Ep 9. Steep Impact

In season 15, episode 9 of Air Disasters titled "Steep Impact," viewers are taken through the events that led up to the tragic crash of a regional airliner in South Sudan in 2015.

The episode starts by providing background information on the airline, South Supreme Airlines, a relatively new carrier in the area that had experienced previous safety incidents. The aircraft involved in the crash, a Czech-designed LET-410, was known to have performance issues in high altitude and hot weather conditions -- factors that would come into play later in the episode.

The flight in question was a passenger service from South Sudan's capital, Juba, to the city of Wau. On board were 22 people, including 3 crew members and 19 passengers. As the plane began its descent into Wau, the pilot reported issues with the landing gear system. Faced with the possibility of a landing without proper gear, the pilot elected to abort the approach and circle back.

During this time, the plane's hydraulic system failed, leaving the pilot with no control over the flaps or landing gear. Despite this, the pilot continued with a second approach, attempting to make a landing with no gear. As the plane descended, it hit a radio tower and crashed into a residential area, killing 37 people on board and on the ground.

Throughout the episode, investigators piece together the events leading up to the crash, relying on witness accounts, black box data, and expert analysis. They uncover a number of contributing factors, including poor maintenance practices by the airline, inadequate training for the LET-410, and a lack of regulatory oversight in South Sudan.

The episode also highlights the challenges of conducting an investigation in a war-torn and politically unstable region. Investigators faced obstacles such as hostile local authorities, security concerns, and a limited pool of available resources.

Overall, "Steep Impact" offers a detailed and sobering account of a tragic air disaster, highlighting the human and systemic factors that can lead to such events. Despite the difficulties of investigating in a challenging environment, the episode illustrates the importance of uncovering the truth behind such incidents, with the aim of preventing future tragedies.