PORTUGUESE AZORES. 56 00:03:21,367 --> 00:03:23,069 Tereasa Shepherd: CHRISTIANA LEFT THE 7th OF JANUARY 57 00:03:23,069 --> 00:03:26,739 FROM THE AZORES, SPENT THE NIGHT IN THE AIRPORT IN BOSTON, 58 00:03:26,739 --> 00:03:28,641 AND THEN FLEW THE NEXT MORNING 59 00:03:28,641 --> 00:03:32,612 ON THE EARLY FLIGHT FROM BOSTON TO CHARLOTTE TO GREENVILLE. 60 00:03:32,612 --> 00:03:34,681 SO SHE WAS ON HER WAY BACK TO COLLEGE. 61 00:03:34,681 --> 00:03:36,282 Doug Shepherd: CHRISTIANA WAS VERY SPECIAL, 62 00:03:36,282 --> 00:03:40,987 AND SHE WAS ONE THAT WOULD COME UP AND GIVE YOU A HUG, 63 00:03:40,987 --> 00:03:44,257 AND SAY, YOU KNOW, SHE'D COME FOR NO REASON, 64 00:03:44,257 --> 00:03:47,160 WOULD GIVE YOU A HUG, AND SAY, "DAD, I LOVE YOU." 65 00:03:52,065 --> 00:03:53,199 Narrator: AT 8:00 IN THE MORNING, 66 00:03:53,199 --> 00:03:55,268 CHRISTIANA BOARDS HER FLIGHT. 67 00:04:07,347 --> 00:04:09,349 MEANWHILE, AS PART OF THEIR STANDARD CHECKLIST 68 00:04:09,349 --> 00:04:13,052 BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE CREW CALCULATES THE WEIGHT 69 00:04:13,052 --> 00:04:17,790 OF ALL THE BAGGAGE, PASSENGERS, AND FUEL ON THE PLANE. 70 00:04:17,790 --> 00:04:20,159 THAT'S TO MAKE SURE THE PLANE ISN'T OVERWEIGHT, 71 00:04:20,159 --> 00:04:22,028 AND THE WEIGHT IS SPREAD EVENLY. 72 00:04:22,028 --> 00:04:25,064 IT'S A CALCULATION THAT'S MADE ON ALL COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT. 73 00:04:28,601 --> 00:04:31,137 Gibbs: SO, WE GOT A FULL HOUSE BACK THERE? 74 00:04:31,137 --> 00:04:33,106 Leslie: YOU CAN COUNT 19 PEOPLE IN THE BACK, 75 00:04:33,106 --> 00:04:34,073 DON'T KNOW THE BAGS YET. 76 00:04:34,073 --> 00:04:35,408 Gibbs: OKAY. 77 00:04:37,910 --> 00:04:39,879 Narrator: BUT BAGGAGE HANDLERS RAISE CONCERNS 78 00:04:39,879 --> 00:04:42,849 THAT THE LUGGAGE THEY'RE LOADING MAY BE TOO HEAVY. 79 00:04:42,849 --> 00:04:44,317 Worker: DAMN! 80 00:04:44,317 --> 00:04:47,453 CAPTAIN, HOW MANY WE GOT TO TAKE OFF? 81 00:04:47,453 --> 00:04:49,222 Leslie: WE'RE FIGURING IT OUT. 82 00:05:00,733 --> 00:05:03,202 WE DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE ANYTHING OFF. 83 00:05:04,904 --> 00:05:07,273 Gibbs: COOL, 17,018. 84 00:05:07,273 --> 00:05:09,308 Leslie: 17,120 IS OUR WEIGHT, HUH? 85 00:05:09,308 --> 00:05:10,543 Gibbs: YEAH, IS OUR MAX. 86 00:05:10,543 --> 00:05:13,046 Leslie: SO, WE'RE COOL? 87 00:05:13,046 --> 00:05:14,480 Gibbs: SO, YEAH. 88 00:05:29,328 --> 00:05:32,098 Narrator: BEFORE TAKEOFF THE CREW CHECKS THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, 89 00:05:32,098 --> 00:05:33,666 INCLUDING THE RUDDER AND ELEVATOR, 90 00:05:33,666 --> 00:05:36,102 WHICH HELP CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF THE PLANE. 91 00:05:40,540 --> 00:05:44,143 Gibbs: FLIGHT CONTROLS, FREE AND CORRECT. 92 00:05:44,143 --> 00:05:48,581 Controller: AIR MIDWEST 5481, RUNWAY 18 RIGHT, 93 00:05:48,581 --> 00:05:52,151 TAXI INTO POSITION AND HOLD. 94 00:05:52,151 --> 00:05:54,520 Narrator: CAPTAIN LESLIE IS MOMENTS FROM TAKEOFF. 95 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,523 ON THE RUNWAY AHEAD OF THEM IS A BOMBARDIER CRJ 96 00:05:57,523 --> 00:05:58,725 READY FOR DEPARTURE. 97 00:06:02,595 --> 00:06:05,131 Gibbs: THAT CRJ SURE IS A GOOD-LOOKING PLANE, ISN'T IT? 98 00:06:05,131 --> 00:06:07,600 Leslie: YEAH, WISH I WAS FLYING IT. 99 00:06:11,003 --> 00:06:14,107 Narrator: WITH POWERFUL TURBULENCE RELEASED FROM THE CRJ, 100 00:06:14,107 --> 00:06:16,576 CAPTAIN LESLIE MUST KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE. 101 00:06:18,377 --> 00:06:21,981 Gibbs: THEY'RE GONNA BLAST US WITH HIS JET BLASTS. 102 00:06:21,981 --> 00:06:27,053 Controller: AIR MIDWEST 5481, TURN RIGHT HEADING 230. 103 00:06:27,053 --> 00:06:28,888 CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF. 104 00:06:32,825 --> 00:06:34,961 Leslie: SET TAKEOFF POWER, PLEASE. 105 00:06:39,165 --> 00:06:40,933 Gibbs: POWER IS SET. 106 00:06:43,369 --> 00:06:47,240 80 KNOTS, CROSS-CHECK. 107 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:48,808 Narrator: AT 80 KNOTS, PILOTS CHECK 108 00:06:48,808 --> 00:06:50,943 THAT KEY INSTRUMENTS ARE WORKING. 109 00:06:52,812 --> 00:06:54,213 WITH NO SIGNS OF TROUBLE, 110 00:06:54,213 --> 00:06:56,849 LESLIE AND GIBBS PROCEED WITH THEIR TAKEOFF. 111 00:06:59,152 --> 00:07:00,820 TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, 112 00:07:00,820 --> 00:07:05,224 FLIGHT 5481's TAKEOFF ROLL IS PERFECTLY NORMAL. 113 00:07:05,224 --> 00:07:06,425 Leslie: GEAR UP. 114 00:07:11,564 --> 00:07:13,866 Gibbs: WHAT? 115 00:07:13,866 --> 00:07:15,001 Leslie: OH! 116 00:07:15,001 --> 00:07:16,502 Narrator: BUT WITHOUT WARNING, 117 00:07:16,502 --> 00:07:19,806 THE PLANE'S NOSE PITCHES DRAMATICALLY UPWARD FROM SEVEN, 118 00:07:19,806 --> 00:07:22,008 TO A STAGGERING 54 DEGREES. 119 00:07:22,008 --> 00:07:23,376 Leslie: OH, HELP ME! 120 00:07:23,376 --> 00:07:24,377 YOU GOT IT? 121 00:07:24,377 --> 00:07:25,978 Gibbs: I'M TRYING! 122 00:07:25,978 --> 00:07:29,215 Narrator: THE CREW STRUGGLES TO GET THE NOSE BACK DOWN AGAIN. 123 00:07:29,215 --> 00:07:32,285 AIRFLOW OVER THE TOP OF THE WINGS CREATES LIFT. 124 00:07:32,285 --> 00:07:34,086 BUT IF THE NOSE KEEPS RISING, 125 00:07:34,086 --> 00:07:37,790 AIR WON'T FLOW SMOOTHLY OVER THE PLANE'S WINGS. 126 00:07:37,790 --> 00:07:42,695 THE PLANE WILL LOSE ITS LIFT, STALL, AND PLUNGE FROM THE SKY. 127 00:07:42,695 --> 00:07:44,130 Leslie: PUSH THE NOSE DOWN! 128 00:07:44,130 --> 00:07:45,298 OH, MY GOD. 129 00:07:45,298 --> 00:07:48,034 WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY FOR AIR MIDWEST 5481! 130 00:07:48,034 --> 00:07:50,336 Controller: ALERT THREE STANDBY, RUNWAY 18 RIGHT. 131 00:07:50,336 --> 00:07:52,538 Narrator: THE CONTROLLER HANDLING FLIGHT 5481 132 00:07:52,538 --> 00:07:54,440 CALLS FOR EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT. 133 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,008 Leslie: OH, MY GOD. 134 00:07:56,008 --> 00:07:59,679 Narrator: THE PLANE IS NOW JUST 1,150 FEET FROM THE GROUND. 135 00:07:59,679 --> 00:08:05,551 IT STALLS, ROLLS TO THE LEFT, AND BEGINS FALLING FROM THE SKY. 136 00:08:05,551 --> 00:08:07,553 CAPTAIN LESLIE PULLS ON HER CONTROL COLUMN 137 00:08:07,553 --> 00:08:10,323 WITH ALL HER MIGHT. 138 00:08:10,323 --> 00:08:12,425 IF SHE CAN'T GET THE PLANE TO CLIMB, 139 00:08:12,425 --> 00:08:14,360 SHE'S GOING TO HIT THE GROUND. 140 00:08:19,065 --> 00:08:22,502 Narrator: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WATCH AS A 19-PASSENGER PLANE 141 00:08:22,502 --> 00:08:24,504 PLUNGES TOWARD THE EARTH. 142 00:08:26,906 --> 00:08:29,042 CAPTAIN KATIE LESLIE STRUGGLES DESPERATELY 143 00:08:29,042 --> 00:08:32,912 TO GET HER PLANE TO CLIMB, BUT IT WON'T RESPOND. 144 00:08:32,912 --> 00:08:36,383 THE PLANE HEADS TOWARDS A PACKED U.S. AIRWAYS HANGAR. 145 00:08:42,255 --> 00:08:44,991 THE FLIGHT WAS LOADED WITH ALMOST 2,200 POUNDS 146 00:08:44,991 --> 00:08:49,462 OF HIGHLY FLAMMABLE JET FUEL JUST BEFORE TAKEOFF. 147 00:08:49,462 --> 00:08:52,932 THE FUEL IGNITES ON IMPACT. 148 00:08:52,932 --> 00:08:57,437 NOW THE INTENSE FIRE THREATENS TO ENGULF THE HANGAR. 149 00:08:57,437 --> 00:08:58,938 THERE ARE SEVERAL AIRPLANES 150 00:08:58,938 --> 00:09:01,541 AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WORKING INSIDE. 151 00:09:01,541 --> 00:09:02,742 [TELEPHONE RINGS] 152 00:09:02,742 --> 00:09:04,210 Man: FIRE STATION. 153 00:09:04,210 --> 00:09:05,745 Woman: EMERGENCY-- A PLANE JUST CRASHED... 154 00:09:05,745 --> 00:09:07,113 Man: AND THE PLANE JUST CRASHED? 155 00:09:07,113 --> 00:09:09,482 Woman: YES, AT THE U.S. AIRWAYS MAINTENANCE. 156 00:09:09,482 --> 00:09:11,718 FRONT END'S TOWARDS THE BUILDING, THERE'S A FIRE. 157 00:09:11,718 --> 00:09:13,153 Man: WE GOT A CODE 10 HERE, 158 00:09:13,153 --> 00:09:17,190 AIRCRAFT CRASHED AT THE SOUTH END OF RUNWAY 36 LEFT. 159 00:09:17,190 --> 00:09:21,161 I REPEAT, A CONFIRMED AIRCRAFT CRASH ON FIRE. 160 00:09:21,161 --> 00:09:24,764 Narrator: 38-YEAR-OLD FIRE CHIEF KEITH ROGERS IS DRIVING TO WORK 161 00:09:24,764 --> 00:09:27,100 WHEN HE GETS A CODE 10 CALL. 162 00:09:27,100 --> 00:09:30,904 Keith Rogers: A CODE 10 MEANS THAT THERE'S A CONFIRMED PLANE CRASH. 163 00:09:30,904 --> 00:09:33,406 AND USUALLY THIS TYPE OF CALL 164 00:09:33,406 --> 00:09:35,842 IS A ONCE-IN-A-CAREER TYPE OF INCIDENT. 165 00:09:35,842 --> 00:09:39,112 [SIRENS] 166 00:09:39,112 --> 00:09:40,647 Narrator: CINDY OVERCASH IS A FIREFIGHTER 167 00:09:40,647 --> 00:09:44,017 WITH THE CHARLOTTE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 168 00:09:44,017 --> 00:09:45,618 Cindy Overcash: YOU COULDN'T ACTUALLY SEE THE HANGAR 169 00:09:45,618 --> 00:09:48,922 FROM HERE, BUT YOU JUST SAW A HUGE BLACK PLUME OF SMOKE, 170 00:09:48,922 --> 00:09:51,758 AND WE KNEW, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING REALLY BAD IS HERE. 171 00:09:51,758 --> 00:09:53,827 Radio: CODE 10 AT THE AIRPORT... 172 00:09:53,827 --> 00:09:57,764 BATTALION ONE, BATTALION TWO... 173 00:09:57,764 --> 00:09:59,332 Narrator: IN THE ADJACENT BUILDING, 174 00:09:59,332 --> 00:10:02,969 SALES DIRECTOR DAVID ISOLA HEARS THE EXPLOSION. 175 00:10:02,969 --> 00:10:04,437 David Isola: I WAS SITTING AT MY DESK, 176 00:10:04,437 --> 00:10:07,040 AND I HEARD THIS LOUD BOOM. 177 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,043 AND ONE OF THE GUYS CAME IN FROM NEXT DOOR, 178 00:10:10,043 --> 00:10:13,446 AND SAID THAT HE JUST SAW AN AIRPLANE CRASH. 179 00:10:13,446 --> 00:10:17,517 AND SO I HOPPED IN MY TRUCK AND DROVE DOWN TO THE SITE. 180 00:10:19,986 --> 00:10:22,088 IT LOOKED JUST LIKE HELL. 181 00:10:22,088 --> 00:10:25,091 THE FLAMES WERE COMING OVER THE FENCE, JUST TOTAL CRAZINESS, 182 00:10:25,091 --> 00:10:27,861 EVERYBODY WAS JUST RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES. 183 00:10:32,098 --> 00:10:35,835 [SIRENS] 184 00:10:35,835 --> 00:10:38,471 Narrator: WHEN CHIEF KEITH ROGERS ARRIVES AT THE SCENE, 185 00:10:38,471 --> 00:10:42,709 HE FINDS HIMSELF SWIMMING UPSTREAM AGAINST A MOB IN PANIC. 186 00:10:42,709 --> 00:10:44,277 Rogers: AS I GOT ONTO THE AIRPORT PROPERTY, 187 00:10:44,277 --> 00:10:48,481 AND GOT ONTO THE TARMAC, THE PEOPLE WERE EXITING THE HANGAR. 188 00:10:48,481 --> 00:10:50,917 THOSE PEOPLE WERE RUNNING OUT IN FRONT OF THE FIRE TRUCKS, 189 00:10:50,917 --> 00:10:55,388 THE FIRE CARS, THEY WOULD DRIVE WITH CAUTION. 190 00:10:55,388 --> 00:10:58,758 THEY WERE GETTING OUT OF THE BUILDING AS FAST AS THEY COULD. 191 00:10:58,758 --> 00:11:01,861 I THINK THEY DEFINITELY REALIZED THAT THIS WAS NOT A DRILL, 192 00:11:01,861 --> 00:11:03,830 THIS WAS A REAL EMERGENCY. 193 00:11:06,933 --> 00:11:09,669 Overcash: AND WE STILL WEREN'T SURE IF WE HAD A PLANE 194 00:11:09,669 --> 00:11:12,438 INSIDE THE HANGAR THAT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, 195 00:11:12,438 --> 00:11:17,410 OR IF THE HANGAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. 196 00:11:17,410 --> 00:11:19,479 IT WAS QUITE A WHILE BEFORE WE REALIZED 197 00:11:19,479 --> 00:11:22,215 A PLANE HAD HIT THE HANGAR. 198 00:11:22,215 --> 00:11:24,050 Narrator: CHIEF ROGERS IMMEDIATELY TAKES COMMAND 199 00:11:24,050 --> 00:11:25,618 OF THE SCENE. 200 00:11:25,618 --> 00:11:26,920 HE KNOWS THAT THERE ARE AIRCRAFT 201 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:29,289 PARKED INSIDE THE FLAMING HANGAR. 202 00:11:29,289 --> 00:11:32,592 THEIR FUEL TANKS THREATEN TO BLOW. 203 00:11:32,592 --> 00:11:34,060 Rogers: AND OUR CONCERN WAS ONE-- 204 00:11:34,060 --> 00:11:36,196 ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT, 205 00:11:36,196 --> 00:11:39,499 TWO--FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WORKING IN THE HANGAR, 206 00:11:39,499 --> 00:11:43,269 AND THREE--WE HAD TO WORRY ABOUT THE AIRPLANES 207 00:11:43,269 --> 00:11:46,072 THAT WERE IN FOR REPAIR, WERE THOSE AIRCRAFT ON FIRE? 208 00:11:46,072 --> 00:11:49,842 SO WE HAD A LOT OF MAJOR ISSUES TO DEAL WITH. 209 00:11:49,842 --> 00:11:51,377 Narrator: WITHIN MINUTES, 210 00:11:51,377 --> 00:11:55,481 FIREFIGHTERS BEGIN TO GET THE INFERNO UNDER CONTROL. 211 00:11:55,481 --> 00:11:58,251 THE HOPE NOW IS THAT SOMEWHERE INSIDE THE WRECK, 212 00:11:58,251 --> 00:12:00,453 SURVIVORS ARE CLINGING TO LIFE. 213 00:12:08,294 --> 00:12:10,496 CHIEF ROGERS SENDS A LINE OF FIREFIGHTERS 214 00:12:10,496 --> 00:12:14,634 LED BY CINDY OVERCASH INTO THE HEART OF THE INFERNO. 215 00:12:24,811 --> 00:12:26,379 Overcash: AS WE WALK UP ON THE SCENE, THE FIRE, 216 00:12:26,379 --> 00:12:29,382 AND WE SEE THE--WHAT WE THINK ARE CRASH-TEST DUMMIES. 217 00:12:29,382 --> 00:12:32,385 WE THOUGHT A PLANE HAD BLOWN UP INSIDE 218 00:12:32,385 --> 00:12:35,521 AND BLEW THEIR TRAINING DUMMIES OUT. 219 00:12:42,161 --> 00:12:45,598 AND THEN IT DAWNED ON ME-- 220 00:12:45,598 --> 00:12:48,534 UH-UH, THAT'S NOT A TRAINING DUMMY. 221 00:12:54,507 --> 00:12:55,808 Rogers: IT TOOK THEM A FEW MINUTES 222 00:12:55,808 --> 00:12:57,377 TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING. 223 00:12:57,377 --> 00:12:59,078 AND ONCE THEY DID THAT, 224 00:12:59,078 --> 00:13:01,114 IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS. 225 00:13:04,117 --> 00:13:05,885 Narrator: IT IS A TOTAL LOSS. 226 00:13:05,885 --> 00:13:07,620 ALL 19 PASSENGERS, 227 00:13:07,620 --> 00:13:12,158 AS WELL AS CAPTAIN LESLIE AND FIRST OFFICER GIBBS, ARE DEAD. 228 00:13:12,158 --> 00:13:17,864 Man: AT ABOUT 8:53 THIS MORNING, WE HAD AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT. 229 00:13:17,864 --> 00:13:22,935 IT HAD 19 PASSENGERS AND 2 CREW. THERE ARE NO SURVIVORS. 230 00:13:25,571 --> 00:13:27,640 Rogers: WE HOPE THAT WE NEVER HAVE TO RESPOND TO A SITUATION 231 00:13:27,640 --> 00:13:31,010 WITH SUCH A LARGE LOSS OF LIFE, BUT THAT IS OUR JOB. 232 00:13:31,010 --> 00:13:34,480 THIS IS SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DUTY AND TASK 233 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:37,050 THAT A FIREFIGHTER WILL EVER DO IN THEIR CAREER. 234 00:13:40,053 --> 00:13:43,323 Narrator: FOR MEDICS AND RESCUE WORKERS, THE ORDEAL IS OVER. 235 00:13:43,323 --> 00:13:45,525 BUT FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF THE VICTIMS, 236 00:13:45,525 --> 00:13:49,162 THE ANGUISH HAS JUST BEGUN. 237 00:13:49,162 --> 00:13:52,031 T. Shepherd: I WAS WALKING THROUGH THE LIVING ROOM, 238 00:13:52,031 --> 00:13:54,467 AND I STOPPED AND SAID-- 239 00:13:54,467 --> 00:13:57,770 MY HEART'S BEATING RIGHT NOW JUST THE WAY IT WAS THEN-- 240 00:13:57,770 --> 00:14:00,373 I SAID, HAS CHRISTIANA CALLED YET? 241 00:14:00,373 --> 00:14:02,308 SHE SAID NO. 242 00:14:02,308 --> 00:14:04,944 OKAY, AND I KNEW THEN WHAT HAD HAPPENED. 243 00:14:04,944 --> 00:14:06,946 I JUST--I KNEW. 244 00:14:06,946 --> 00:14:09,549 SO I WENT AND GOT THE TELEPHONE AND CALLED THE SCHOOL. 245 00:14:09,549 --> 00:14:12,418 HE SAID, "YES, MRS. SHEPHERD, WE HAVE SOME SAD NEWS." 246 00:14:12,418 --> 00:14:15,621 AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE PLANE HAD CRASHED ON TAKEOFF. 247 00:14:15,621 --> 00:14:19,559 I ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY SURVIVORS, HE SAID NO. 248 00:14:19,559 --> 00:14:22,995 SO THEN I KNEW I HAD TO GO TELL DOUG, AND HE WAS IN THE GARAGE. 249 00:14:22,995 --> 00:14:26,165 D. Shepherd: IT'S SOMETHING YOU NEVER FORGET ABOUT. 250 00:14:26,165 --> 00:14:28,668 I WAS CHANGING A FLUORESCENT BULB, 251 00:14:28,668 --> 00:14:32,905 AND TEREASA CAME TO THE DOORWAY... 252 00:14:32,905 --> 00:14:34,374 T. Shepherd: HOW DO YOU SAY THAT? 253 00:14:34,374 --> 00:14:38,311 WHAT WORD--YOU USE WORDS EVERY SINGLE DAY. 254 00:14:38,311 --> 00:14:40,747 HOW CAN YOU USE WORDS... 255 00:14:43,783 --> 00:14:46,686 TO RUIN SOMEONE'S LIFE? 256 00:14:54,026 --> 00:14:55,561 BUT I TOLD HIM. 257 00:14:55,561 --> 00:14:58,564 I SAID, "DOUG, CHRISTIANA'S PLANE CRASHED." 258 00:15:03,302 --> 00:15:08,541 D. Shepherd: AT THAT MOMENT MY WORLD FELL APART. 259 00:15:11,844 --> 00:15:15,248 Narrator: NOW, THE SHEPHERDS AND THE FAMILIES OF THE OTHER 20 VICTIMS 260 00:15:15,248 --> 00:15:18,951 WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE DEATH OF THEIR LOVED ONES. 261 00:15:26,459 --> 00:15:29,763 Narrator: AT THE CRASH SCENE, THE INVESTIGATION BEGINS. 262 00:15:29,763 --> 00:15:31,564 WITH NO SURVIVORS TO RESCUE, 263 00:15:31,564 --> 00:15:33,933 NEITHER BODIES NOR AIRPLANE PARTS ARE MOVED 264 00:15:33,933 --> 00:15:36,936 FROM WHERE THEY FELL UNTIL THE ARRIVAL OF INVESTIGATORS 265 00:15:36,936 --> 00:15:39,673 FROM THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD. 266 00:15:48,214 --> 00:15:49,983 WHILE MEDICAL EXAMINERS MARK THE LOCATION 267 00:15:49,983 --> 00:15:52,719 OF HUMAN REMAINS IN RED, 268 00:15:52,719 --> 00:15:56,189 NTSB INVESTIGATORS MARK SCRAPS OF METAL IN YELLOW, 269 00:15:56,189 --> 00:15:59,059 LOOKING FOR CLUES TO WHAT CAUSED THE CRASH. 270 00:16:04,230 --> 00:16:06,299 AMONG THOSE ASSIGNED TO THIS CASE, 271 00:16:06,299 --> 00:16:09,002 LEAD INVESTIGATOR LORINDA WARD. 272 00:16:09,002 --> 00:16:12,706 IT'S HER FIRST ASSIGNMENT AS THE LEAD INVESTIGATOR OF A CRASH. 273 00:16:15,208 --> 00:16:17,143 Lorinda Ward: I CHECKED IN WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT 274 00:16:17,143 --> 00:16:20,714 TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FIRES HAD BEEN PUT OUT. 275 00:16:20,714 --> 00:16:23,950 AND THEN CALLED A MEETING WITH ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS 276 00:16:23,950 --> 00:16:26,252 TO SEE WHAT THEY HAD NOTICED 277 00:16:26,252 --> 00:16:28,621 WHEN THEY CAME TO THE CRASH SITE. 278 00:16:31,091 --> 00:16:32,959 Narrator: WARD ACTS FAST. 279 00:16:35,362 --> 00:16:37,997 BECAUSE THERE ARE BODIES ENTANGLED WITH THE WRECKAGE, 280 00:16:37,997 --> 00:16:41,768 SHE DECLARES THE CRASH SITE A POTENTIAL BIOHAZARD. 281 00:16:41,768 --> 00:16:44,637 INVESTIGATORS WHO MIGHT COME IN CONTACT WITH THE WRECKAGE 282 00:16:44,637 --> 00:16:47,540 MUST WEAR PROTECTIVE SUITS WHILE THEY EXAMINE THE WRECK 283 00:16:47,540 --> 00:16:50,009 AND IDENTIFY THE VICTIMS' REMAINS. 284 00:16:52,379 --> 00:16:57,317 WHILE WORK CONTINUES AT THE CRASH SITE... 285 00:16:57,317 --> 00:17:00,720 Narrator: ...LORINDA WARD AND HER TEAM LOOK FOR CLUES NEARBY. 286 00:17:04,958 --> 00:17:07,560 Ward: WE HAD THE FOLKS GO SHOULDER TO SHOULDER 287 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:11,064 ON THE RUNWAY THAT THE ACCIDENT CREW TOOK OFF ON 288 00:17:11,064 --> 00:17:14,534 TO PICK UP ANYTHING THAT THEY SAW ON THE RUNWAY 289 00:17:14,534 --> 00:17:19,239 TO SEE IF IT HAD ANY RELEVANCE TO THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. 290 00:17:19,239 --> 00:17:22,242 Narrator: RUNWAYS MUST BE CLEAR OF ALL DEBRIS. 291 00:17:22,242 --> 00:17:24,744 THE SMALLEST OBJECT CAN BECOME A DEADLY PROJECTILE 292 00:17:24,744 --> 00:17:27,480 IF IT STRIKES A PLANE ON TAKEOFF. 293 00:17:31,551 --> 00:17:34,287 THREE YEARS EARLIER, A CONCORDE JET RAN OVER 294 00:17:34,287 --> 00:17:39,659 A 40-CENTIMETER STRIP OF SCRAP METAL ON A PARIS RUNWAY. 295 00:17:39,659 --> 00:17:42,862 THE PLANE'S FUEL TANK WAS PIERCED AND CAUGHT FIRE. 296 00:17:42,862 --> 00:17:44,931 THE AIRCRAFT ROSE TO 200 METERS 297 00:17:44,931 --> 00:17:47,801 BEFORE IT CRASHED INTO A NEARBY HOTEL. 298 00:17:51,104 --> 00:17:56,943 109 PEOPLE ON BOARD AND 4 PEOPLE ON THE GROUND WERE KILLED. 299 00:17:56,943 --> 00:17:58,845 AT CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL, 300 00:17:58,845 --> 00:18:02,415 INVESTIGATORS SCOUR THE AREA. 301 00:18:02,415 --> 00:18:06,286 THEY FIND A FUEL CAP LYING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THE RUNWAY. 302 00:18:06,286 --> 00:18:09,322 Ward: WHAT DO YOU GOT? 303 00:18:09,322 --> 00:18:12,392 IT COULD BE SUCKED IN, AND IT COULD DAMAGE AN ENGINE. 304 00:18:12,392 --> 00:18:13,726 THE MAIN PART WOULD BE 305 00:18:13,726 --> 00:18:16,296 THE DAMAGE THAT IT CAN DO TO AN ENGINE. 306 00:18:16,296 --> 00:18:19,532 Narrator: THE DISCOVERY RAISES AN INTERESTING POSSIBILITY. 307 00:18:19,532 --> 00:18:23,570 AS FLIGHT 5481 RACED DOWN THE RUNWAY AT TAKEOFF, 308 00:18:23,570 --> 00:18:26,806 THE FUEL CAP COULD HAVE BOUNCED UP OFF THE TARMAC, 309 00:18:26,806 --> 00:18:30,343 STRUCK THE ENGINE ROTORS, 310 00:18:30,343 --> 00:18:33,646 AND BROUGHT CAPTAIN LESLIE'S AIRCRAFT CRASHING TO EARTH. 311 00:18:42,689 --> 00:18:44,958 Ward: THIS WAS TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO SEE IF IT HAD 312 00:18:44,958 --> 00:18:47,961 ANY RELEVANCE TO THE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. 313 00:18:47,961 --> 00:18:51,130 WHETHER IT CAME OFF THE AIRPLANE ITSELF, OR IF IT COULD HAVE DONE 314 00:18:51,130 --> 00:18:54,567 SOME TYPE OF DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE. 315 00:18:54,567 --> 00:18:57,403 Narrator: A CLOSER EXAMINATION LEADS WARD AND HER TEAM 316 00:18:57,403 --> 00:18:58,938 TO CONCLUDE THAT THE FUEL CAP 317 00:18:58,938 --> 00:19:01,674 COULD NOT HAVE INTERFERED WITH THE PROPELLERS. 318 00:19:03,776 --> 00:19:07,747 NOW NTSB AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL INVESTIGATOR BILL ENGLISH 319 00:19:07,747 --> 00:19:10,517 EXPLORES ANOTHER SCENARIO. 320 00:19:10,517 --> 00:19:11,885 Bill English: WHEN WE FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE ACCIDENT, 321 00:19:11,885 --> 00:19:13,786 IT LOOKED LIKE THERE MIGHT BE THE POSSIBILITY 322 00:19:13,786 --> 00:19:16,723 THAT WE'D WANT TO LOOK AT A WAKE TURBULENCE ENCOUNTER. 323 00:19:19,993 --> 00:19:22,028 Narrator: THE WINGS OF A FAST-MOVING JET 324 00:19:22,028 --> 00:19:23,596 DISTURB THE AIR AROUND THEM, 325 00:19:23,596 --> 00:19:28,368 CREATING A TRAIL OF VIOLENTLY SWIRLING AIR. 326 00:19:28,368 --> 00:19:32,105 NASA TESTS DECADES EARLIER HAD ILLUSTRATED THE POWER AND DANGER 327 00:19:32,105 --> 00:19:35,241 OF WAKE TURBULENCE TO OTHER PLANES. 328 00:19:35,241 --> 00:19:37,176 BILL ENGLISH EXAMINES RADAR RECORDS 329 00:19:37,176 --> 00:19:39,279 FROM THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. 330 00:19:39,279 --> 00:19:43,716 HE LEARNS THAT A MUCH HEAVIER BOMBARDIER REGIONAL JET, A CRJ, 331 00:19:43,716 --> 00:19:46,319 TOOK OFF MOMENTS BEFORE THE BEECH. 332 00:19:46,319 --> 00:19:48,588 Gibbs: THAT CRJ SURE IS A GOOD-LOOKING PLANE, ISN'T IT? 333 00:19:48,588 --> 00:19:50,924 Leslie: YEAH, WISH I WAS FLYING IT. 334 00:19:50,924 --> 00:19:52,258 English: THE WAKE TURBULENCE IS GENERATED 335 00:19:52,258 --> 00:19:53,927 FROM THE WING TIPS OF ANY AIRPLANE. 336 00:19:53,927 --> 00:19:56,262 AS SOON AS IT STARTS TO LIFT OFF THE GROUND, 337 00:19:56,262 --> 00:19:59,632 IT MAKES WHAT PEOPLE SOMETIMES CALL HORIZONTAL TORNADOES-- 338 00:19:59,632 --> 00:20:04,103 VORTEXES OF AIR THAT CAN CREATE HAZARDOUS TURBULENCE. 339 00:20:04,103 --> 00:20:07,440 Controller: RUNWAY 18 RIGHT, TAXI INTO POSITION... 340 00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:09,709 English: AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS DO HAVE STANDARD PROCEDURES 341 00:20:09,709 --> 00:20:12,211 FOR SPACING OUT AIRPLANES, SO THAT THEY HAVE A CHANCE 342 00:20:12,211 --> 00:20:15,949 TO AVOID THE WAKE TURBULENCE, OR LET THE WAKE DISSIPATE. 343 00:20:21,588 --> 00:20:24,223 Narrator: ONE YEAR EARLIER, AN AMERICAN AIRLINES JET 344 00:20:24,223 --> 00:20:27,827 TAKING OFF FROM NEW YORK ENCOUNTERED WAKE TURBULENCE. 345 00:20:27,827 --> 00:20:30,830 THE PLANE CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. 346 00:20:30,830 --> 00:20:32,799 260 PEOPLE ON THE PLANE 347 00:20:32,799 --> 00:20:35,468 AND FIVE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND WERE KILLED. 348 00:20:38,137 --> 00:20:40,907 Gibbs: THEY'RE GONNA BLAST US WITH HIS JET BLASTS. 349 00:20:43,109 --> 00:20:47,413 Controller: AIR MIDWEST 5481, CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF. 350 00:20:58,658 --> 00:20:59,792 Leslie: OH! 351 00:21:02,695 --> 00:21:05,131 Narrator: INVESTIGATOR BILL ENGLISH STUDIES THE FLIGHT PATH 352 00:21:05,131 --> 00:21:08,001 OF CAPTAIN LESLIE'S PLANE AND FINDS IT CONSISTENT 353 00:21:08,001 --> 00:21:10,937 WITH A PLANE FLYING INTO WAKE TURBULENCE. 354 00:21:10,937 --> 00:21:14,207 English: PITCH-UP IS NOT UNHEARD OF IN A WAKE TURBULENCE ENCOUNTER, 355 00:21:14,207 --> 00:21:17,110 WHERE THE AIRPLANE WILL SUDDENLY GO NOSE UP, 356 00:21:17,110 --> 00:21:20,413 AND THE CREW HAS TROUBLE TO COUNTER THAT 357 00:21:20,413 --> 00:21:23,249 AND GET THE NOSE BACK WHERE IT BELONGS. 358 00:21:23,249 --> 00:21:25,918 Narrator: ENGLISH NEEDS TO KNOW HOW CLOSE THE AIR MIDWEST FLIGHT 359 00:21:25,918 --> 00:21:29,155 GOT TO THE LARGER JET. 360 00:21:29,155 --> 00:21:31,190 CHARLOTTE TOWER'S COMPUTER TRACKING SYSTEM 361 00:21:31,190 --> 00:21:33,192 PROVIDES HIM WITH THE PRECISE LOCATION 362 00:21:33,192 --> 00:21:38,564 OF THE PLANES AT LIFTOFF--AND HE MAKES A TELLING DISCOVERY. 363 00:21:38,564 --> 00:21:40,933 THE SYSTEM GAVE BILL ENGLISH HIS ANSWER. 364 00:21:44,871 --> 00:21:47,607 EVEN THOUGH BOTH PLANES USED THE SAME RUNWAY, 365 00:21:47,607 --> 00:21:50,243 THEIR PATHS NEVER CROSSED. 366 00:21:50,243 --> 00:21:52,779 English: THE RJ STARTED LIFTING OFF MUCH FARTHER DOWN THE RUNWAY 367 00:21:52,779 --> 00:21:54,881 THAN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE DID, 368 00:21:54,881 --> 00:21:59,652 AND THE CLIMB OUT ANGLE OF THE REGIONAL JET, 369 00:21:59,652 --> 00:22:03,156 AND THE CLIMB OUT ANGLE OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE 370 00:22:03,156 --> 00:22:04,824 NEVER INTERSECTED. 371 00:22:04,824 --> 00:22:07,927 SO, IF OUR AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF 372 00:22:07,927 --> 00:22:10,697 AND CLIMBED ABOVE THE ANGLE OF THE PREVIOUS AIRPLANE, 373 00:22:10,697 --> 00:22:13,966 WE KNEW THEN THAT IT COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE A FACTOR. 374 00:22:16,102 --> 00:22:18,905 Narrator: THE WAKE VORTEX THEORY IS RULED OUT, 375 00:22:18,905 --> 00:22:22,608 AND BILL ENGLISH'S WORK IS DONE. 376 00:22:22,608 --> 00:22:25,378 NOW IT'S UP TO WARD AND HER CREW TO FIND CLUES 377 00:22:25,378 --> 00:22:28,481 IN THE BURNT-OUT WRECKAGE OF THE PLANE. 378 00:22:28,481 --> 00:22:31,250 WITHIN TWO DAYS HER INVESTIGATION WILL REVEAL 379 00:22:31,250 --> 00:22:34,120 A STRING OF ERRORS AND FAULTY ASSUMPTIONS 380 00:22:34,120 --> 00:22:36,723 THAT HAD BEEN PUTTING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS 381 00:22:36,723 --> 00:22:38,791 AT RISK FOR YEARS. 382 00:22:49,503 --> 00:22:51,371 Narrator: WITHIN HOURS OF THE CRASH, 383 00:22:51,371 --> 00:22:54,308 INVESTIGATORS FIND THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER 384 00:22:54,308 --> 00:22:58,378 AND FLIGHT DATA RECORDER FROM AIR MIDWEST FLIGHT 5481. 385 00:23:02,049 --> 00:23:04,585 THE RECORDERS ARE DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND TEMPERATURES 386 00:23:04,585 --> 00:23:08,889 OF UP TO 2,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. 387 00:23:08,889 --> 00:23:11,091 IN THIS CRASH, PARTS OF THE VOICE RECORDER 388 00:23:11,091 --> 00:23:13,660 HAD ACTUALLY MELTED. 389 00:23:13,660 --> 00:23:16,797 THE DEVICES ARE PHOTOGRAPHED AND SENT FOR ANALYSIS. 390 00:23:19,566 --> 00:23:23,303 THEN, AMONG THE TONS OF DEBRIS ON THE GROUND, 391 00:23:23,303 --> 00:23:25,505 INVESTIGATORS DISCOVER THE SHREDDED REMAINS 392 00:23:25,505 --> 00:23:29,776 OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL CABLES. 393 00:23:29,776 --> 00:23:32,145 VITAL TO FLIGHT CONTROL, THESE CABLES LINK 394 00:23:32,145 --> 00:23:35,582 THE PILOT'S CONTROL COLUMNS TO THE FLIGHT ELEVATOR-- 395 00:23:35,582 --> 00:23:40,854 AN AERODYNAMIC PANEL THAT HELPS PILOTS CLIMB AND DESCEND. 396 00:23:40,854 --> 00:23:43,423 TURNBUCKLES KEEP THE CABLES TAUT. 397 00:23:43,423 --> 00:23:45,993 TO CLIMB, PILOTS PULL ON THE COLUMN-- 398 00:23:45,993 --> 00:23:49,363 THE CABLES PULL THE ELEVATOR UP, FORCING THE NOSE TO RISE. 399 00:23:52,132 --> 00:23:55,569 TO DESCEND, PILOTS PUSH ON THE CONTROL COLUMN. 400 00:23:55,569 --> 00:24:01,041 THE CABLES TILT THE ELEVATOR DOWN, AND THE NOSE FALLS. 401 00:24:01,041 --> 00:24:04,378 BUT AS INVESTIGATORS EXAMINE THE BURNT-OUT CABLES AND TURNBUCKLES 402 00:24:04,378 --> 00:24:09,483 ON CAPTAIN LESLIE'S PLANE, ALREADY SOMETHING LOOKS WRONG. 403 00:24:09,483 --> 00:24:13,387 Ward: THEY LOOKED UNUSUAL, THEY WEREN'T IN THE NORMAL POSITION 404 00:24:13,387 --> 00:24:15,088 THAT YOU WOULD FIND THEM. 405 00:24:15,088 --> 00:24:17,758 IN THIS CASE, WE HAD ONE ADJUSTED ALL THE WAY OUT, 406 00:24:17,758 --> 00:24:20,227 AND THEN ONE ADJUSTED ALL THE WAY IN. 407 00:24:20,227 --> 00:24:24,631 SO THOSE WERE SET ASIDE FOR US TO LOOK AT LATER. 408 00:24:24,631 --> 00:24:26,500 Narrator: WHILE THE LAB WORK CONTINUES, 409 00:24:26,500 --> 00:24:29,036 NTSB INVESTIGATOR STEPHEN CARBONE 410 00:24:29,036 --> 00:24:32,272 TRAVELS TO HUNTINGTON, VIRGINIA. 411 00:24:32,272 --> 00:24:34,708 HE INTERVIEWS MECHANICS WHO WORKED ON THE PLANE 412 00:24:34,708 --> 00:24:37,177 THE DAY BEFORE THE CRASH. 413 00:24:37,177 --> 00:24:38,845 Stephen Carbone: AT THE TIME, WE HAD KNOWN THAT IT HAD JUST 414 00:24:38,845 --> 00:24:44,017 COME OUT OF A DETAIL CHECK, WHICH IS A ROUTINE CHECK. 415 00:24:44,017 --> 00:24:47,054 AND KNOWING THAT, WE WERE LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY 416 00:24:47,054 --> 00:24:50,624 THAT SOMETHING HAD BEEN DONE DURING THE CHECK 417 00:24:50,624 --> 00:24:55,128 THAT NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT FROM AN INVESTIGATION POINT OF VIEW. 418 00:24:55,128 --> 00:24:56,997 Supervisor: THE CABLES NEEDED SERVICING. 419 00:24:56,997 --> 00:25:00,167 MY GUY WROTE UP A SERVICE ORDER, AND I PUT HIM ON IT. 420 00:25:00,167 --> 00:25:01,935 DON'T FORGET THE MANUAL. 421 00:25:01,935 --> 00:25:03,603 Mechanic: GOT IT. 422 00:25:03,603 --> 00:25:05,539 Narrator: EVERY 1,200 FLIGHT HOURS, 423 00:25:05,539 --> 00:25:09,776 AIR MIDWEST PLANES GO IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK. 424 00:25:09,776 --> 00:25:11,311 THIS INCLUDES ADJUSTING THE CABLES 425 00:25:11,311 --> 00:25:14,281 THAT CONTROL THE PLANE'S ELEVATOR. 426 00:25:14,281 --> 00:25:16,483 Carbone: IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THIS CHECK, 427 00:25:16,483 --> 00:25:18,819 HE FOUND THAT, THE MECHANIC HAD FOUND 428 00:25:18,819 --> 00:25:24,324 THAT THE CABLES WERE OUT OF LIMITS, SO HE HAD WRITTEN UP 429 00:25:24,324 --> 00:25:26,359 THAT HE WAS GOING TO CHECK THE CABLE TENSIONS, 430 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:29,529 AND THEN ADJUST THEM AS PER THE MANUAL. 431 00:25:29,529 --> 00:25:31,465 Narrator: THE MECHANICS TELL CARBONE 432 00:25:31,465 --> 00:25:35,302 THAT THE WORK WAS CHECKED AND STAMPED FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE. 433 00:25:35,302 --> 00:25:37,671 Carbone: THEY BELIEVED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS PROPERLY RIGGED 434 00:25:37,671 --> 00:25:39,272 AS PER THE MANUAL. 435 00:25:44,277 --> 00:25:47,481 Narrator: AT FIRST GLANCE, THAT BELIEF APPEARS TO BE RIGHT. 436 00:25:47,481 --> 00:25:50,617 AFTER MAINTENANCE, THIS BEECH AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF AND LANDED 437 00:25:50,617 --> 00:25:52,586 NINE TIMES WITHOUT INCIDENT 438 00:25:52,586 --> 00:25:55,756 BEFORE CAPTAIN LESLIE TOOK THE HELM. 439 00:25:55,756 --> 00:25:58,058 INVESTIGATORS TURN TO THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER 440 00:25:58,058 --> 00:26:00,260 TO LEARN WHAT HAPPENED ON THOSE FLIGHTS. 441 00:26:08,235 --> 00:26:11,471 THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER STORES DATA FROM NUMEROUS FLIGHTS, 442 00:26:11,471 --> 00:26:16,143 BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE PLANE'S CABLES WERE ADJUSTED. 443 00:26:16,143 --> 00:26:18,912 NO ONE ON ANY OF THOSE FLIGHTS HAD ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS 444 00:26:18,912 --> 00:26:22,516 WITH THE PLANE'S ELEVATOR. 445 00:26:22,516 --> 00:26:25,252 Ward: SO AT THE TIME WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW THAT AFFECTED 446 00:26:25,252 --> 00:26:28,321 THE AIRPLANE, BECAUSE IT HAD FLOWN NINE TIMES SUCCESSFULLY 447 00:26:28,321 --> 00:26:32,225 BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. 448 00:26:32,225 --> 00:26:34,795 Narrator: WARD ALSO DISCOVERS THAT THE CREW TESTED 449 00:26:34,795 --> 00:26:38,532 THEIR ELEVATOR CONTROLS BEFORE FLIGHT 5481 TOOK OFF. 450 00:26:40,467 --> 00:26:43,136 Gibbs: FLIGHT CONTROLS, FREE AND CORRECT. 451 00:26:43,136 --> 00:26:47,641 Controller: AIR MIDWEST 5481. 452 00:26:47,641 --> 00:26:50,677 Narrator: WARD AND HER TEAM DIG DEEPER, LOOKING TO DISCOVER 453 00:26:50,677 --> 00:26:53,847 IF THE UNUSUAL CONFIGURATION OF THE ELEVATOR CABLES 454 00:26:53,847 --> 00:26:56,249 COULD HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN THIS CRASH. 455 00:27:03,356 --> 00:27:07,928 WHAT THEY FIND STRIKES AT THE VERY HEART OF WHAT WENT WRONG. 456 00:27:07,928 --> 00:27:11,998 NORMALLY, BOTH TURNBUCKLES ARE ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME LENGTH. 457 00:27:11,998 --> 00:27:13,834 BUT ON CAPTAIN LESLIE'S PLANE, 458 00:27:13,834 --> 00:27:17,170 ONE TURNBUCKLE IS NOTICEABLY LONGER THAN THE OTHER. 459 00:27:20,006 --> 00:27:22,609 TO ESTABLISH THE CORRECT CABLE TENSION, 460 00:27:22,609 --> 00:27:25,145 MECHANICS TIGHTEN THE TURNBUCKLES. 461 00:27:25,145 --> 00:27:28,481 BUT TOO MUCH TIGHTENING OF A TURNBUCKLE SHORTENS THE CABLES 462 00:27:28,481 --> 00:27:31,451 AND CUTS THE RANGE OF MOTION OF THE ELEVATOR CONTROL. 463 00:27:33,386 --> 00:27:35,288 THE ELEVATOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO TILT 464 00:27:35,288 --> 00:27:38,625 TO A NOSE-DOWN POSITION OF 14 DEGREES. 465 00:27:38,625 --> 00:27:41,461 BUT THEIR DOWNWARD RANGE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN CUT IN HALF 466 00:27:41,461 --> 00:27:43,563 TO ONLY SEVEN DEGREES. 467 00:27:45,866 --> 00:27:48,468 THE RESULT IS DEADLY. 468 00:27:51,404 --> 00:27:53,340 AS THE FLIGHT GOT UNDER WAY, 469 00:27:53,340 --> 00:27:56,042 THE NOSE PITCHED UP AS EXPECTED DURING TAKEOFF... 470 00:27:58,745 --> 00:28:00,647 Gibbs: WHAT? 471 00:28:00,647 --> 00:28:02,382 Leslie: PUSH THE NOSE DOWN! 472 00:28:02,382 --> 00:28:03,950 OH, MY GOD! 473 00:28:03,950 --> 00:28:05,685 Narrator: BUT THE REDUCED RANGE IN THE ELEVATOR 474 00:28:05,685 --> 00:28:07,387 MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE PILOTS 475 00:28:07,387 --> 00:28:09,556 TO BRING THE NOSE DOWN AGAIN. 476 00:28:09,556 --> 00:28:12,125 Ward: DUE TO THE ADJUSTMENT THAT HAD BEEN DONE 477 00:28:12,125 --> 00:28:14,527 AND THE MAINTENANCE A FEW NIGHTS EARLIER, 478 00:28:14,527 --> 00:28:18,732 THERE'S NOTHING THAT THE CREW COULD HAVE DONE AT THAT TIME. 479 00:28:18,732 --> 00:28:20,700 Narrator: UNABLE TO BRING THE NOSE DOWN, 480 00:28:20,700 --> 00:28:23,603 THE PITCH OF THE WINGS BECAME TOO PRONOUNCED. 481 00:28:23,603 --> 00:28:26,206 WITH NO AIR FLOWING OVER THE TOP OF THE WINGS, 482 00:28:26,206 --> 00:28:31,177 THE PLANE LOST ITS LIFT AND BEGAN FALLING FROM THE SKY. 483 00:28:31,177 --> 00:28:32,879 THE PILOT'S STRUGGLE WITH THE ELEVATOR 484 00:28:32,879 --> 00:28:38,451 HELPS EXPLAIN WHY FLIGHT 5481 CRASHED THAT DAY. 485 00:28:38,451 --> 00:28:42,289 SOMEHOW, THE ELEVATOR CABLES WERE IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED. 486 00:28:42,289 --> 00:28:43,990 THE PILOTS SIMPLY COULD NOT CONTROL 487 00:28:43,990 --> 00:28:46,026 THE PITCH OF THEIR AIRPLANE. 488 00:28:46,026 --> 00:28:47,427 STEPHEN CARBONE WANTS TO KNOW 489 00:28:47,427 --> 00:28:50,196 HOW MECHANICS HAD MADE SUCH A CRITICAL MISTAKE. 490 00:28:50,196 --> 00:28:52,899 Mechanic: YEAH, I SEE THAT HERE. 491 00:28:55,001 --> 00:28:56,436 Narrator: HE GOES BACK TO THE HANGAR 492 00:28:56,436 --> 00:28:59,039 TO QUESTION THE MECHANICS ON DUTY THAT NIGHT, 493 00:28:59,039 --> 00:29:01,775 AND THIS TIME, THEY TELL HIM A DIFFERENT STORY. 494 00:29:01,775 --> 00:29:04,277 Supervisor: MOST OF THE GUYS WERE JUST LEARNING THE ROPES. 495 00:29:04,277 --> 00:29:05,745 Carbone: THE MECHANICS WORKING ON THE AIRLINE 496 00:29:05,745 --> 00:29:09,382 WERE SUBCONTRACTORS TO THE CONTRACT COMPANY, 497 00:29:09,382 --> 00:29:11,751 AND THE MECHANICS WORKING ON THE AIRCRAFT THAT NIGHT 498 00:29:11,751 --> 00:29:15,722 HAD LIMITED EXPERIENCE ON THE BEECH 1900-D, 499 00:29:15,722 --> 00:29:17,290 AND THE PERSON PERFORMING THE RIG 500 00:29:17,290 --> 00:29:23,029 WAS RECEIVING TRAINING THAT NIGHT ON THAT SPECIFIC TASK. 501 00:29:23,029 --> 00:29:24,831 Supervisor: ONCE YOU HAVE THE RIG PIN SET, 502 00:29:24,831 --> 00:29:28,201 ADJUST THE TURNBUCKLE BARRELS FOR MORE TENSION IN THE CABLE. 503 00:29:28,201 --> 00:29:30,737 Mechanic: YEAH, I SEE THAT HERE. 504 00:29:30,737 --> 00:29:34,174 Narrator: ADJUSTING THE ELEVATOR CABLES IS NOT A SIMPLE PROCESS. 505 00:29:34,174 --> 00:29:35,742 IT'S A TIME-CONSUMING PROCEDURE 506 00:29:35,742 --> 00:29:38,712 THAT INVOLVES 25 DIFFERENT STEPS. 507 00:29:38,712 --> 00:29:41,147 Mechanic: GOT IT. 508 00:29:41,147 --> 00:29:44,050 UH, WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER STEPS? 509 00:29:44,050 --> 00:29:46,920 Supervisor: YEAH, UH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THOSE. 510 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:49,022 JUST CHECK THE CABLE TENSION WHEN YOU'RE DONE, 511 00:29:49,022 --> 00:29:51,858 AND WE'RE GOOD, THAT'S IT. 512 00:29:51,858 --> 00:29:54,694 Carbone: THE QUALITY ASSURANCE INSPECTOR AND THE MECHANIC 513 00:29:54,694 --> 00:29:58,198 TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO DECIDE WHICH STEPS TO PERFORM, 514 00:29:58,198 --> 00:30:00,934 BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT THE STEPS THEY WERE PERFORMING 515 00:30:00,934 --> 00:30:04,371 WERE THE ONLY ONES NECESSARY TO GET THE TASK DONE. 516 00:30:04,371 --> 00:30:07,540 Narrator: THE MECHANIC SKIPPED NINE STEPS THAT NIGHT. 517 00:30:07,540 --> 00:30:09,843 ONE OF THOSE INVOLVED MANIPULATING THE ELEVATOR 518 00:30:09,843 --> 00:30:11,644 THROUGH ITS FULL RANGE OF MOTION. 519 00:30:13,780 --> 00:30:15,815 HAD THE MECHANIC TRIED TO DO THAT, 520 00:30:15,815 --> 00:30:17,684 HE WOULD HAVE NOTICED THAT THE ELEVATOR'S MOTION 521 00:30:17,684 --> 00:30:21,154 WAS RESTRICTED BY CABLES THAT HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY RIGGED. 522 00:30:24,224 --> 00:30:25,225 Carbone: IF THEY HAD FOLLOWED THE STEPS 523 00:30:25,225 --> 00:30:27,394 AS DESCRIBED IN THE MANUAL, 524 00:30:27,394 --> 00:30:30,630 THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND THE PROBLEMS THAT HAD COME UP. 525 00:30:30,630 --> 00:30:33,333 Narrator: BUT THERE WAS AN INSPECTOR SUPERVISING THE WORK. 526 00:30:33,333 --> 00:30:35,869 CARBONE DISCOVERS THAT THE INSPECTOR WAS ACTUALLY 527 00:30:35,869 --> 00:30:40,273 THE PERSON TEACHING THE MECHANICS HOW TO DO THE WORK. 528 00:30:40,273 --> 00:30:42,575 Carbone: WELL, WHEN YOU PUT YOURSELF IN THAT POSITION, 529 00:30:42,575 --> 00:30:47,814 YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING THE TASK, BECAUSE EVEN AS A TEACHER, 530 00:30:47,814 --> 00:30:52,585 YOU'RE PERFORMING THE TASK, AND THEN HE CAME IN BEHIND HIMSELF 531 00:30:52,585 --> 00:30:57,757 AND THEN SIGNED OFF AS AN INSPECTOR, WHAT HE HAD DONE. 532 00:30:57,757 --> 00:31:00,560 D. Shepherd: WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THIS MECHANIC 533 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:02,796 HAD SKIPPED PROCEDURES... 534 00:31:05,065 --> 00:31:08,168 I WAS UPSET. 535 00:31:08,168 --> 00:31:12,305 THEY'RE PROCEDURES THAT AFFECTED OUR LIVES, 536 00:31:12,305 --> 00:31:14,908 THAT AFFECTED THE LIVES OF 21 PEOPLE. 537 00:31:14,908 --> 00:31:20,313 21 FAMILIES WERE DESTROYED. 538 00:31:20,313 --> 00:31:23,083 BECAUSE YOU NEVER GET OVER SOMETHING LIKE THIS. 539 00:31:25,752 --> 00:31:27,954 Narrator: THE SHEPHERDS SUE THE AIRLINE. 540 00:31:27,954 --> 00:31:31,491 THEY ALSO DEMAND SOMETHING UNHEARD OF IN U.S. AVIATION-- 541 00:31:31,491 --> 00:31:33,693 AN APOLOGY. 542 00:31:33,693 --> 00:31:37,263 Ron Goldman: THEY WANTED MORE THAN JUST TO ACHIEVE 543 00:31:37,263 --> 00:31:40,733 A JUST SETTLEMENT IN MONETARY TERMS, 544 00:31:40,733 --> 00:31:44,437 THEY HAD A NEED TO PRESS THE ISSUES 545 00:31:44,437 --> 00:31:47,073 THAT HUMANIZE AND PUT A FACE ON 546 00:31:47,073 --> 00:31:51,311 THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF THESE TRAGEDIES. 547 00:31:51,311 --> 00:31:53,012 Narrator: THE SHEPHERDS BELIEVE THAT THEIR BEST CHANCE 548 00:31:53,012 --> 00:31:55,415 OF GETTING AN APOLOGY IS BY PUTTING A FACE 549 00:31:55,415 --> 00:31:57,383 TO CHRISTIANA'S NAME. 550 00:32:01,588 --> 00:32:03,890 D. Shepherd: SO WE DECIDE TO TAKE THIS PICTURE 551 00:32:03,890 --> 00:32:08,628 TO SEND IT TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT, 552 00:32:08,628 --> 00:32:12,732 IN THE INVESTIGATION, SO THAT CHRISTIANA WOULD NOT BE 553 00:32:12,732 --> 00:32:16,269 JUST A NUMBER, OR A SEAT NUMBER, OR A TICKET NUMBER, 554 00:32:16,269 --> 00:32:18,438 OR A SETTLEMENT AMOUNT, 555 00:32:18,438 --> 00:32:22,308 SO THEY COULD ACTUALLY SEE THAT SHE WAS A PERSON. 556 00:32:24,711 --> 00:32:26,312 Ward: IN THIS CASE, THE MECHANICS THOUGHT 557 00:32:26,312 --> 00:32:29,849 THEY WERE DOING SOMETHING THAT WAS PERFECTLY REASONABLE. 558 00:32:29,849 --> 00:32:34,754 THEY THOUGHT THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER DAY AT THE JOB. 559 00:32:39,959 --> 00:32:43,563 AND THEN TO COME TO FIND OUT THAT NOW 21 PEOPLE 560 00:32:43,563 --> 00:32:50,603 HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, KILLED DUE TO THEIR INADVERTENT ACT. 561 00:32:50,603 --> 00:32:52,505 Narrator: FOR LORINDA WARD AND HER TEAM, 562 00:32:52,505 --> 00:32:56,176 IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE FOUND THE PROBLEM. 563 00:32:56,176 --> 00:32:58,511 BUT SOMETHING STILL DOESN'T ADD UP. 564 00:32:58,511 --> 00:33:00,847 WHY DIDN'T THE PROBLEM WITH THE PLANE'S FAULTY RIGGING 565 00:33:00,847 --> 00:33:04,817 SURFACE ON ANY OF ITS PREVIOUS FLIGHTS? 566 00:33:04,817 --> 00:33:06,853 Ward: WE KEPT SCRATCHING OUR HEAD, WONDERING, 567 00:33:06,853 --> 00:33:10,690 OKAY, THIS AIRPLANE FLEW NINE TIMES PREVIOUSLY, 568 00:33:10,690 --> 00:33:13,726 AND WE HAD NO PROBLEMS. 569 00:33:13,726 --> 00:33:16,029 SO WE'RE TRYING TO DECIDE, 570 00:33:16,029 --> 00:33:18,565 WELL, WHAT WAS UNUSUAL ABOUT THIS FLIGHT? 571 00:33:18,565 --> 00:33:19,999 Narrator: WARD HAS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED 572 00:33:19,999 --> 00:33:23,536 IN THE HOURS AND MINUTES BEFORE THE CRASH. 573 00:33:23,536 --> 00:33:26,573 Ward: DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL BEFORE TAKEOFF? 574 00:33:26,573 --> 00:33:31,010 Worker: WELL, IT WAS SITTING LOW WHEN IT TAXIED OUT. 575 00:33:31,010 --> 00:33:33,012 IT LOOKED HEAVY. 576 00:33:33,012 --> 00:33:35,582 Ward: WE HAD A COUPLE OF WITNESSES THAT WERE IMPLYING 577 00:33:35,582 --> 00:33:38,551 THAT WE HAD A VERY HEAVILY LOADED AIRPLANE. 578 00:33:38,551 --> 00:33:41,754 THE BAGGAGE PEOPLE SAID THAT IT WAS HARD TO SHUT THE DOOR, 579 00:33:41,754 --> 00:33:44,123 'CAUSE THEY THOUGHT BAGS WERE GONNA COME OUT. 580 00:33:44,123 --> 00:33:46,593 Narrator: EACH PLANE HAS A MAXIMUM WEIGHT IT CAN HANDLE 581 00:33:46,593 --> 00:33:50,863 BEFORE THE ENGINES CAN'T GET IT OFF THE GROUND. 582 00:33:50,863 --> 00:33:52,799 BEFORE TAKEOFF, IT'S THE PILOTS' JOB 583 00:33:52,799 --> 00:33:55,101 TO CALCULATE THE ONBOARD WEIGHT. 584 00:33:55,101 --> 00:33:57,537 Gibbs: WE GOT A FULL HOUSE BACK THERE? 585 00:33:57,537 --> 00:33:59,038 Worker: HOW MANY WE GOT TO TAKE OFF? 586 00:33:59,038 --> 00:34:01,241 Leslie: WE'RE FIGURING IT OUT. 587 00:34:01,241 --> 00:34:05,845 Narrator: THE CREW OF FLIGHT 5481 PERFORMED THAT CALCULATION. 588 00:34:05,845 --> 00:34:07,547 Gibbs: COOL, 17,018. 589 00:34:07,547 --> 00:34:11,084 Ward: WE HEAR THEM ON THE CVR GOING THROUGH THE NUMBERS 590 00:34:11,084 --> 00:34:14,053 TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THEIR CENTER GRAVITY 591 00:34:14,053 --> 00:34:17,090 WITHIN THE RANGE FOR THEM TO TAKE OFF. 592 00:34:17,090 --> 00:34:19,025 Leslie: 17,120 IS OUR WEIGHT, HUH? 593 00:34:19,025 --> 00:34:21,261 Gibbs: YEAH, IS OUR MAX. 594 00:34:21,261 --> 00:34:23,463 Narrator: ON ANY PLANE, LARGE OR SMALL, 595 00:34:23,463 --> 00:34:25,131 THE WEIGHT OF CARGO AND PASSENGERS 596 00:34:25,131 --> 00:34:28,735 HAS TO BE DISTRIBUTED EVENLY. 597 00:34:28,735 --> 00:34:30,236 THE BALANCING POINT OF AN AIRPLANE 598 00:34:30,236 --> 00:34:33,973 IS CALLED ITS CENTER OF GRAVITY. 599 00:34:33,973 --> 00:34:37,677 FOR A PLANE TO FLY SAFELY, IT CAN NEITHER BE TOO FAR FORWARD, 600 00:34:37,677 --> 00:34:40,246 NOR TOO FAR BACK OR AFT. 601 00:34:42,749 --> 00:34:44,951 Leslie: SO, WE'RE COOL? 602 00:34:44,951 --> 00:34:46,919 Gibbs: SO, YEAH. 603 00:34:46,919 --> 00:34:49,622 Leslie: WE DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE ANYTHING OFF. 604 00:34:49,622 --> 00:34:51,324 Narrator: AIR MIDWEST PILOTS ARE INSTRUCTED 605 00:34:51,324 --> 00:34:56,362 HOW TO MAKE WEIGHT AND CENTER OF GRAVITY, OR CG, CALCULATIONS. 606 00:34:56,362 --> 00:34:59,132 THEY USE AVERAGE WEIGHTS TO MAKE THAT CALCULATION-- 607 00:34:59,132 --> 00:35:03,536 175 POUNDS PER PASSENGER AND 20 POUNDS PER BAG. 608 00:35:03,536 --> 00:35:07,674 Ward: THEY KNEW THAT THEY HAD A VERY AFT CG, 609 00:35:07,674 --> 00:35:10,276 BUT DUE TO USING THE AVERAGE WEIGHTS 610 00:35:10,276 --> 00:35:12,278 AND AVERAGE CALCULATIONS, 611 00:35:12,278 --> 00:35:16,115 THE PAPERWORK SHOWED THEM BEING WITHIN THE RANGE 612 00:35:16,115 --> 00:35:18,184 THAT THEY NEEDED TO TAKEOFF. 613 00:35:18,184 --> 00:35:19,485 Narrator: BUT WARD NEEDS TO KNOW 614 00:35:19,485 --> 00:35:21,788 IF THE PLANE REALLY WAS WITHIN THE PROPER RANGE 615 00:35:21,788 --> 00:35:24,957 OF WEIGHT AND BALANCE BEFORE TAKEOFF. 616 00:35:24,957 --> 00:35:26,426 Ward: WELL, WHAT WE DID WAS WE LOOKED AT THE WEIGHTS 617 00:35:26,426 --> 00:35:29,429 OF THE ACTUAL BAGGAGE ITSELF THAT WAS ON BOARD 618 00:35:29,429 --> 00:35:33,666 AND THEN THE WEIGHT OF THE PASSENGERS AND THE CREW. 619 00:35:33,666 --> 00:35:36,002 Narrator: TECHNICIANS WEIGH THE REMAINS OF THE BURNT LUGGAGE 620 00:35:36,002 --> 00:35:37,870 FROM THE WRECKAGE SITE... 621 00:35:41,407 --> 00:35:42,742 Ward: DOCTOR, YES, COULD YOU TELL ME PLEASE 622 00:35:42,742 --> 00:35:45,244 WHAT THE LAST RECORDED WEIGHT OF YOUR PATIENT... 623 00:35:45,244 --> 00:35:46,746 Narrator: ...AND OBTAIN THE REAL WEIGHT OF PASSENGERS 624 00:35:46,746 --> 00:35:49,115 ON BOARD THAT DAY. 625 00:35:49,115 --> 00:35:51,918 Ward: 212, THANK YOU. 626 00:35:55,421 --> 00:35:56,956 Narrator: WHEN ALL THE NUMBERS ARE IN, 627 00:35:56,956 --> 00:36:00,660 WARD DISCOVERS THE REAL WEIGHT OF FLIGHT 5481 628 00:36:00,660 --> 00:36:03,463 IS 17,700 POUNDS-- 629 00:36:03,463 --> 00:36:07,800 SOME 580 POUNDS OVER ITS MAXIMUM TAKEOFF WEIGHT. 630 00:36:11,671 --> 00:36:13,706 Ward: THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKEOFF 631 00:36:13,706 --> 00:36:15,742 IF THEY HAD USED ACTUAL WEIGHTS. 632 00:36:15,742 --> 00:36:19,379 THEY WOULD'VE HAD TO PULL EITHER PASSENGERS OR BAGS OFF. 633 00:36:19,379 --> 00:36:21,314 Narrator: BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER THAN EXPECTED WEIGHT 634 00:36:21,314 --> 00:36:23,850 OF THE PASSENGERS AND BAGGAGE ON THE FLIGHT, 635 00:36:23,850 --> 00:36:26,652 AND THE LARGE NUMBER OF BAGS STOWED IN THE REAR, 636 00:36:26,652 --> 00:36:29,856 THE AIRPLANE WAS TAIL-HEAVY... 637 00:36:29,856 --> 00:36:33,659 ITS CENTER OF GRAVITY EVER SO SLIGHTLY TOO FAR TO THE REAR. 638 00:36:33,659 --> 00:36:37,263 WHICH WASN'T A PROBLEM, UNTIL THE LANDING GEAR WAS RAISED. 639 00:36:37,263 --> 00:36:39,699 Leslie: GEAR UP. 640 00:36:39,699 --> 00:36:42,835 Narrator: WHEN THE GEAR'S WEIGHT MOVED BACKWARDS FROM THE NOSE, 641 00:36:42,835 --> 00:36:45,705 IT TIPPED THE BALANCE OF WEIGHT... 642 00:36:45,705 --> 00:36:48,808 TOO FAR BACK. 643 00:36:48,808 --> 00:36:50,176 THE PILOTS' EFFORTS TO REGAIN 644 00:36:50,176 --> 00:36:52,979 CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE FUTILE, 645 00:36:52,979 --> 00:36:57,850 CRIPPLED BY THE AIRPLANE'S DEFECTIVE ELEVATOR CONTROLS. 646 00:36:57,850 --> 00:37:00,319 Carbone: WHEN THE NOSE GEAR MOVED AFT, 647 00:37:00,319 --> 00:37:03,222 THEY LOST THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT, 648 00:37:03,222 --> 00:37:06,659 BECAUSE ALL THE WEIGHT WENT BACK, 649 00:37:06,659 --> 00:37:09,796 AND THEY HAD NO ELEVATOR MOVEMENT 650 00:37:09,796 --> 00:37:12,331 ENOUGH TO BRING THE NOSE BACK DOWN. 651 00:37:12,331 --> 00:37:16,035 AND AT THE HEIGHT THAT THEY WERE AT, THEY HAD NO RECOVERY. 652 00:37:16,035 --> 00:37:19,038 Narrator: THE PASSENGERS AND CREW OF FLIGHT 5481 653 00:37:19,038 --> 00:37:22,008 WERE DOOMED THE MOMENT THE PLANE LEFT THE GROUND. 654 00:37:22,008 --> 00:37:25,077 THEY HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT TWO UNRELATED PROBLEMS 655 00:37:25,077 --> 00:37:28,981 WOULD COMBINE TO BRING DOWN THEIR PLANE. 656 00:37:28,981 --> 00:37:31,384 BUT FAULTY MAINTENANCE AND ABOVE AVERAGE WEIGHTS 657 00:37:31,384 --> 00:37:32,618 WEREN'T THE ONLY ISSUES 658 00:37:32,618 --> 00:37:35,988 UNCOVERED BY LORINDA WARD'S INVESTIGATION. 659 00:37:35,988 --> 00:37:38,724 Ward: HEY, YOU GOT A SEC? I HAVE AN IDEA. 660 00:37:38,724 --> 00:37:41,627 Narrator: LORINDA WARD SUSPECTS THAT SHE'S UNCOVERED PROBLEMS 661 00:37:41,627 --> 00:37:44,230 THAT DIDN'T JUST AFFECT THIS ONE FLIGHT, 662 00:37:44,230 --> 00:37:48,134 BUT THAT ALSO AFFECT EVERY COMMUTER PLANE IN THE AIR. 663 00:37:53,573 --> 00:37:56,442 Narrator: NTSB INVESTIGATORS SAY THAT EVERY PLANE CRASH 664 00:37:56,442 --> 00:37:58,211 MAKES FLYING SAFER. 665 00:38:00,213 --> 00:38:03,116 FLIGHT 5481 WAS NO EXCEPTION. 666 00:38:05,685 --> 00:38:09,622 14 MONTHS AFTER THE ACCIDENT, LEAD INVESTIGATOR LORINDA WARD 667 00:38:09,622 --> 00:38:12,191 AND HER TEAM FILE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT 668 00:38:12,191 --> 00:38:16,362 TO ENSURE THE MISTAKES THAT KILLED THOSE ABOARD FLIGHT 5481 669 00:38:16,362 --> 00:38:18,831 ARE NEVER REPEATED. 670 00:38:18,831 --> 00:38:21,367 AMONG WARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS-- 671 00:38:21,367 --> 00:38:24,937 THAT THE FAA REVIEW ITS AVERAGE PASSENGER AND BAGGAGE WEIGHTS-- 672 00:38:24,937 --> 00:38:28,574 AN AVERAGE THAT HAD NOT BEEN REVISED SINCE 1936. 673 00:38:30,643 --> 00:38:32,979 AND SINCE STUDIES SUGGEST THAT AMERICANS AND OTHER ADULTS 674 00:38:32,979 --> 00:38:35,748 WERE GETTING HEAVIER FROM YEAR TO YEAR, 675 00:38:35,748 --> 00:38:40,219 WARD SUSPECTED THAT THE AVERAGES WERE OFF. 676 00:38:40,219 --> 00:38:41,821 Ward: WE MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE FAA 677 00:38:41,821 --> 00:38:46,092 TO HAVE THE OPERATORS GO OUT AND SURVEY THEIR OPERATIONS 678 00:38:46,092 --> 00:38:50,730 BOTH SUMMER AND WINTER TIME TO SEE HOW ACCURATE 679 00:38:50,730 --> 00:38:53,266 THESE AVERAGE WEIGHTS REFLECTED THE ACTUAL FLYING PUBLIC 680 00:38:53,266 --> 00:38:55,468 THAT WAS GETTING ONTO THEIR AIRPLANES. 681 00:38:57,870 --> 00:39:02,008 Narrator: AFTER CONDUCTING A SURVEY OF PASSENGERS, 682 00:39:02,008 --> 00:39:05,044 THE FAA COMES TO A SHOCKING CONCLUSION. 683 00:39:05,044 --> 00:39:07,780 THE AVERAGE WEIGHT OF ADULT AMERICAN PASSENGERS 684 00:39:07,780 --> 00:39:11,951 WAS 195 POUNDS, NOT 175. 685 00:39:14,120 --> 00:39:15,888 THE FAA ALSO DISCOVERED 686 00:39:15,888 --> 00:39:18,291 THAT THE AVERAGE WEIGHT OF CARRY-ON LUGGAGE 687 00:39:18,291 --> 00:39:21,894 WAS BEING UNDERESTIMATED BY FIVE POUNDS PER BAG. 688 00:39:23,930 --> 00:39:26,933 Ward: WE HAD A AVERAGE WEIGHT, 689 00:39:26,933 --> 00:39:31,571 THAT WERE BEING USED THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED. 690 00:39:31,571 --> 00:39:33,806 Narrator: HAD THESE HIGHER AVERAGE WEIGHTS BEEN IN EFFECT 691 00:39:33,806 --> 00:39:36,709 ON JANUARY 8, 2003, 692 00:39:36,709 --> 00:39:40,680 FLIGHT 5481 WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LEGAL FOR TAKEOFF. 693 00:39:40,680 --> 00:39:44,283 CAPTAIN LESLIE WOULD HAVE HAD TO REMOVE BAGS AND PASSENGERS. 694 00:39:44,283 --> 00:39:48,654 Gibbs: 48,107...COOL, 17,018. 695 00:39:53,593 --> 00:39:56,195 Narrator: AIR MIDWEST PILOTS NOW USE AN AVERAGE WEIGHT 696 00:39:56,195 --> 00:39:58,764 OF 200 POUNDS PER PASSENGER, 697 00:39:58,764 --> 00:40:00,900 WHICH MEANS THAT THEIR BEECHCRAFT PLANES 698 00:40:00,900 --> 00:40:04,971 CAN ONLY CARRY 17 PASSENGERS, NOT 19. 699 00:40:08,941 --> 00:40:10,810 Narrator: BUT WARD'S REPORT GOES ON TO SAY 700 00:40:10,810 --> 00:40:13,746 THAT EVEN WITH UPDATED INDUSTRY AVERAGES, 701 00:40:13,746 --> 00:40:16,115 THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR ERROR. 702 00:40:16,115 --> 00:40:18,751 HER REPORT STATES THAT FLYING SMALL AIRCRAFT 703 00:40:18,751 --> 00:40:21,554 WILL BE SAFEST ONLY WHEN AIRLINES STOP USING 704 00:40:21,554 --> 00:40:24,056 AVERAGE WEIGHT ASSUMPTIONS ALTOGETHER 705 00:40:24,056 --> 00:40:29,028 AND CALCULATE THE REAL WEIGHT ON BOARD BEFORE TAKEOFF. 706 00:40:29,028 --> 00:40:32,098 NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARE BEING DEVELOPED TO ALLOW AIR CARRIERS 707 00:40:32,098 --> 00:40:36,168 TO MEASURE ACTUAL WEIGHT AND CONTROL BALANCE IN REAL TIME 708 00:40:36,168 --> 00:40:38,304 AS THE PLANE IS LOADED. 709 00:40:38,304 --> 00:40:42,575 KNOWING THE ACTUAL WEIGHT OF PASSENGERS AND BAGGAGE IS VITAL. 710 00:40:42,575 --> 00:40:46,379 MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE FLYING ON SMALL COMMUTER JETS. 711 00:40:46,379 --> 00:40:48,481 AS THE COST OF JET FUEL SOARS, 712 00:40:48,481 --> 00:40:50,016 THE SMALLER FUEL-EFFICIENT PLANES 713 00:40:50,016 --> 00:40:54,220 BECOME MORE ATTRACTIVE TO AIRLINES. 714 00:40:54,220 --> 00:40:57,823 IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE, MORE THAN 10 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR 715 00:40:57,823 --> 00:41:00,559 BOARD PLANES WITH FEWER THAN 30 SEATS. 716 00:41:00,559 --> 00:41:03,462 Ward: SMALLER AIRCRAFT ARE MORE SENSITIVE TO THE WEIGHT, 717 00:41:03,462 --> 00:41:07,466 WEIGHT AND BALANCE ISSUE, THAN, SAY, A LARGER AIRPLANE. 718 00:41:07,466 --> 00:41:09,268 Narrator: IN SPITE OF WARD'S RECOMMENDATIONS 719 00:41:09,268 --> 00:41:11,170 AND THE AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY, 720 00:41:11,170 --> 00:41:14,674 ALMOST 70% OF SMALL PLANES ON SCHEDULED FLIGHTS 721 00:41:14,674 --> 00:41:18,044 STILL USE AVERAGE INSTEAD OF ACTUAL WEIGHTS. 722 00:41:25,351 --> 00:41:27,086 FOR DOUG AND TEREASA SHEPHERD, 723 00:41:27,086 --> 00:41:31,857 THERE IS STILL ANOTHER DANGER THAT THREATENS TO STRIKE AGAIN. 724 00:41:31,857 --> 00:41:34,293 T. Shepherd: IF THE FAA TOOK A VERY ACTIVE ROLE 725 00:41:34,293 --> 00:41:35,795 IN THEIR REGULATION, 726 00:41:35,795 --> 00:41:38,964 THEN SUBCONTRACTING COULD ACTUALLY BE A PLUS. 727 00:41:38,964 --> 00:41:45,438 THE WAY IT'S HANDLED TODAY, THE MISTAKES WILL JUST CONTINUE. 728 00:41:45,438 --> 00:41:47,073 Mechanic: WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER STEPS? 729 00:41:47,073 --> 00:41:49,809 Supervisor: YEAH, UH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THOSE. 730 00:41:49,809 --> 00:41:52,144 JUST CHECK THE CABLE TENSION WHEN YOU'RE DONE, 731 00:41:52,144 --> 00:41:54,013 AND WE'RE GOOD. 732 00:41:54,013 --> 00:41:55,915 Narrator: IN HER REPORT, WARD STATES THAT 733 00:41:55,915 --> 00:41:59,952 ALL AIR CARRIERS NEED TO PROVIDE DIRECT OVERSIGHT TO MAKE SURE 734 00:41:59,952 --> 00:42:03,889 THAT EVEN SUBCONTRACTED WORK IS COMPLETED CORRECTLY. 735 00:42:03,889 --> 00:42:06,192 Ward: THIS INVESTIGATION WAS UNIQUE TO ME, PERSONALLY, 736 00:42:06,192 --> 00:42:10,029 BECAUSE IT WAS MY FIRST LAUNCH AS AN INVESTIGATOR IN CHARGE. 737 00:42:10,029 --> 00:42:14,100 THIS WAS, IN MY MIND, A SIGNIFICANT INVESTIGATION 738 00:42:14,100 --> 00:42:17,870 IN THE FACT THAT WE HAD THE 22 SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS 739 00:42:17,870 --> 00:42:22,174 THAT CAME OUT FROM A SMALL ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION. 740 00:42:25,077 --> 00:42:30,015 Narrator: FOR THE SHEPHERDS, THE NTSB RECOMMENDATIONS COME TOO LATE. 741 00:42:30,015 --> 00:42:32,084 BUT AFTER A LENGTHY LEGAL BATTLE, 742 00:42:32,084 --> 00:42:35,254 AIR MIDWEST DOES DELIVER A RARE AND FORMAL APOLOGY 743 00:42:35,254 --> 00:42:36,555 FOR THE MISTAKES THAT COST 744 00:42:36,555 --> 00:42:39,692 18-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIANA SHEPHERD HER LIFE. 745 00:42:44,463 --> 00:42:48,434 Goldman: MY NAME IS RON GOLDMAN, AND MY ROLE HERE TODAY 746 00:42:48,434 --> 00:42:52,405 IS I WILL BE INTRODUCING THE PUBLIC APOLOGY, 747 00:42:52,405 --> 00:42:55,007 AND THEN I'LL HAVE A FEW WORDS... 748 00:42:55,007 --> 00:43:00,846 THE PUBLIC APOLOGY IS, IN AVIATION CASES, UNPRECEDENTED. 749 00:43:00,846 --> 00:43:03,215 Greg Stephens: WE'RE HERE TODAY 750 00:43:03,215 --> 00:43:05,117 TO REMEMBER THE VICTIMS 751 00:43:05,117 --> 00:43:07,987 OF FLIGHT 5481, 752 00:43:07,987 --> 00:43:12,291 AND TO OFFER OUR APOLOGIES, OUR CONDOLENCES, 753 00:43:12,291 --> 00:43:17,329 AND SINCERE SYMPATHY TO THE SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS 754 00:43:17,329 --> 00:43:22,635 OF THE PASSENGERS AND CREW WHO PERISHED IN THE JANUARY 8, 2003, 755 00:43:22,635 --> 00:43:28,073 CRASH OF AIR MIDWEST FLIGHT NUMBER 5481. 756 00:43:28,073 --> 00:43:30,376 Goldman: THE ACCEPTANCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY SUGGESTS 757 00:43:30,376 --> 00:43:35,681 THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE SAFETY INVESTIGATORS 758 00:43:35,681 --> 00:43:38,984 ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN AS A BOOK TO THROW IN A DRAWER 759 00:43:38,984 --> 00:43:41,821 AND FORGET ABOUT, BUT ARE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, 760 00:43:41,821 --> 00:43:44,657 BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY, 761 00:43:44,657 --> 00:43:46,659 THERE'S GOING TO BE PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, 762 00:43:46,659 --> 00:43:48,627 AS WELL AS PRIVATE ACCOUNTABILITY. 763 00:43:48,627 --> 00:43:51,130 Ward: WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER FORGET IS THAT 764 00:43:51,130 --> 00:43:54,567 AS WE'RE GOING ABOUT AND DOING OUR JOB DAY-TO-DAY, 765 00:43:54,567 --> 00:43:59,405 WE NEED TO REMEMBER THE IMPORTANCE OF DOING OUR JOB. 766 00:43:59,405 --> 00:44:01,040 IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE WE'RE AT ON THE LADDER, 767 00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:02,241 OR THE CORPORATE LADDER, 768 00:44:02,241 --> 00:44:04,710 WHETHER WE'RE AT THE BOTTOM RUNG OR THE TOP RUNG, 769 00:44:04,710 --> 00:44:08,714 WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES. 770 00:44:08,714 --> 00:44:10,649 Narrator: IT TOOK A COMPLICATED STRING OF ERRORS 771 00:44:10,649 --> 00:44:14,920 AND MISCALCULATIONS TO BRING DOWN FLIGHT 5481. 772 00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:16,589 BUT SOME BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE PERSON 773 00:44:16,589 --> 00:44:22,294 WHO PERFORMED ADMIRABLY THAT DAY, CAPTAIN KATIE LESLIE. 774 00:44:22,294 --> 00:44:25,064 WITH AN UNBALANCED PLANE AND FAULTY CONTROLS, 775 00:44:25,064 --> 00:44:27,900 CAPTAIN LESLIE COULD NOT HAVE SAVED THE FLIGHT. 776 00:44:27,900 --> 00:44:31,437 BUT HER FINAL ACTIONS MAY HAVE SAVED SOME LIVES. 777 00:44:31,437 --> 00:44:33,205 Overcash: YOU KNOW, SHE'S AN UNSUNG HERO TO ME. 778 00:44:33,205 --> 00:44:34,773 SHE KEPT IT FROM, REALLY, 779 00:44:34,773 --> 00:44:37,877 MORE OF A HEAD-ON HIT INTO THE HANGAR. 780 00:44:42,581 --> 00:44:45,918 WHICH PROBABLY SAVED COUNTLESS OTHER PEOPLE 781 00:44:45,918 --> 00:44:48,721 FROM PERISHING THAT DAY. 782 00:44:48,721 --> 00:44:50,789 Narrator: IT WAS FIREFIGHTER CINDY OVERCASH 783 00:44:50,789 --> 00:44:54,426 WHO FOUND THE BODY OF CAPTAIN KATIE LESLIE AMONG THE WRECKAGE. 784 00:44:54,426 --> 00:44:57,630 TO THIS DAY, OVERCASH STILL FEELS A SPECIAL CONNECTION 785 00:44:57,630 --> 00:44:59,131 TO THE YOUNG PILOT. 786 00:45:01,433 --> 00:45:03,702 Overcash: I DON'T KNOW, I JUST FELT A KINSHIP, 787 00:45:03,702 --> 00:45:06,205 I DON'T KNOW WHY, I DON'T KNOW, I--YOU KNOW. 788 00:45:06,205 --> 00:45:08,574 IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS I FOUND HER, 789 00:45:08,574 --> 00:45:12,378 AND I WAS THERE WHEN SHE LEFT THIS WORLD. 790 00:45:16,282 --> 00:45:18,517 Narrator: LORINDA WARD'S INVESTIGATION COULD HAVE ENDED 791 00:45:18,517 --> 00:45:20,019 WHEN SHE UNCOVERED THE ERRORS 792 00:45:20,019 --> 00:45:23,455 THAT CAUSED THE CRASH OF FLIGHT 5481. 793 00:45:23,455 --> 00:45:25,257 BUT BY DIGGING A BIT DEEPER, 794 00:45:25,257 --> 00:45:29,028 SHE MADE FLYING SAFER FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.