Why Planes Crash
| Why Planes Crash | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language |
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| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 13 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 42–47 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | MSNBC |
| Original release | July 12, 2009 – February 2, 2015 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Why Planes Crash was an aviation documentary TV mini-series based on aircraft accidents and crashes. The series was created and named by producer Caroline Sommers, on behalf of NBC Peacock Productions. The series premiere on July 12, 2009 featured "Miracle on the Hudson," Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger's incredible water ditching of U.S. Air Flight 1549 in the Hudson on January 15, 2009. Three other ditchings were also featured: Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961, ALM Flight 980, and Pan Am Flight 6.
Originally run on MSNBC, each episode was narrated by Lester Holt. The series is still in heavy rotation on The Weather Channel. Original production ceased in 2015.
Plot[]
Normally, each episode would see three accidents discussed. Over the 43 minute program aviation experts such as veteran pilot and founder of Safety Operating Systems John Cox, as well as former NTSB investigators John Goglia and Greg Feith would discuss the events and what caused or led up to the crash. The show also featured state-of-the-art recreations and visuals to graphically illustrate what occurred during the accident.[1]
In some episodes a survivor or survivors would explain what they experienced during the accident. For example, in the very first episode Captain Balsey DeWitt of ALM Flight 980 was interviewed.[2]
Episodes[]
 | This list is incomplete; you can help by . (January 2018) |
Season 1[]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Brace for Impact" | Caroline Sommers | Caroline Sommers | July 12, 2009 | N/A |
|
Exploring terrifying airplane disasters, beginning with a look at why pilots risk ditching in water, and a hijacked 767 that was forced into the ocean. Accidents: US Airways Flight 1549, ALM Flight 980, Garuda Indonesia Flight 421, Tuninter Flight 1153, Pan Am Flight 6 , Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961, | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Breaking Point" | Caroline Sommers | Caroline Sommers | January 17, 2010 | N/A |
|
A gripping look at how engines and structures have failed in flight, including how nine passengers were sucked out of a 747 when a cargo door exploded over the Pacific. Accidents: Aloha Airlines Flight 243, American Airlines Flight 191, United Airlines Flight 811, Japan Airlines Flight 123 | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Human Error" | TBA | TBA | November 21, 2010 | N/A |
|
Instances of human error that resulted in plane crashes are examined. Included: a 737 hits a small turboprop on a runway; an Airbus 300 crashes after its tail breaks off; an L-1011 jumbo jet plunges into the Everglades; a jet slams into a hillside; a commuter-plane mishap over a Buffalo suburb. Accidents: Los Angeles runway disaster, Colgan Air Flight 3407, American Airlines Flight 587, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, Avianca Flight 52 | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Fire in the Sky" | TBA | TBA | November 28, 2010 | N/A |
|
Instances of onboard fires are examined. Included: a DC-9 crashes into the Everglades after a fire causes the pilots to lose control; an MD-11 crashes after smoke fills the cockpit; a DC-9 loses its electrical systems two hours into a flight; a flame-engulfed plane crashes into a hotel. Accidents: Swissair Flight 111, Air France Flight 4590, ValuJet Flight 592, Air Canada Flight 797 | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Collision Course" | Caroline Sommers | Caroline Sommers | April 27, 2013 | N/A |
|
Examining collisions between planes. Included: a corporate jet and a 737 collide while 37,000 feet above the Amazon; a DC-8 tears into the fuselage of a Lockheed Constellation a mile above New York City; a 727 slams into a Cessna above San Diego; and near L.A., a small plane smashes into a DC-9. Accidents: 2006 Mato Grosso mid-air Collision, Grand Canyon mid-air collision, 1960 New York mid-air collision, 1967 Hendersonville mid-air collision, 1973 Nantes mid-air collision, 1978 San Diego mid-air collision, 1986 Cerritos mid-air collision | ||||||
Season 2[]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 | "Crisis in the Sky" | Caroline Sommers | Caroline Sommers | December 15, 2014 | N/A |
|
Season 2 begins with a look at cockpit communication and how it improved with the implementation of Crew Resource Management (CRM) in 1979. Accidents: United Airlines Flight 173, United Airlines Flight 232, Korean Air Flight 801 | ||||||
| 7 | 2 | "Brush With Death" | Caroline Sommers | Caroline Sommers | December 22, 2014 | N/A |
|
Plane-crash survivors recall their frightening experiences. Accidents: Air Florida Flight 90, Downeast Flight 46, 2012 Cessna 401 accident | ||||||
| 8 | 3 | "Severe Weather" | TBA | TBA | December 29, 2014 | N/A |
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The effects of storms, high winds and microbursts on planes are examined. Accidents: Southern Airways Flight 242, Delta Air Lines Flight 191, Air France Flight 358 | ||||||
| 9 | 4 | "Small Planes, Big Problem" | TBA | TBA | January 4, 2015 | N/A |
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Hazards posed to small planes, including bad weather, poor visibility and distractions, are examined. Accidents: John F. Kennedy Jr. plane crash, 2006 New York City plane crash, 1996 Cessna 177B crash | ||||||
| 10 | 5 | "Sudden Impact" | TBA | TBA | January 5, 2015 | N/A |
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A look at terrible crashes that can result from planes veering off course or poor visibility. Accidents: Air New Zealand Flight 901, American Airlines Flight 965, Air Inter Flight 148 | ||||||
| 11 | 6 | "Chopper Down" | TBA | TBA | January 12, 2015 | N/A |
|
A look at helicopters highlights their uses for rescues and rapid responses, but also examines the unique set of dangers involved in their operation. Accidents: 2002 USAF Pavehawk rescue accident, 2009 Hudson River mid-air collision, 2008 Sikorsky S-61N crash | ||||||
| 12 | 7 | "Who’s Flying" | TBA | TBA | January 19, 2015 | N/A |
|
Plane crashes that resulted from automation failures are spotlighted. Accidents: Air France Flight 447, China Airlines Flight 006, Turkish Airlines Flight 1951 | ||||||
| 13 | 8 | "Fatal Flaws" | TBA | TBA | January 20, 2015 | N/A |
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A look at three accidents and how they led to changes in the aviation industry. Accidents: USAir Flight 427,United Airlines Flight 585. TWA Flight 800, 2002 Überlingen mid-air collision | ||||||
Notes[]
In the episode Sudden Impact, the narrator say wrong flight number of Air inter. It should be 148, not 5148. And at first, they say it's December 20th, 1992; but later they say December 22nd, 1992.
References[]
- ^ "Why Planes Crash - TWC - iMDb". iMDb.com. 20 April 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
- ^ "MSNBC". 35 Miles From Shore. 2010-12-16. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
External links[]
- Why Planes Crash on The Weather Channel website.
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- American documentary television films
- Documentary television series about aviation
- The Weather Channel original programming
- 2009 American television series debuts
- 2015 American television series endings
- Documentary stubs