Episode 12 (Part 2) - STS-107 (The Columbia Shuttle Disaster)
Inside The Black Box
This is Part 2 of a two-part episode.
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Episode 12 (Part 1) - STS-107 (The Columbia Shuttle Disaster)
Inside The Black Box
In the early morning of 1st February 2003, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Mission Control Centre is a hive of activity.
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Episode 11 - Air France 4590 (The Concorde Disaster)
Inside The Black Box
On the 25th of July 2000 at 4:40pm, Air France Flight 4590 sits on the taxiway of Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris France. Today they will be flying aboard the Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde. The passengers aboard Concorde are embarking on the first stage of a luxurious journey, travelling to New York where they will board the MS Deutschland for a 14 night cruise of the Caribbean. The total complement is 109.
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Episode 10 - Delta Airlines 191
Inside The Black Box
In the early evening of the 2nd of August, 1985, a Lockheed L1011 Tristar is on final approach to land at Dallas Fort Worth Internatonal Airport.
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Episode 9 - American Airlines 965
Inside The Black Box
At 6:30pm on the 20th of December 1995, a Boeing 757-200 sits on the taxiway of Miami International Airport. The 155 passengers and 8 crew members aboard American Airlines flight 965 are growing impatient, eager to begin their journey to Cali, in Colombia.
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Episode 8 - Alaska Airlines 261
Inside The Black Box
On the 21st of January 2000 at 3:50pm, a McDonnel Douglas MD83 flies above the Pacific Ocean, about 25 miles off the Californian coast of the United States.
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Episode 7 - Air France 447
Inside The Black Box
At just after half past 1 in the morning on the 1st of June 2009, An Airbus A330-203 cruises at 35,000 feet above the Southern Atlantic Ocean. On board are 216 passengers and 12 crew members.
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Episode 6 - CHC Helikopter Service 241
Inside The Black Box
It is just after 11am on the 29th of April 2016. An Airbus Helicopters EC225 Super Puma touches down on a helipad in the North Sea. CHC Helikopter Services Flight 241 has just landed on the Gullfaks B Oil and Gas Platform in the Norwegian North Sea, about 80 miles off the Norwegian Coast.
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Episode 5 - USAF Czar 52 (Fairchild B52 Incident)
Inside The Black Box
On the afternoon of the 24th of June, 1994, a crowd has gathered by the runway of the Fairchild Air Force Base in the State of Washington in the United States. The group is here to watch a practice demonstration for the Fairchild Air Force Base Airshow, scheduled to take place the following day.
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Episode 4 - Turkish Airlines 981
Inside The Black Box
On a cool winter morning a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 touches down at Orly International Airport, 7km South of Paris. It is 11am on the 3rd of March 1974.
info_outlineIt is just after 2pm on the Saturday the 11th of May 1996. A McDonnell Douglas DC9 lines up on Runway 9L at Miami International Airport. The DC-9 is being operated by Valujet, a low-cost carrier in operation since only 1992. Valujet Flight 592’s destination is Atlanta, Georgia. The DC-9 carries 105 passengers and 5 crew members. In command is Captain Candalyn Kubeck (aged 35) and First Officer Richard Hazen (aged 52). Their departure from Miami has been delayed by just over an hour due to mechanical problems. The aircraft’s autopilot is not functioning and the cabin to cockpit intercom is also not operational. Nevertheless, these faults are not severe enough to ground the aircraft and the flight can continue.
First Officer Hazen smoothly applies takeoff power while Kubeck controls the aircraft during the takeoff roll. Hazen calls out the aircraft’s progress as it gathers speed down the runway.
- V1 – The speed at which Captain Kubeck must decide whether to continue or abort the takeoff.
- VR – The speed at which Kubeck begins to climb the aircraft
- V2 – The speed at which the aircraft can still takeoff should an engine fail.
The takeoff is entirely uneventful and the DC-9 begins climbing into a blue Florida sky. Nobody onboard are aware that a chain reaction of events has already begun which will leave the passengers and crew dead within 10 minutes.