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Narrator: A flight
over the Amazon
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hits severe weather...
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Man, translated:
Everything was dark as night.
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Narrator: And ends in disaster.
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00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:15,548
Man: The first impression
that I got
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00:00:15,615 --> 00:00:18,852
was the terrible smell
of fuel and blood.
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00:00:18,918 --> 00:00:20,387
Narrator: The search
for answers...
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00:00:20,453 --> 00:00:21,788
Man: We need to take pictures
of everything
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before it's all gone.
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00:00:23,356 --> 00:00:24,557
Narrator:
...faces a unique obstacle.
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Man: They were taking
anything they could carry.
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00:00:27,427 --> 00:00:29,796
Narrator: A crash site
scavenged by looters.
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00:00:29,863 --> 00:00:32,832
Man: Tires, oxygen bottles,
doors,
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parts of the landing gear.
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00:00:34,901 --> 00:00:36,302
Narrator: Missing
valuable evidence,
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00:00:36,369 --> 00:00:40,006
investigators will need all
their creativity and cunning...
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00:00:40,073 --> 00:00:41,474
Man: Got a calculator?
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00:00:41,541 --> 00:00:42,909
Narrator: ...if they hope
to ever discover
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00:00:42,976 --> 00:00:44,544
why Tans Peru flight 204...
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Man: 113 knots.
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Narrator: ...fell from the sky.
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Man: Keep pulling!
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Pilot: Mayday, mayday!
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Narrator: The shattered fuselage
of a Boeing 737
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lies smoldering
in a Peruvian jungle.
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Stunned passengers struggle
to escape the wreckage.
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Hector Chaparro Ugarte:
Once I was outside
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I tried to help those
near the door
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who knew they had to leave
the plane.
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Come on! Hurry!
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I pulled them by their hair,
by their shirtsleeves,
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whatever I could get.
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Narrator:
The plane has gone down
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three miles from
the nearest airport.
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It will take time for rescuers
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to fight their way
through the thick bush.
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Leaking jet fuel could set off
a massive fireball
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at any moment.
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00:02:09,863 --> 00:02:16,369
Cesar Castillo Vargas: Fires can
appear in a very fast way
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00:02:16,436 --> 00:02:22,242
not leaving passengers with
the possibility to escape.
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00:02:23,409 --> 00:02:24,577
Narrator: The survivors scramble
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to get as far away
from the plane as they can.
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Chaparro Ugarte: Ten minutes
after we left it,
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the plane exploded.
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Narrator: Scattered wreckage
is all that's left
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of Tans Peru flight 204...
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A flight that just an hour ago
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was preparing to take off
from the capital city of Lima.
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Flight attendant: You'll have to
move your seat forward, please.
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00:03:06,819 --> 00:03:08,521
Narrator:
Carrying 91 passengers,
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00:03:08,588 --> 00:03:11,157
the flight is headed
to the river town of Pucalpa
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00:03:11,224 --> 00:03:15,461
and then Iquitos,
gateway to the Amazon.
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Castillo Vargas: Taking off
from Lima to Pucalpa
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was a beautiful flight.
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You see the snowcaps
on top of the mountains,
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the lakes, the little roads
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and then you see
how it changes color
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to the beautiful forest green
in the jungle.
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Narrator: Hector Chaparro Ugarte
barely makes the flight.
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00:03:37,750 --> 00:03:39,018
A government bureaucrat,
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00:03:39,085 --> 00:03:42,755
he travels regularly
to Pucalpa on business.
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Flight attendant: There is
extra room three seats down
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if that helps.
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Chaparro Ugarte:
You are too kind.
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Chaparro Ugarte: I always have
problems on planes
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because my legs hit the seat
in front of me,
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so I always want to be
in the emergency exit row
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because there's more room.
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00:04:07,347 --> 00:04:09,282
Narrator: Today,
a former Air Force Major
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will be handling the takeoff.
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Gonzales Chirinos Delgado
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is training to become
a first officer.
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00:04:16,356 --> 00:04:17,757
Gonzales Chirinos Delgado:
You ready?
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00:04:17,824 --> 00:04:19,626
Narrator: His instructor
is Octavio Perez Palma.
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00:04:19,692 --> 00:04:21,928
Octavia Perez Palma: Go ahead.
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00:04:21,995 --> 00:04:22,795
Narrator: A former
military commander,
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he's now an airline captain.
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Chirinos Delgado: Set thrust.
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Perez Palma: Thrust set.
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00:04:33,373 --> 00:04:37,110
Castillo Vargas: Pilots need
to build up experience.
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00:04:37,176 --> 00:04:38,878
A non-experienced pilot
would fly
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sitting in
the first officer position
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00:04:43,249 --> 00:04:46,252
together with an experienced
first officer
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00:04:46,319 --> 00:04:48,588
sitting on the jump seat.
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00:04:48,655 --> 00:04:51,224
Narrator: On this flight,
the experienced first officer
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is Jorge Pinto Panta,
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backup for trainee
Chirinos Delgado.
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00:05:04,537 --> 00:05:06,673
Perez Palma:
Positive rate of climb.
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00:05:06,739 --> 00:05:08,441
Chirinos Delgado: Gear up.
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00:05:10,543 --> 00:05:13,613
Set climb thrust.
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00:05:17,717 --> 00:05:19,352
Flaps up.
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00:05:22,422 --> 00:05:25,491
Narrator: Chirinos Delgado's
takeoff is perfect.
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The 24-year-old Boeing 737
lifts gently into the sky.
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Perez Palma: Textbook, major.
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Chirinos Delgado:
Thank you, sir.
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00:05:36,002 --> 00:05:38,104
Perez Palma: You remind me
of myself.
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00:05:41,374 --> 00:05:45,144
Narrator: In less than an hour,
they should arrive in Pucalpa.
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00:05:48,781 --> 00:05:50,083
Raymundo Hurtado Martinez:
Pucalpa is one of those
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00:05:50,149 --> 00:05:53,152
great tourist destinations
in Amazonian Peru.
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00:05:53,219 --> 00:05:56,089
Narrator: Foreign tourists
and local business people
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rely on Pucalpa's small,
one-runway airport.
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00:06:02,495 --> 00:06:04,831
It has no weather radar,
so the controllers
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00:06:04,897 --> 00:06:07,133
rely on pilots
flying in the area
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00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:10,236
to tell them about
changing weather conditions.
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Perez Palma: This is
Captain Perez Palma.
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00:06:17,343 --> 00:06:18,845
Weather conditions
for the flight are good,
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00:06:18,911 --> 00:06:21,814
but for your safety
I'd appreciate
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if you could stay in your seats
with your seatbelts fastened.
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You can sit in the cabin
if you prefer.
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Narrator:
Cruising at 33,000 feet,
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the crew contacts
the air traffic controller
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in Pucalpa
for landing instructions.
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Perez Palma: Pucalpa tower,
Tans Peru 204.
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00:06:49,609 --> 00:06:51,144
Good afternoon.
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00:06:51,210 --> 00:06:55,348
We're at 3-3-0 174 DME.
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We'll start our descent
in ten minutes.
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00:06:57,617 --> 00:07:00,386
Can you provide
conditions, please?
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00:07:00,453 --> 00:07:02,922
Juan Carlos Flores Peña:
Tans Peru 204, tower.
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00:07:02,989 --> 00:07:05,825
Scattered rains at 3,000,
southern quadrant.
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00:07:05,892 --> 00:07:09,362
Perez Palma: Thank you,
Pucalpa tower.
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00:07:09,428 --> 00:07:12,665
Chirinos Delgado:
That front's blowing our way.
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00:07:12,732 --> 00:07:14,233
Perez Palma: We'll make it.
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00:07:14,300 --> 00:07:16,068
Narrator: Captain Perez Palma
is familiar
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00:07:16,135 --> 00:07:18,571
with the fickle weather systems
of the Amazon,
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00:07:18,638 --> 00:07:21,974
and he's flown to Pucalpa
many times.
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00:07:23,242 --> 00:07:28,181
52 miles from the airport,
the plane hits a storm.
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00:07:36,522 --> 00:07:38,157
Chaparro Ugarte:
I could not understand
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00:07:38,224 --> 00:07:40,626
why we had to fly
through such a storm
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00:07:40,693 --> 00:07:43,729
because there was really
a torrential downpour.
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00:07:46,566 --> 00:07:48,968
Narrator: In Pucalpa
storm clouds are threatening,
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but there's still no rain.
132
00:07:54,373 --> 00:07:56,108
Flores Peña: Tans Peru 204.
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00:07:56,175 --> 00:07:58,444
Charlie Bravo is
in the southern quadrant.
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00:07:58,511 --> 00:08:02,515
Begin final descent
to 1,500 feet.
135
00:08:02,582 --> 00:08:04,984
Perez Palma: Pucalpa tower,
Tans Peru 204.
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00:08:05,051 --> 00:08:05,952
Thank you.
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00:08:06,018 --> 00:08:08,054
Descending to 1,500.
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00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:09,789
Narrator: As the captain
sets the autopilot
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00:08:09,856 --> 00:08:10,923
to the new target altitude,
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00:08:10,990 --> 00:08:14,694
another jet arrives
at Pucalpa Airport.
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00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:18,965
The crew reports conditions.
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Pilot: Runway 20
looks good so far.
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00:08:20,666 --> 00:08:22,802
Weather shifting fast.
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00:08:22,869 --> 00:08:24,804
Suggest caution.
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00:08:24,871 --> 00:08:26,572
Perez Palma: Okay.
146
00:08:26,639 --> 00:08:30,476
Look at that beast.
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00:08:30,543 --> 00:08:32,278
It's huge.
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00:08:32,345 --> 00:08:36,682
It looks like England.
149
00:08:36,749 --> 00:08:39,252
We can get in through here.
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00:08:39,318 --> 00:08:41,254
Chirinos Delgado: Let's see.
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00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,623
20 miles.
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00:08:43,689 --> 00:08:45,558
Perez Palma: No, that's too far.
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00:08:45,625 --> 00:08:48,227
Look. Here's Pucalpa.
Do you see it?
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00:08:48,294 --> 00:08:51,097
Chirinos Delgado: I see it.
Maybe through there.
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00:08:51,163 --> 00:08:53,833
Perez Palma: No.
We have to go in further ahead.
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Narrator: Now 25 miles
from the runway,
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the crew has the option of
flying to an alternate airport
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or returning to Lima.
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00:09:01,307 --> 00:09:04,477
Perez Palma: Let's get under it.
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00:09:04,543 --> 00:09:06,212
Chirinos Delgado: Okay.
161
00:09:06,279 --> 00:09:09,315
We're not going
to our alternate?
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00:09:09,382 --> 00:09:10,950
Narrator: But Perez Palma
is determined
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00:09:11,017 --> 00:09:13,552
to make it to Pucalpa.
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00:09:28,334 --> 00:09:30,870
Chaparro Ugarte: We felt the
plane moving from side to side.
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00:09:30,937 --> 00:09:31,971
It was shaking.
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00:09:34,807 --> 00:09:37,443
Perez Palma:
We are at 2,000 feet.
167
00:09:37,510 --> 00:09:40,379
Castillo Vargas: Pilots would
know the altitude to keep.
168
00:09:40,446 --> 00:09:43,182
You would have to go to your
minimum descent altitude
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00:09:43,249 --> 00:09:50,056
based on the procedure approved
for Pucalpa at that time.
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00:09:50,122 --> 00:09:52,658
Narrator: 1,500 feet is
the minimum descent altitude
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00:09:52,725 --> 00:09:54,627
on this flight.
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00:09:54,694 --> 00:09:56,829
Captain Perez Palma knows
he can't go any lower
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until he can actually see
the runway.
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00:10:02,835 --> 00:10:03,736
Flores Peña: It's very important
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00:10:03,803 --> 00:10:06,238
at that altitude
and that distance
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00:10:06,305 --> 00:10:10,242
that the pilot can see the
runway so he can land the plane.
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00:10:13,913 --> 00:10:16,849
Chirinos Delgado: Is there
some visibility over there?
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00:10:16,916 --> 00:10:20,152
Perez Palma: No, not that way.
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00:10:20,219 --> 00:10:21,754
Stay under the cloud.
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00:10:21,821 --> 00:10:25,558
Do not descend.
Do not descend.
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00:10:28,461 --> 00:10:33,199
That's what I'm looking for...
There. Right there.
182
00:10:38,571 --> 00:10:40,373
Chaparro Ugarte: Everything
was dark as night.
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00:10:40,439 --> 00:10:43,376
Even though it was just 2:45
in the afternoon,
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00:10:43,442 --> 00:10:47,313
it was so dark it looked like
the windows were closed.
185
00:10:52,318 --> 00:10:56,355
Narrator: Perez Palma can sense
his trainee is nervous.
186
00:10:56,422 --> 00:10:59,725
Perez Palma: Okay, keep it up.
187
00:10:59,792 --> 00:11:04,063
Narrator: Then, a few miles
from the runway....
188
00:11:04,130 --> 00:11:06,499
Perez Palma: Or maybe
I have it, okay?
189
00:11:06,565 --> 00:11:09,969
Narrator: The captain decides
to take control of the flight.
190
00:11:10,036 --> 00:11:12,638
He turns off the autopilot.
191
00:11:14,373 --> 00:11:17,043
Suddenly, hail hammers
the plane.
192
00:11:19,545 --> 00:11:20,846
Perez Palma:
Look for the runway.
193
00:11:20,913 --> 00:11:22,882
Look for the runway outside!
194
00:11:22,948 --> 00:11:26,085
Chirinos Delgado:
I'm looking. Looking.
195
00:11:26,152 --> 00:11:27,920
Six miles.
196
00:11:27,987 --> 00:11:32,091
Narrator: Captain Perez Palma
desperately wants to land,
197
00:11:32,158 --> 00:11:36,495
but he's unable to begin
his final descent.
198
00:11:36,562 --> 00:11:38,030
Flores Peña:
Until the pilot notifies us
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00:11:38,097 --> 00:11:39,832
that the runway's in sight,
200
00:11:39,899 --> 00:11:43,269
we cannot authorize him to land.
201
00:11:43,335 --> 00:11:44,904
Perez Palma: Flaps five.
202
00:11:44,970 --> 00:11:46,505
Chirinos Delgado: Okay.
203
00:11:46,572 --> 00:11:48,641
Flaps five.
204
00:11:48,707 --> 00:11:52,211
Perez Palma: Do you have
the runway in sight?
205
00:11:52,278 --> 00:11:53,079
Chirinos Delgado:
No, I don't have it.
206
00:12:06,525 --> 00:12:08,627
Chaparro Ugarte: I saw
a flight attendant come running
207
00:12:08,694 --> 00:12:10,396
and sit in an empty seat.
208
00:12:10,463 --> 00:12:13,332
Flight attendant: We'll be fine.
209
00:12:13,399 --> 00:12:17,503
Chaparro Ugarte: Then I realized
that things were pretty serious.
210
00:12:17,570 --> 00:12:19,105
Perez Palma: Tell the tower
to confirm visibility
211
00:12:19,171 --> 00:12:20,139
on the other side of the runway
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00:12:20,206 --> 00:12:23,642
so that we can come around
and land.
213
00:12:23,709 --> 00:12:24,610
Narrator: Until he can see
the runway,
214
00:12:24,677 --> 00:12:29,748
he's stuck at 1,500 feet.
215
00:12:29,815 --> 00:12:34,653
Chirinos Delgado:
Pucalpa tower, Tans Peru 204.
216
00:12:34,720 --> 00:12:38,290
What is the visibility
on the other side of the runway?
217
00:12:38,357 --> 00:12:39,925
Flores Peña: Tans Peru 204.
218
00:12:39,992 --> 00:12:41,427
Visibility is getting worse,
219
00:12:41,494 --> 00:12:44,864
now less than
two and a half kilometers.
220
00:12:44,930 --> 00:12:47,500
Chirinos Delgado: I can't
see it. I can't see anything.
221
00:12:48,868 --> 00:12:51,504
Narrator: An altitude alarm
sounds a grave warning.
222
00:12:51,570 --> 00:12:53,272
Inexplicably,
the plane has dropped
223
00:12:53,339 --> 00:12:55,541
hundreds of feet
in just seconds.
224
00:12:55,608 --> 00:12:58,077
It is now less than 500 feet
from the ground.
225
00:12:58,144 --> 00:12:59,078
Chirinos Delgado: Pull it.
226
00:12:59,145 --> 00:13:02,281
Perez Palma:
Okay. Pull with me.
227
00:13:02,348 --> 00:13:04,650
Pull!
228
00:13:04,717 --> 00:13:07,820
Narrator: The crew has
only seconds to avoid disaster.
229
00:13:07,887 --> 00:13:09,021
Perez Palma: Help me pull!
230
00:13:11,724 --> 00:13:14,226
Flores Peña: Tans Peru 204.
231
00:13:14,293 --> 00:13:16,195
Perez Palma: Pull!
232
00:13:16,262 --> 00:13:17,463
Flores Peña: Tans Peru 204.
233
00:13:17,530 --> 00:13:19,198
Perez Palma: Pull!
234
00:13:24,336 --> 00:13:25,905
Chaparro Ugarte: I believed
that these were
235
00:13:25,971 --> 00:13:28,807
the last few minutes of my life.
236
00:13:32,411 --> 00:13:35,080
And as the lights
flicked on and off,
237
00:13:35,147 --> 00:13:38,050
I directed myself to god.
238
00:13:43,722 --> 00:13:45,791
Perez Palma: Pull with me.
239
00:13:46,458 --> 00:13:49,028
Pull!
240
00:13:52,464 --> 00:13:54,099
Pull!
241
00:14:17,890 --> 00:14:19,124
Narrator: Tans Peru flight 204
242
00:14:19,191 --> 00:14:22,628
has cut a one-mile-long swath
through the jungle,
243
00:14:22,695 --> 00:14:28,267
scattering bodies, luggage
and torn pieces of fuselage.
244
00:14:28,334 --> 00:14:29,868
Flores Peña: Tans Peru 204?
245
00:14:29,935 --> 00:14:30,502
Tans Peru?
246
00:14:30,569 --> 00:14:33,739
Tans Peru 204?
247
00:14:33,806 --> 00:14:36,175
Narrator: Flight 204
has not responded to calls
248
00:14:36,242 --> 00:14:39,378
from controller
Juan Carlos Flores Peña.
249
00:14:40,913 --> 00:14:43,048
Flores Peña: I had a feeling
something bad had happened.
250
00:14:47,886 --> 00:14:49,588
Narrator: The controller's fears
are confirmed
251
00:14:49,655 --> 00:14:53,158
when he gets a call
from the local fire chief.
252
00:14:56,528 --> 00:14:58,197
Flores Peña: A friend of his
was a passenger
253
00:14:58,264 --> 00:15:03,569
who survived the crash,
and he called him.
254
00:15:03,636 --> 00:15:05,337
He said the passengers
in the front of the plane
255
00:15:05,404 --> 00:15:09,508
were all dead, but there were
many survivors in the back.
256
00:15:21,420 --> 00:15:25,791
Narrator: A growing cloud
of smoke can be seen for miles.
257
00:15:25,858 --> 00:15:27,893
Many local villagers
rush to help,
258
00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,030
but some only want
to help themselves.
259
00:15:32,598 --> 00:15:34,533
Woman, translated:
It makes me so mad.
260
00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,002
You know why?
They're like rats.
261
00:15:39,371 --> 00:15:42,541
When I went there,
I had one thing on my mind--
262
00:15:42,608 --> 00:15:47,346
to help, to help these people,
not to steal.
263
00:15:50,616 --> 00:15:52,284
Chaparro Ugarte:
Instead of helping people
264
00:15:52,351 --> 00:15:54,286
and finding out whether
they were alive,
265
00:15:54,353 --> 00:15:56,955
whether they were dead
and seeing how they could help,
266
00:15:57,022 --> 00:16:00,225
they began to loot.
267
00:16:00,292 --> 00:16:03,295
Narrator: Survivors are
powerless to stop the looting,
268
00:16:03,362 --> 00:16:06,498
they can only sit
and wait for help.
269
00:16:09,134 --> 00:16:13,138
Chaparro Ugarte: And then
something incredible happened.
270
00:16:14,940 --> 00:16:16,608
Over here!
271
00:16:16,675 --> 00:16:18,644
A man came out of the trees.
272
00:16:18,711 --> 00:16:20,979
It was like a person
coming out of a wall.
273
00:16:21,046 --> 00:16:24,116
Over here!
274
00:16:24,183 --> 00:16:26,018
Narrator: 45 minutes
after the crash,
275
00:16:26,085 --> 00:16:29,121
rescuers arrive from Pucalpa.
276
00:16:29,188 --> 00:16:31,223
Chaparro Ugarte: Each minute
there was more pain,
277
00:16:31,290 --> 00:16:33,025
and the adrenaline
was wearing out.
278
00:16:46,305 --> 00:16:48,540
Narrator: Local reporter
Gino Marquez Alvarez
279
00:16:48,607 --> 00:16:51,744
is one of the first journalists
on the scene.
280
00:16:53,278 --> 00:16:56,048
Gino Marquez Alvarez: It was
incredible to see suitcases
281
00:16:56,115 --> 00:16:57,516
thrown all over the place,
282
00:16:57,583 --> 00:17:01,920
clothes that belonged
to the passengers.
283
00:17:01,987 --> 00:17:05,057
It was my first time covering
a plane crash as a journalist,
284
00:17:05,124 --> 00:17:07,826
and it affected me deeply.
285
00:17:12,231 --> 00:17:15,000
Narrator: The rescue effort
carries on throughout the night.
286
00:17:18,704 --> 00:17:24,143
By morning, the full scope
of the disaster becomes clear.
287
00:17:24,209 --> 00:17:27,012
Of the 98 people
who boarded the plane,
288
00:17:27,079 --> 00:17:32,518
40 are dead,
including all three pilots.
289
00:17:32,584 --> 00:17:35,120
There is no one to explain
what happened in the cockpit
290
00:17:35,187 --> 00:17:38,090
during the final seconds
of flight 204.
291
00:17:39,591 --> 00:17:40,058
Perez Palma: Pull!
292
00:17:42,261 --> 00:17:45,764
Narrator: This is the fifth
fatal crash for Tans Peru
293
00:17:45,831 --> 00:17:48,267
in the last thirteen years.
294
00:17:48,333 --> 00:17:50,903
Julian Palacin Fernandez:
Tans Peru was an airline
295
00:17:50,969 --> 00:17:55,374
founded by the government
in 1962.
296
00:17:55,441 --> 00:17:57,443
Narrator: The airline has one
of the worst safety records
297
00:17:57,509 --> 00:18:00,312
in South America.
298
00:18:00,379 --> 00:18:02,181
Just two and a half years
earlier,
299
00:18:02,247 --> 00:18:04,616
all 46 people aboard
another Tans Peru flight
300
00:18:04,683 --> 00:18:09,888
died during a failed descent.
301
00:18:09,955 --> 00:18:11,256
Patrik Frykberg:
They were flying
302
00:18:11,323 --> 00:18:12,591
from a city called Chiclayo
303
00:18:12,658 --> 00:18:14,927
to another city that is called
Chachapoyas,
304
00:18:14,993 --> 00:18:17,696
and just like five minutes
before the landing
305
00:18:17,763 --> 00:18:20,466
they crashed against a hill.
306
00:18:22,968 --> 00:18:24,903
Marquez Alvarez: All these facts
307
00:18:24,970 --> 00:18:26,705
turned this into
a very big story.
308
00:18:26,772 --> 00:18:31,143
It attracted a huge amount
of public attention.
309
00:18:31,210 --> 00:18:33,645
What people wanted were answers.
310
00:18:33,712 --> 00:18:36,114
Why did the accident happen?
311
00:18:40,185 --> 00:18:41,453
Narrator: A team from Peru's
312
00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,189
aviation accident
investigation commission
313
00:18:44,256 --> 00:18:46,825
must answer that question.
314
00:18:46,892 --> 00:18:50,229
Patrik Frykberg is in charge.
315
00:18:50,295 --> 00:18:51,830
Frykberg: The first impression
that I got,
316
00:18:51,897 --> 00:18:56,435
it was the terrible smell
of fuel...
317
00:18:56,502 --> 00:18:59,071
And blood.
318
00:18:59,137 --> 00:19:04,877
It was still burning
24 hours after it crashed.
319
00:19:04,943 --> 00:19:08,947
It amazed us that somebody
had survived.
320
00:19:11,483 --> 00:19:13,418
Chaparro Ugarte:
Thanks to my seat change,
321
00:19:13,485 --> 00:19:16,355
because I couldn't fit into
the seat because of my size,
322
00:19:16,421 --> 00:19:20,125
they changed me to row ten,
the emergency exit row.
323
00:19:20,192 --> 00:19:23,428
And that's why I had
a chance to survive.
324
00:19:25,831 --> 00:19:30,369
Narrator: Frykberg is also
amazed by the looting.
325
00:19:30,435 --> 00:19:32,771
Frykberg: They were taking
anything they could carry
326
00:19:32,838 --> 00:19:34,072
from the wreckage site.
327
00:19:34,139 --> 00:19:41,613
They took tires, oxygen bottles,
doors, metal pieces,
328
00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:45,217
parts of the landing gear.
329
00:19:45,284 --> 00:19:48,020
Maybe there was an interest
of exchanging them for money.
330
00:19:52,190 --> 00:19:53,825
Narrator: The small troop
of government soldiers
331
00:19:53,892 --> 00:19:54,927
at the crash site...
332
00:19:54,993 --> 00:19:55,928
Frykberg: Excuse me.
I'm with CIAA.
333
00:19:55,994 --> 00:19:57,896
I'm gonna need
your help, please.
334
00:19:57,963 --> 00:19:59,865
Narrator: ...can't protect
all the evidence.
335
00:19:59,932 --> 00:20:01,667
Frykberg: It was huge as well,
336
00:20:01,733 --> 00:20:05,871
so it wasn't that easy
of a situation to control.
337
00:20:05,938 --> 00:20:07,205
Frykberg: Hey, I need
both these engines
338
00:20:07,272 --> 00:20:10,809
guarded around the clock.
339
00:20:10,876 --> 00:20:13,045
No exceptions.
340
00:20:17,015 --> 00:20:18,317
Narrator: Frykberg is forced
to preserve
341
00:20:18,383 --> 00:20:20,018
the most important pieces.
342
00:20:23,021 --> 00:20:24,122
Frykberg: We could distinguish
the engines,
343
00:20:24,189 --> 00:20:29,695
but everything else
was into small pieces.
344
00:20:29,761 --> 00:20:32,731
We need to take pictures of
everything before it's all gone.
345
00:20:32,798 --> 00:20:35,200
Let's go.
346
00:20:35,267 --> 00:20:39,204
Narrator: What he can't guard
he tries to document.
347
00:20:39,271 --> 00:20:40,205
Frykberg: I mean, the pieces
were there,
348
00:20:40,272 --> 00:20:41,406
the flight controls were there.
349
00:20:41,473 --> 00:20:43,842
We found the cockpit,
parts of the cockpit.
350
00:20:43,909 --> 00:20:46,545
We found the seats.
351
00:20:46,612 --> 00:20:48,614
We were mainly worried
about recovering
352
00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:52,017
the flight data recorder
and the cockpit voice recorder.
353
00:20:52,084 --> 00:20:53,185
Narrator: While the team
at the crash site
354
00:20:53,251 --> 00:20:56,488
searches for the vital
black boxes,
355
00:20:56,555 --> 00:20:59,691
other investigators
interview survivors.
356
00:21:02,094 --> 00:21:03,795
Woman: The last thing
that I remember
357
00:21:03,862 --> 00:21:07,599
was just this fire coming
from the front end of the plane.
358
00:21:07,666 --> 00:21:10,836
Chaparro Ugarte: It sounded like
the engines were struggling.
359
00:21:10,902 --> 00:21:14,039
Woman: I have never seen
hail that big.
360
00:21:14,106 --> 00:21:16,141
Narrator: The survivor accounts
of the flight confirm reports
361
00:21:16,208 --> 00:21:21,179
of a severe hailstorm
that pounded the region...
362
00:21:21,246 --> 00:21:22,381
Perez Palma: It's huge!
363
00:21:22,447 --> 00:21:26,718
Narrator: ...just before
flight 204 went down.
364
00:21:26,785 --> 00:21:30,322
Frykberg wonders if the hail
somehow disabled the engines.
365
00:21:30,389 --> 00:21:31,957
Frykberg: It can severely damage
366
00:21:32,024 --> 00:21:34,359
the whole aircraft
and its systems.
367
00:21:34,426 --> 00:21:37,229
It can shut down the engines.
368
00:21:37,295 --> 00:21:38,530
It's very dangerous
for an aircraft
369
00:21:38,597 --> 00:21:41,433
to fly into a hailstorm.
370
00:21:43,735 --> 00:21:46,405
Narrator: In 1988, another 737
371
00:21:46,471 --> 00:21:47,939
flying through a thunderstorm
to New Orleans
372
00:21:48,006 --> 00:21:51,043
suddenly lost power
to both its engines.
373
00:21:55,547 --> 00:21:57,449
The captain managed
to save the plane
374
00:21:57,516 --> 00:21:59,284
with a remarkable
emergency landing
375
00:21:59,351 --> 00:22:01,019
on a grass-covered levee.
376
00:22:01,086 --> 00:22:04,356
A storm simulation
at an engine test facility
377
00:22:04,423 --> 00:22:07,325
later revealed that
intense rain and hail
378
00:22:07,392 --> 00:22:09,127
had caused the engines to fail.
379
00:22:12,197 --> 00:22:15,467
Investigators suspect
the same thing may have happened
380
00:22:15,534 --> 00:22:17,969
to flight 204--
381
00:22:18,036 --> 00:22:22,507
that the sheer volume of hail
and rain caused a dual flameout.
382
00:22:24,376 --> 00:22:26,011
Castillo Vargas:
An engine flameout
383
00:22:26,078 --> 00:22:30,082
is almost like a candle
being blown by the wind.
384
00:22:32,584 --> 00:22:34,286
Narrator: A visual inspection
of the engines
385
00:22:34,352 --> 00:22:37,789
should help determine
if that's the case.
386
00:22:37,856 --> 00:22:39,324
Though the engines'
outer casings
387
00:22:39,391 --> 00:22:40,992
have suffered heavy damage,
388
00:22:41,059 --> 00:22:43,862
the turbines are largely intact.
389
00:22:43,929 --> 00:22:47,833
Frykberg: We had to see
if they sucked in some debris.
390
00:22:47,899 --> 00:22:50,202
Narrator: A close inspection
reveals plant debris
391
00:22:50,268 --> 00:22:52,237
deep inside the turbines.
392
00:22:52,304 --> 00:22:54,239
It means that the engines
were spinning
393
00:22:54,306 --> 00:22:57,142
when the plane hit
the jungle canopy.
394
00:22:57,209 --> 00:22:58,810
Frykberg: We found
that nothing abnormal
395
00:22:58,877 --> 00:23:00,078
had happened to the engines.
396
00:23:00,145 --> 00:23:02,647
They were operating
until they crashed.
397
00:23:06,451 --> 00:23:08,053
Narrator:
It's conclusive evidence.
398
00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:12,023
An engine flameout
did not bring down flight 204.
399
00:23:14,192 --> 00:23:15,894
Frykberg: We didn't know
at that time
400
00:23:15,961 --> 00:23:18,029
what had caused the accident.
401
00:23:20,365 --> 00:23:22,467
Narrator: Hope of getting
some answers is renewed
402
00:23:22,534 --> 00:23:26,138
when within hours they find one
of the plane's two black boxes.
403
00:23:28,206 --> 00:23:32,010
Since Peru lacks the technology
to read the data,
404
00:23:32,077 --> 00:23:33,111
the cockpit voice recorder
will be shipped
405
00:23:33,178 --> 00:23:36,715
to the NTSB in Washington
for analysis.
406
00:23:36,782 --> 00:23:38,049
Frykberg: It's like a rush
407
00:23:38,116 --> 00:23:43,388
because okay, we have
something to work with now.
408
00:23:43,455 --> 00:23:45,157
Narrator: But the second
black box,
409
00:23:45,223 --> 00:23:49,828
the flight data recorder,
is still nowhere to be found.
410
00:23:49,895 --> 00:23:53,265
Frykberg: Any sign of the FDR?
411
00:23:53,331 --> 00:23:56,134
Well, I can guess
what happened to it.
412
00:23:56,201 --> 00:23:57,936
Keep looking.
413
00:23:58,003 --> 00:24:01,973
Narrator: It's more than likely
that looters have taken the FDR.
414
00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:02,741
Frykberg: Watching that some
of the evidence
415
00:24:02,808 --> 00:24:06,011
was being taken away,
416
00:24:06,077 --> 00:24:07,779
we were very, very frustrated
417
00:24:07,846 --> 00:24:12,284
that we could not have a better
control of the crash site.
418
00:24:12,350 --> 00:24:16,321
Narrator: With the evidence they
need disappearing by the minute,
419
00:24:16,388 --> 00:24:18,223
they post a $500 reward
420
00:24:18,290 --> 00:24:21,693
for the return
of the flight data recorder.
421
00:24:22,994 --> 00:24:25,597
Frykberg: It tells us how
the engines were
422
00:24:25,664 --> 00:24:28,667
or the systems were performing
until they crashed,
423
00:24:28,733 --> 00:24:30,435
until the aircraft crashes,
424
00:24:30,502 --> 00:24:33,638
so it's pretty necessary
information to have.
425
00:24:35,941 --> 00:24:38,076
Narrator: Whether they ever get
that valuable information
426
00:24:38,143 --> 00:24:41,546
is now up to the people
of Pucalpa.
427
00:24:45,550 --> 00:24:48,220
In the meantime,
Frykberg gathers information
428
00:24:48,286 --> 00:24:49,821
on what the Pucalpa
tower controller witnessed
429
00:24:49,888 --> 00:24:54,259
as he waited
for flight 204's arrival.
430
00:24:57,128 --> 00:24:59,998
Flores Peña: At that point,
I informed the pilot
431
00:25:00,065 --> 00:25:02,667
of the presence
of the cumulonimbus.
432
00:25:02,734 --> 00:25:03,768
In the aviation world,
everybody knows
433
00:25:03,835 --> 00:25:07,572
it is the most dangerous cloud.
434
00:25:09,307 --> 00:25:11,276
Narrator: The controller
could only warn the crew
435
00:25:11,343 --> 00:25:15,013
about the storm cloud,
also known as a Charlie Bravo.
436
00:25:17,983 --> 00:25:19,317
Flores Peña: Tans Peru 204.
437
00:25:19,384 --> 00:25:21,686
A Charlie Bravo
in the southern quadrant.
438
00:25:21,753 --> 00:25:24,089
Narrator: In Peru, controllers
do not have the authority
439
00:25:24,155 --> 00:25:26,491
to shut down an airport.
440
00:25:26,558 --> 00:25:29,928
Flores Peña: Begin final descent
to 1,500 feet.
441
00:25:29,995 --> 00:25:31,930
Frykberg: He was advising
the crew
442
00:25:31,997 --> 00:25:36,067
that the conditions
were deteriorating fast.
443
00:25:37,168 --> 00:25:39,838
Perez Palma: We can get in
through here.
444
00:25:39,905 --> 00:25:42,073
Frykberg: According to
his general operations manual,
445
00:25:42,140 --> 00:25:45,677
you either avoid that storm
or you go around it
446
00:25:45,744 --> 00:25:48,546
or over it if possible.
447
00:25:48,613 --> 00:25:50,148
Palacin Fernandez:
Visual flight rules
448
00:25:50,215 --> 00:25:52,984
instruct a pilot in a situation
of zero visibility
449
00:25:53,051 --> 00:25:57,622
to immediately gain altitude
and go to an alternate airport.
450
00:25:57,689 --> 00:26:00,692
Narrator: Investigators need
to know why Captain Perez Palma
451
00:26:00,759 --> 00:26:03,628
took the risk of flying
straight into the storm.
452
00:26:03,695 --> 00:26:07,165
Perez Palma: No. We have to
go in further ahead.
453
00:26:07,232 --> 00:26:10,068
Narrator: He had enough fuel
to divert to another airport.
454
00:26:13,138 --> 00:26:16,574
They suspect that the unusual
origins of Tans Peru
455
00:26:16,641 --> 00:26:19,344
have something to do
with his decision.
456
00:26:19,411 --> 00:26:21,680
Launched by
the Peruvian Air Force,
457
00:26:21,746 --> 00:26:24,950
the airline fostered a culture
that likely came into conflict
458
00:26:25,016 --> 00:26:27,652
with the goals
of civil aviation.
459
00:26:30,855 --> 00:26:34,526
Castillo Vargas: Tans Peru
started as a military operator
460
00:26:34,592 --> 00:26:37,395
without any certification
461
00:26:37,462 --> 00:26:41,566
from the civil aviation
authorities in Peru.
462
00:26:41,633 --> 00:26:44,602
Frykberg: Their personnel were
either retired Air Force pilots
463
00:26:44,669 --> 00:26:48,073
or inactive duty pilots.
464
00:26:49,374 --> 00:26:50,742
Hurtado Martinez:
Military pilots have
465
00:26:50,809 --> 00:26:53,511
a different type of training
than civilian pilots.
466
00:26:53,578 --> 00:26:56,348
For them, if they have to land,
it's an order.
467
00:26:56,414 --> 00:26:57,582
They land.
468
00:26:57,649 --> 00:27:00,151
A civilian pilot has
more leeway to question.
469
00:27:00,218 --> 00:27:02,754
He has more freedom.
470
00:27:06,491 --> 00:27:07,926
Castillo Vargas:
The military attitude
471
00:27:07,993 --> 00:27:10,895
is always to accomplish
the mission.
472
00:27:10,962 --> 00:27:13,064
Narrator:
The unavoidable question:
473
00:27:13,131 --> 00:27:15,533
Did Perez Palma disregard safety
474
00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:18,670
and endanger the lives
of his passengers
475
00:27:18,737 --> 00:27:22,574
in a misguided attempt
to finish the mission?
476
00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:24,709
Perez Palma: We'll make it.
477
00:27:28,580 --> 00:27:30,482
Narrator:
Looking for more answers,
478
00:27:30,548 --> 00:27:32,884
Frykberg travels to Washington
where NTSB specialists
479
00:27:32,951 --> 00:27:37,822
can extract the recording
from the CVR.
480
00:27:37,889 --> 00:27:40,792
Chirinos Delgado: Is there
some visibility over there?
481
00:27:40,859 --> 00:27:44,095
Perez Palma: No, not that way.
482
00:27:44,162 --> 00:27:46,231
Stay under the cloud.
483
00:27:46,297 --> 00:27:49,801
Do not descend.
Do not descend.
484
00:27:49,868 --> 00:27:53,238
Frykberg: I only hear
two voices.
485
00:27:53,304 --> 00:27:55,473
Perez Palma
and Chirinos Delgado.
486
00:27:55,540 --> 00:27:57,042
Narrator: This was supposed
to be a three-man crew,
487
00:27:57,108 --> 00:28:00,845
but there are only two voices
on the recording.
488
00:28:00,912 --> 00:28:03,948
Frykberg:
Where's the first officer?
489
00:28:04,015 --> 00:28:04,816
Perez Palma:
Look for the runway.
490
00:28:04,883 --> 00:28:07,318
Look for the runway outside!
491
00:28:07,385 --> 00:28:09,687
Narrator: But before he can
answer that question...
492
00:28:09,754 --> 00:28:11,823
Chirinos Delgado: Six miles.
493
00:28:12,891 --> 00:28:14,559
Frykberg: Oh, hang on.
494
00:28:14,626 --> 00:28:15,727
Hi, it's Patrik.
495
00:28:15,794 --> 00:28:19,297
Narrator: He gets news
from his office in Lima.
496
00:28:19,364 --> 00:28:22,534
Frykberg: Call me
the second you open it.
497
00:28:22,600 --> 00:28:24,936
The reward worked.
498
00:28:25,003 --> 00:28:25,970
We're getting the FDR.
499
00:28:28,106 --> 00:28:31,776
Narrator: It seems that $500
was too good to pass up
500
00:28:31,843 --> 00:28:34,179
for one man in Pucalpa.
501
00:28:35,180 --> 00:28:38,016
In a major breakthrough
for investigators,
502
00:28:38,083 --> 00:28:41,586
the man agrees to exchange
the second black box
503
00:28:41,653 --> 00:28:44,789
for the reward money.
504
00:28:44,856 --> 00:28:47,959
Frykberg: He was pretty much
the good guy at the time.
505
00:28:48,026 --> 00:28:49,327
Narrator:
If it's still functioning,
506
00:28:49,394 --> 00:28:53,498
the FDR could point directly
to the cause of the crash
507
00:28:53,565 --> 00:28:54,532
by revealing any
in-flight electrical
508
00:28:54,599 --> 00:28:57,802
or mechanical failures.
509
00:29:01,639 --> 00:29:04,309
Meanwhile, the reason why
there are only two voices
510
00:29:04,375 --> 00:29:08,113
on the CVR has come to light.
511
00:29:10,281 --> 00:29:12,951
Flight attendant: The first
officer was in the cabin.
512
00:29:15,286 --> 00:29:17,789
Narrator: The first officer
left the cockpit...
513
00:29:17,856 --> 00:29:19,424
Perez Palma: You can sit
in the cabin if you prefer.
514
00:29:19,491 --> 00:29:23,962
Narrator: Because the seatbelt
on his jump seat wasn't working.
515
00:29:24,028 --> 00:29:25,930
Castillo Vargas:
Aircraft manufacturers
516
00:29:25,997 --> 00:29:28,299
have built their airplanes
517
00:29:28,366 --> 00:29:34,038
to be flown by a crew of two
as a minimum.
518
00:29:34,105 --> 00:29:36,007
Narrator: The crew ignored
a key rule
519
00:29:36,074 --> 00:29:38,810
requiring the first officer
to stay in the cockpit
520
00:29:38,877 --> 00:29:41,713
during a training session.
521
00:29:44,315 --> 00:29:47,318
Frykberg: Turn it up.
522
00:29:47,385 --> 00:29:50,155
Narrator: Frykberg also notices
a characteristic sign
523
00:29:50,221 --> 00:29:52,123
that trainee Chirinos Delgado
524
00:29:52,190 --> 00:29:54,459
was not comfortable
flying the plane.
525
00:29:59,564 --> 00:30:01,599
Frykberg: Based on other
accident investigations,
526
00:30:01,666 --> 00:30:03,935
when we heard the copilot
start whistling,
527
00:30:04,002 --> 00:30:06,771
that means that maybe he's
in a very stressful situation.
528
00:30:06,838 --> 00:30:08,907
Perez Palma:
Look for the runway.
529
00:30:08,973 --> 00:30:10,942
Look for the runway outside!
530
00:30:11,009 --> 00:30:12,710
Chirinos Delgado:
I'm looking! I'm looking.
531
00:30:12,777 --> 00:30:15,613
Narrator: Though the
investigation is far from over,
532
00:30:15,680 --> 00:30:17,382
it's beginning to look
like the pairing...
533
00:30:17,448 --> 00:30:19,184
Chirinos Delgado: Gear down?
Perez Palma: Not yet.
534
00:30:19,250 --> 00:30:20,351
Narrator: Of this captain...
535
00:30:20,418 --> 00:30:22,153
Perez Palma: Look at the speed,
you idiot!
536
00:30:22,220 --> 00:30:24,122
Narrator: With an inexperienced
trainee
537
00:30:24,189 --> 00:30:27,192
may have been
a recipe for disaster.
538
00:30:35,333 --> 00:30:37,035
Perez Palma: Do you have
the runway in sight?
539
00:30:37,101 --> 00:30:41,339
Narrator: The CVR
from Tans Peru flight 204...
540
00:30:41,406 --> 00:30:42,540
Chirinos Delgado:
No, I don't have it.
541
00:30:42,607 --> 00:30:44,209
Narrator: Has given
investigators a glimpse
542
00:30:44,275 --> 00:30:47,612
inside the cockpit
of the doomed flight.
543
00:30:47,679 --> 00:30:52,183
They hope data from the FDR
will tell them much more.
544
00:30:52,250 --> 00:30:57,555
But when it is finally examined,
those hopes are dashed.
545
00:30:57,622 --> 00:30:59,023
Frykberg: It was like
a bad surprise for us
546
00:30:59,090 --> 00:31:00,959
because it was tampered with.
547
00:31:01,025 --> 00:31:02,560
It was opened.
548
00:31:02,627 --> 00:31:04,395
Narrator: The recorder
is badly burned,
549
00:31:04,462 --> 00:31:05,997
and whoever found it has toyed
550
00:31:06,064 --> 00:31:07,498
with the intricate
internal mechanism.
551
00:31:07,565 --> 00:31:10,201
The device is useless.
552
00:31:10,268 --> 00:31:11,903
Frykberg: The tape
was destroyed.
553
00:31:11,970 --> 00:31:14,172
We couldn't use it.
554
00:31:14,239 --> 00:31:15,840
Narrator:
It's a bitter disappointment
555
00:31:15,907 --> 00:31:18,076
for investigators.
556
00:31:18,142 --> 00:31:19,711
Frykberg: Alright.
557
00:31:19,777 --> 00:31:21,246
Alright. Thank you.
558
00:31:21,312 --> 00:31:25,350
Narrator: Worse, they're missing
some other important data.
559
00:31:27,819 --> 00:31:30,054
Flores Peña: Pucalpa Airport
doesn't have radar.
560
00:31:30,121 --> 00:31:34,125
Only Lima Airport does.
561
00:31:34,192 --> 00:31:35,526
Narrator: A radar track
of the flight
562
00:31:35,593 --> 00:31:38,429
would show the plane's
rate of descent--
563
00:31:38,496 --> 00:31:40,265
information that could
tell investigators
564
00:31:40,331 --> 00:31:43,001
how quickly
the crisis developed.
565
00:31:43,067 --> 00:31:45,937
Without the radar data...
566
00:31:46,004 --> 00:31:47,171
Frykberg: Got the calculator?
567
00:31:47,238 --> 00:31:51,075
Narrator: ...Frykberg
has to get creative.
568
00:31:51,142 --> 00:31:54,579
He listens to how the pilots
describe their position.
569
00:31:54,646 --> 00:31:57,415
Frykberg: Okay.
570
00:31:57,482 --> 00:32:00,685
Perez Palma: 20 miles.
We are at 2,000 feet.
571
00:32:00,752 --> 00:32:05,323
Narrator: He hopes to recreate
the plane's flight path.
572
00:32:05,390 --> 00:32:08,326
It requires detailed analysis.
573
00:32:09,694 --> 00:32:11,596
Frykberg: Uh, 20 DME.
574
00:32:11,663 --> 00:32:15,166
Velocity is 300.
575
00:32:15,233 --> 00:32:17,201
Narrator: He then measures
how long it took the plane
576
00:32:17,268 --> 00:32:21,406
to travel a given distance
to calculate their air speed.
577
00:32:21,472 --> 00:32:23,541
Frykberg: We made
mathematical calculations,
578
00:32:23,608 --> 00:32:26,844
and you obtain
the rate of descent.
579
00:32:26,911 --> 00:32:30,348
Narrator: From the analysis,
a telling detail emerges.
580
00:32:30,415 --> 00:32:32,750
Frykberg:
Look what happens here.
581
00:32:32,817 --> 00:32:35,920
Narrator:
34 seconds before impact,
582
00:32:35,987 --> 00:32:38,022
the plane dropped like a stone,
583
00:32:38,089 --> 00:32:40,825
losing a thousand feet
in altitude.
584
00:32:44,228 --> 00:32:45,396
Chaparro Ugarte:
It tried to go up,
585
00:32:45,463 --> 00:32:49,334
but instead of going up
we saw that the plane
586
00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:54,305
began to fall down,
and then we went into freefall.
587
00:33:00,645 --> 00:33:02,947
Narrator: The calculations
show that flight 204's
588
00:33:03,014 --> 00:33:04,682
sudden loss of altitude
589
00:33:04,749 --> 00:33:08,353
was accompanied
by a rapid loss of speed.
590
00:33:13,324 --> 00:33:18,096
Frykberg: 113 knots
in only 38 seconds?
591
00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:25,737
That's when the hail started.
592
00:33:25,803 --> 00:33:27,004
Narrator: The sudden drop
in altitude and speed
593
00:33:27,071 --> 00:33:31,242
coincided with the onset
of the hailstorm.
594
00:33:32,944 --> 00:33:34,445
Frykberg already knows hail
595
00:33:34,512 --> 00:33:39,050
did not cause the 737's engines
to flame out.
596
00:33:39,817 --> 00:33:41,652
Perhaps the hail caused
597
00:33:41,719 --> 00:33:45,156
a different but
equally serious problem.
598
00:33:45,223 --> 00:33:47,792
He obtains a high-resolution
satellite image
599
00:33:47,859 --> 00:33:52,196
of the thundercloud taken
at the time of the crash.
600
00:33:52,263 --> 00:33:55,566
Frykberg: Seeing the size
of the storm cell
601
00:33:55,633 --> 00:33:59,170
established that very big hail
hit the aircraft.
602
00:34:01,439 --> 00:34:04,742
Frykberg: Look at the radar
reflection right here.
603
00:34:04,809 --> 00:34:07,812
This is a hail shaft.
604
00:34:07,879 --> 00:34:09,313
Narrator: Within a hail shaft,
605
00:34:09,380 --> 00:34:13,251
there's a fast moving column
of air known as a downdraft.
606
00:34:13,317 --> 00:34:15,987
Flying through one can be risky.
607
00:34:16,053 --> 00:34:18,890
Frykberg: It could either
damage the aircraft--
608
00:34:18,956 --> 00:34:22,126
it could even push down
the aircraft.
609
00:34:22,193 --> 00:34:24,629
Narrator: In 1985,
a Lockheed L-1011 flew
610
00:34:24,695 --> 00:34:27,098
through a cumulonimbus cloud
611
00:34:27,165 --> 00:34:31,035
while on descent
to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport.
612
00:34:31,102 --> 00:34:33,137
It was hit by a severe downdraft
613
00:34:33,204 --> 00:34:35,807
and crashed just short
of the runway.
614
00:34:39,076 --> 00:34:40,611
A downdraft could explain
615
00:34:40,678 --> 00:34:44,682
flight 204's severe loss
of speed and altitude.
616
00:34:46,317 --> 00:34:49,120
But experienced pilots
like Perez Palma are trained
617
00:34:49,187 --> 00:34:52,824
to recognize and combat
the effects of a downdraft.
618
00:34:54,358 --> 00:34:56,294
Castillo Vargas:
He would push the throttles
619
00:34:56,360 --> 00:35:00,898
all the way forward
to gain speed.
620
00:35:00,965 --> 00:35:03,734
He would immediately
and automatically
621
00:35:03,801 --> 00:35:05,670
would pull the wheel
622
00:35:05,736 --> 00:35:09,640
in order for the airplane
to gain altitude.
623
00:35:09,707 --> 00:35:11,108
Narrator: Pulling up the nose
of the plane
624
00:35:11,175 --> 00:35:12,610
and applying full engine power
625
00:35:12,677 --> 00:35:15,346
could have kept the plane
out of trouble.
626
00:35:17,782 --> 00:35:19,984
Perez Palma:
Look for the runway.
627
00:35:20,051 --> 00:35:21,986
Look for the runway outside!
628
00:35:22,053 --> 00:35:23,788
Chirinos Delgado:
I'm looking. I'm looking.
629
00:35:23,855 --> 00:35:27,458
Narrator: Investigators must now
answer two key questions.
630
00:35:27,525 --> 00:35:30,595
Why couldn't the pilots recover
from the downdraft?
631
00:35:30,661 --> 00:35:32,763
And why didn't they notice
they were dropping
632
00:35:32,830 --> 00:35:35,533
until alarms began to sound?
633
00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:38,236
Frykberg: They had no idea
they were descending.
634
00:35:38,302 --> 00:35:40,304
Castillo Vargas:
This is a big mistake.
635
00:35:40,371 --> 00:35:45,042
That's why normally crews
come in a set of two
636
00:35:45,109 --> 00:35:48,980
so one looks
at the flight instruments
637
00:35:49,046 --> 00:35:51,382
and the other one is aware
638
00:35:51,449 --> 00:35:55,019
of what is going on
outside the aircraft.
639
00:35:57,188 --> 00:35:59,891
Narrator: The trainee's
inexperience could account
640
00:35:59,957 --> 00:36:03,461
for why he didn't notice that
the plane was dropping fast,
641
00:36:03,528 --> 00:36:07,198
but the captain was a highly
experienced fighter pilot.
642
00:36:09,867 --> 00:36:11,068
Hurtado Martinez:
He was a captain
643
00:36:11,135 --> 00:36:12,803
who had logged
a lot of flight hours,
644
00:36:12,870 --> 00:36:16,173
an efficient soldier,
even a war hero.
645
00:36:16,240 --> 00:36:18,509
He fought an air battle
with a neighboring country
646
00:36:18,576 --> 00:36:20,044
and was given a medal.
647
00:36:24,949 --> 00:36:27,385
Narrator:
Perez Palma knew this route.
648
00:36:27,451 --> 00:36:30,288
He was used to flying
in unpredictable weather.
649
00:36:30,354 --> 00:36:32,657
It doesn't seem to add up.
650
00:36:34,392 --> 00:36:40,097
Then, while examining photos
he took at the crash site,
651
00:36:40,164 --> 00:36:43,801
Frykberg discovers a clue.
652
00:36:43,868 --> 00:36:46,637
He notices that a section
of the plane's windshield
653
00:36:46,704 --> 00:36:50,841
is unusually frosted and opaque.
654
00:36:50,908 --> 00:36:53,311
He asks the NTSB
to send him photos
655
00:36:53,377 --> 00:36:55,880
of other planes that were
damaged by hail.
656
00:36:55,947 --> 00:36:57,515
Frykberg: Hi, it's Patrik...
657
00:36:57,582 --> 00:36:59,016
Statistically, there are
a couple of serious incidents
658
00:36:59,083 --> 00:37:03,221
and accidents where hail
has been involved.
659
00:37:03,287 --> 00:37:05,323
Narrator:
Cockpit windows are made
of multiple layers
660
00:37:05,389 --> 00:37:07,825
of acrylic and plastic
bonded together.
661
00:37:07,892 --> 00:37:10,595
They are extremely thick
and strong,
662
00:37:10,661 --> 00:37:13,698
but in rare cases large hail
663
00:37:13,764 --> 00:37:15,600
can crack the outer layers
of the windshield,
664
00:37:15,666 --> 00:37:18,436
creating a frosted texture
665
00:37:18,502 --> 00:37:21,072
that is almost impossible
to see through.
666
00:37:22,239 --> 00:37:27,078
Investigators conclude
that moments before the crash...
667
00:37:27,144 --> 00:37:27,945
Perez Palma:
Look for the runway!
668
00:37:28,012 --> 00:37:30,314
Look for the runway outside!
669
00:37:30,381 --> 00:37:31,415
Chirinos Delgado:
I'm looking! I'm looking!
670
00:37:31,482 --> 00:37:33,884
Narrator: The crew
was flying blind...
671
00:37:33,951 --> 00:37:35,186
Frykberg: The hail shaft
672
00:37:35,252 --> 00:37:36,587
shattered the front windows
of the aircraft
673
00:37:36,654 --> 00:37:40,257
so the crew lost the visual
line of sight of the runway.
674
00:37:40,324 --> 00:37:41,892
Perez Palma: Do you have
the runway in sight?
675
00:37:41,959 --> 00:37:44,095
Narrator: Hindered
by the damaged window...
676
00:37:44,161 --> 00:37:45,396
Chirinos Delgado:
No. I don't have it!
677
00:37:45,463 --> 00:37:46,697
Narrator:
The crew failed to notice
678
00:37:46,764 --> 00:37:49,567
what the flight instruments
were telling them.
679
00:37:49,634 --> 00:37:53,104
The plane was falling fast,
pushed by a downdraft.
680
00:37:53,170 --> 00:37:56,974
Once they hit 500 feet,
they couldn't help but notice.
681
00:37:57,041 --> 00:37:59,844
The sound of the altitude
alert warning
682
00:37:59,910 --> 00:38:02,880
began filling the cockpit.
683
00:38:02,947 --> 00:38:07,251
Commercial jetliners
are equipped
684
00:38:07,318 --> 00:38:10,187
with a ground proximity
radar system.
685
00:38:10,254 --> 00:38:11,689
It triggers a warning
if the plane flies too low
686
00:38:11,756 --> 00:38:15,760
without deploying
its landing gear.
687
00:38:15,826 --> 00:38:17,928
Perez Palma:
Pull with me! Pull!
688
00:38:17,995 --> 00:38:21,298
Narrator: It's clear
from the flight 204 CVR
689
00:38:21,365 --> 00:38:24,301
that the pilots were trying
to pull up,
690
00:38:24,368 --> 00:38:27,071
yet the plane didn't climb.
691
00:38:27,138 --> 00:38:29,273
The question is why.
692
00:38:29,340 --> 00:38:32,143
Frykberg: We asked the national
transportation safety board
693
00:38:32,209 --> 00:38:34,945
if they could do
a background sound analysis
694
00:38:35,012 --> 00:38:36,714
so we could establish
if the engines
695
00:38:36,781 --> 00:38:39,650
were at max power or not.
696
00:38:41,352 --> 00:38:42,687
Perez Palma:
Look for the runway!
697
00:38:42,753 --> 00:38:44,755
Narrator: One by one, the
various sounds in the cockpit
698
00:38:44,822 --> 00:38:48,159
are identified and eliminated.
699
00:38:48,225 --> 00:38:51,095
Frykberg: That's only
the engines, right?
700
00:38:51,162 --> 00:38:53,364
Narrator: If the pilots
were trying to climb,
701
00:38:53,431 --> 00:38:55,933
the engines should be screaming
as they rev up,
702
00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:59,203
but that's not
what investigators hear.
703
00:38:59,270 --> 00:39:01,639
Frykberg: They're not
spooling up.
704
00:39:01,706 --> 00:39:03,240
You just hear constant frequency
until the end.
705
00:39:03,307 --> 00:39:05,776
Narrator: It seems the crew
failed to do the one thing
706
00:39:05,843 --> 00:39:09,146
that could have saved the plane:
707
00:39:09,213 --> 00:39:15,920
Perform a standard procedure--
accelerate out of trouble.
708
00:39:15,986 --> 00:39:17,154
Frykberg needs to know
709
00:39:17,221 --> 00:39:20,191
how they could have made
such a fundamental error.
710
00:39:20,257 --> 00:39:23,194
He reviews the events
leading up to the crash,
711
00:39:23,260 --> 00:39:27,565
a perfect storm of unlikely
events and tragic mistakes.
712
00:39:32,970 --> 00:39:34,271
It starts...
713
00:39:34,338 --> 00:39:35,873
Perez Palma: You can sit
in the cabin if you prefer.
714
00:39:35,940 --> 00:39:37,074
Narrator:
...with the broken seatbelt
715
00:39:37,141 --> 00:39:39,677
on the first officer's
jump seat.
716
00:39:41,846 --> 00:39:43,214
The captain is left flying
717
00:39:43,280 --> 00:39:46,117
with only a young,
inexperienced trainee.
718
00:39:46,183 --> 00:39:48,352
Perez Palma: Textbook, major.
719
00:39:48,419 --> 00:39:50,488
Chirinos Delgado:
Thank you, sir.
720
00:39:50,554 --> 00:39:53,290
Perez Palma:
You remind me of myself.
721
00:39:57,561 --> 00:39:58,829
Chirinos Delgado:
Look at that beast.
722
00:39:58,896 --> 00:40:00,898
Narrator: Captain Perez Palma
misjudges the storm...
723
00:40:00,965 --> 00:40:03,200
Perez Palma: We can
get in through here.
724
00:40:03,267 --> 00:40:05,636
Narrator: ...and flies
right through it.
725
00:40:07,838 --> 00:40:10,741
Narrator: Intense hail
shatters the windshield...
726
00:40:14,211 --> 00:40:15,780
Perez Palma: Do you have
the runway in sight?
727
00:40:15,846 --> 00:40:16,847
Narrator: ...blinding the crew.
728
00:40:16,914 --> 00:40:20,651
Chirinos Delgado:
No. I don't have it.
729
00:40:20,718 --> 00:40:22,586
Narrator: When a massive
downdraft hits,
730
00:40:22,653 --> 00:40:25,122
the pilots don't notice
their plane is descending
731
00:40:25,189 --> 00:40:29,126
until the ground proximity alarm
goes off.
732
00:40:29,193 --> 00:40:32,930
Then they make
the biggest mistake of all--
733
00:40:32,997 --> 00:40:35,399
they fail to throttle up.
734
00:40:39,336 --> 00:40:41,372
Investigators conclude
that happened
735
00:40:41,438 --> 00:40:43,541
as the result
of one critical decision
736
00:40:43,607 --> 00:40:47,645
taken moments earlier
by Captain Perez Palma.
737
00:40:50,915 --> 00:40:54,084
Frykberg: It sealed their fate.
738
00:40:54,151 --> 00:40:55,820
Narrator: Investigators analyze
a pivotal decision
739
00:40:55,886 --> 00:40:58,923
made by the captain
of flight 204
740
00:40:58,989 --> 00:41:01,859
less than a minute
before the crash.
741
00:41:04,161 --> 00:41:08,265
Frykberg: At the last moment
he took control.
742
00:41:08,332 --> 00:41:10,901
Narrator: When he began to lose
confidence in his copilot...
743
00:41:10,968 --> 00:41:13,604
Perez Palma: Or maybe
I have it, okay?
744
00:41:13,671 --> 00:41:14,972
Narrator: He took command
745
00:41:15,039 --> 00:41:17,541
and became the pilot
flying the plane.
746
00:41:17,608 --> 00:41:20,711
At that moment Chirinos Delgado
became first officer.
747
00:41:20,778 --> 00:41:22,713
Chirinos Delgado: Gear down?
748
00:41:22,780 --> 00:41:25,216
Perez Palma: Not yet.
749
00:41:25,282 --> 00:41:27,952
Narrator: The pilots
have switched roles.
750
00:41:28,018 --> 00:41:30,354
Perez Palma: Look at the speed,
you idiot!
751
00:41:30,421 --> 00:41:33,591
Narrator: Both seem confused
by the transition.
752
00:41:33,657 --> 00:41:34,859
Perez Palma:
Hurry with the flaps.
753
00:41:34,925 --> 00:41:36,527
Narrator: It's now
the co-pilot's job
754
00:41:36,594 --> 00:41:39,029
to monitor the changes
in altitude.
755
00:41:39,096 --> 00:41:40,764
Perez Palma: Flaps five.
756
00:41:40,831 --> 00:41:42,299
Chirinos Delgado:
Okay, flaps five.
757
00:41:42,366 --> 00:41:45,903
Narrator: But he's distracted
by the demands of the captain.
758
00:41:45,970 --> 00:41:48,973
Castillo Vargas: Never both
pilots are looking outside
759
00:41:49,039 --> 00:41:52,009
at the same time, never.
760
00:41:52,076 --> 00:41:54,211
Always one of the pilots
761
00:41:54,278 --> 00:41:59,783
must keep close contact
with the instruments.
762
00:41:59,850 --> 00:42:03,854
Chirinos Delgado: I can't
see it! I can't see anything!
763
00:42:03,921 --> 00:42:05,456
Pull it!
764
00:42:05,522 --> 00:42:06,690
Perez Palma:
Okay. Pull with me.
765
00:42:06,757 --> 00:42:09,226
Narrator: Though both pilots
were pulling back,
766
00:42:09,293 --> 00:42:11,695
they both likely assumed
the other one would take
767
00:42:11,762 --> 00:42:14,031
the crucial second step
needed to get out of trouble--
768
00:42:14,098 --> 00:42:18,369
pushing the throttles forward
to maximum thrust.
769
00:42:20,671 --> 00:42:22,606
Hurtado Martinez: When pilots
are too confident
770
00:42:22,673 --> 00:42:24,375
and self-sufficient,
771
00:42:24,441 --> 00:42:28,412
they get used to the idea
that nothing will happen.
772
00:42:28,479 --> 00:42:30,514
Perez Palma: We'll make it.
773
00:42:30,581 --> 00:42:31,782
Hurtado Martinez: Call it
lack of discipline
774
00:42:31,849 --> 00:42:36,053
or not obeying the rules,
but that's what happened.
775
00:42:37,655 --> 00:42:40,224
Narrator: When investigators
examine the Tans Peru accident
776
00:42:40,291 --> 00:42:42,726
that occurred
two and a half years earlier,
777
00:42:42,793 --> 00:42:45,496
they discover a shocking fact.
778
00:42:45,562 --> 00:42:49,066
Palacin Fernandez:
The recommendations from
the accident in Chachapoyas
779
00:42:49,133 --> 00:42:50,434
were not implemented,
780
00:42:50,501 --> 00:42:55,105
and the result was the same type
of accident in Pucalpa.
781
00:42:55,172 --> 00:42:58,175
Narrator: Tans Peru flight 222
to Chachapoyas
782
00:42:58,242 --> 00:43:02,212
also crashed on approach
for many of the same reasons,
783
00:43:02,279 --> 00:43:06,350
especially the failure to follow
visual flight rules.
784
00:43:09,853 --> 00:43:12,489
Palacin Fernandez: These rules
were violated in both cases
785
00:43:12,556 --> 00:43:15,726
and caused two tragic
air crashes.
786
00:43:22,433 --> 00:43:23,767
Frykberg: There's absolutely
nothing wrong...
787
00:43:23,834 --> 00:43:27,104
Narrator:
But before investigators
can finish their work...
788
00:43:27,171 --> 00:43:30,007
Frykberg: The company had
another serious incident.
789
00:43:30,074 --> 00:43:31,642
They almost had
a midair collision
790
00:43:31,709 --> 00:43:34,144
with a commercial airline.
791
00:43:34,211 --> 00:43:35,846
Narrator: ...the Peruvian
government steps in
792
00:43:35,913 --> 00:43:38,716
to close down Tans Peru airline.
793
00:43:38,782 --> 00:43:41,952
Less than a year
after the crash,
794
00:43:42,019 --> 00:43:45,089
authorities release
the official report.
795
00:43:47,858 --> 00:43:52,396
The major cause
of the accident--pilot error.
796
00:43:52,463 --> 00:43:54,264
Perez Palma: Let's get under it.
797
00:43:54,331 --> 00:43:57,334
Frykberg: It was the loss
of situation awareness.
798
00:43:57,401 --> 00:43:58,902
Chirinos Delgado: We're not
going to our alternate?
799
00:43:58,969 --> 00:44:02,773
Frykberg: The violation of their
procedures caused this accident.
800
00:44:02,840 --> 00:44:05,576
Narrator: Flying into a storm,
801
00:44:05,642 --> 00:44:09,313
flying without a qualified
first officer in the cockpit,
802
00:44:09,380 --> 00:44:11,648
failing to react properly
to an emergency--
803
00:44:11,715 --> 00:44:15,886
all are significant errors.
804
00:44:15,953 --> 00:44:17,888
Castillo Vargas: We should never
805
00:44:17,955 --> 00:44:19,056
forget that training...
806
00:44:22,126 --> 00:44:24,595
Is the only guarantee for pilots
807
00:44:24,661 --> 00:44:26,630
to do the right thing.
808
00:44:26,697 --> 00:44:29,099
Preparation must include
809
00:44:29,166 --> 00:44:30,734
an attitude, a culture,
810
00:44:30,801 --> 00:44:34,071
a safety culture that they need
811
00:44:34,138 --> 00:44:36,707
to very deeply understand
64046
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