Air Disasters
Dec 10, 2014 | 9:13 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 74
A good example of that "cascading effect" was the episode where the plane had sat for a month and they believed a mud dauber made a nest that blocked the pitoh tube.
This caused the pilot to basically believe the wrong instrument and make a bunch of other mistakes that brought the plane down and killed everyone on board.
Poor little mud dauber, it wasn't entirely her fault!
This caused the pilot to basically believe the wrong instrument and make a bunch of other mistakes that brought the plane down and killed everyone on board.
Poor little mud dauber, it wasn't entirely her fault!
Oct 2, 2018 | 3:19 pm
#19
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ELP
Programs: AAdvantage, Amex MR
Posts: 2,461
I've been watching this show for a few years now, really fascinating and I have always enjoyed it but this last Sunday's episode on TWA 800 shook me up a little bit because it is one of those crashes where the passengers knew exactly what was going on. I can't imagine the terror seeing the front part of the plane come off while you are still climbing and being strapped in your seat right there knowing you are a minute away from death. Those poor passengers.
Always amazed at how the NTSB and other agencies can piece everything together to find out most of the time exactly what went wrong.
Always amazed at how the NTSB and other agencies can piece everything together to find out most of the time exactly what went wrong.
Oct 2, 2018 | 7:06 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: BAEC Gold, Delta Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum (US)
Posts: 18,543
I'm a big fan of this too, I think I had about 14 episodes on my DVR at the moment, it's set to record every episode! 
I think it's a non-sensationalist, thoughtful piece of TV that doesn't dumb things down too much, nor go too far the other way. The attention to detail is very nearly spot on in almost every case.
I don't see any issue watching this shortly before you fly. Do people avoid watching programs about car crashes shortly before driving?
I think it's a non-sensationalist, thoughtful piece of TV that doesn't dumb things down too much, nor go too far the other way. The attention to detail is very nearly spot on in almost every case. I don't see any issue watching this shortly before you fly. Do people avoid watching programs about car crashes shortly before driving?
Oct 2, 2018 | 8:29 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus, HH Gold, Hertz PC, National Executive, etc.
Posts: 31,677
"Why Planes Crash", "Aircrash Confidential", "Mayday", "Seconds from Disaster", and several others - I find them all very interesting. And not at all odd to be watching them before/during a flight.
Any time I see John Cox or Greg Feith while flipping channels, I'll stop and watch.
Any time I see John Cox or Greg Feith while flipping channels, I'll stop and watch.
Oct 3, 2018 | 9:07 am
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,012
Not the whole movie. Just the one quote it's known for.
Oct 3, 2018 | 9:17 am
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Aeroplan, IHG, Enterprise, Avios, Nexus
Posts: 8,355
This show is run frequently in Canada under the name "Mayday." I've watched it a couple of times but air crashes don't fascinate me and not something I want to dwell on as they are largely out of my control the minute I fasten my seat belt.
Oct 3, 2018 | 10:07 am
#25
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: Rapid Rewards, AAdvantage,
Posts: 120
I've been watching this show for a few years now, really fascinating and I have always enjoyed it but this last Sunday's episode on TWA 800 shook me up a little bit because it is one of those crashes where the passengers knew exactly what was going on. I can't imagine the terror seeing the front part of the plane come off while you are still climbing and being strapped in your seat right there knowing you are a minute away from death. Those poor passengers.
Always amazed at how the NTSB and other agencies can piece everything together to find out most of the time exactly what went wrong.
Always amazed at how the NTSB and other agencies can piece everything together to find out most of the time exactly what went wrong.
Oct 3, 2018 | 3:12 pm
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,808
If you really want some fun and not to have to put up with cheapy looking tv production and terrible actors, read the official NTSB reports and CVR's of crashses. Airdisaster.com used to have links to the pdf's. Not sure if it still does, but they should be easy to find on the internet.
Much more detailed, particularly in terms of causes and findings.
Much more detailed, particularly in terms of causes and findings.
Oct 3, 2018 | 3:28 pm
#27
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 259
"Why Planes Crash", "Aircrash Confidential", "Mayday", "Seconds from Disaster", and several others - I find them all very interesting. And not at all odd to be watching them before/during a flight.
Any time I see John Cox or Greg Feith while flipping channels, I'll stop and watch.
Any time I see John Cox or Greg Feith while flipping channels, I'll stop and watch.
Yes, the TWA 800 episode of this week shook me up a bit but having learned of all the training & science of flying from watching these programmes I now no longer bruise my hubby's arm & have to pop pills before we fly.
Oct 4, 2018 | 6:15 pm
#28
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: GIG - SVO
Programs: Lost it all and don't care
Posts: 1,006
Its a Canadian series (orig.Mayday) that has been on for a few years - I think they are on their 15th season)
They did make a Delta-specific episode (DL191):
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x18...und_shortfilms
They did make a Delta-specific episode (DL191):
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x18...und_shortfilms
Oct 4, 2018 | 8:17 pm
#29
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 968
I've not heard of Air Disasters or Mayday, but do watch Air Crash Investigation (?) on NatGeo. I'm not afraid of flying but I can see how people who are would avoid these programmes. However, these programmes show us that yes it's terrible there's been a crash, and lives were lost, but there are people out there doing their damnedest to find answers from what is essential a pile of twisted metal. Every answer saves saves later as every major advance in air safety (on land and in the sky) is the result of a crash ("tombstone technology"). Well... unless the airline, e.g. SilkAir, EgyptAir, chooses to ignore the findings because it's an inconvenient truth.
Oct 4, 2018 | 11:57 pm
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,626
I've not heard of Air Disasters or Mayday, but do watch Air Crash Investigation (?) on NatGeo. I'm not afraid of flying but I can see how people who are would avoid these programmes. However, these programmes show us that yes it's terrible there's been a crash, and lives were lost, but there are people out there doing their damnedest to find answers from what is essential a pile of twisted metal. Every answer saves saves later as every major advance in air safety (on land and in the sky) is the result of a crash ("tombstone technology"). Well... unless the airline, e.g. SilkAir, EgyptAir, chooses to ignore the findings because it's an inconvenient truth.