Ep 4. Sideswiped

Air Disasters is back with the 8th season and episode 4, named Sideswiped. The show is all about analyzing complex aviation accidents that have happened in the past and identifying the causes behind them. Each episode delves deep into the details of a specific disaster, showing not just how it happened but also what could have been done differently to prevent it.

In this episode, the show takes us to 2011, when a Continental Express flight approaches runway 23 at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The Bombardier Dash 8-Q400 plane was flying from Newark, New Jersey, to Buffalo, New York, with 49 passengers and crew onboard. But as the plane reaches its final approach, the crew faces unexpected challenges that ultimately lead to a catastrophic accident.

The episode starts with a brief introduction to the crew members and passengers of the flight. We learn about the professional backgrounds, personal lives, and interests of some of them, making the audience feel connected to them. The show then moves into the technical details of the flight, explaining how the plane's automated systems functioned, the weather conditions at the time, and how air traffic control managed the flight.

As the plane gets closer to landing, its de-icing systems are activated, which sprays glycol solution onto the wings to prevent ice buildup. But what the crew doesn't know is that the mode in which the system is operating is not the most effective one, and the glycol solution is not being distributed evenly, leading to an accumulation of ice on the wings. The show does an excellent job of explaining how the system works and what caused the malfunction, making it easy for the audience to understand.

Another challenge arises as the plane approaches the runway. Two large commercial planes, a Boeing 737 and an Airbus A320, have just taken off, causing turbulence in the air, which affects the Dash 8-Q400's flight path. The plane experiences a sudden roll, and the crew struggles to regain control. The show uses 3D animations and recreations to show what happened and how the crew reacted.

Finally, things take a turn for the worst as the plane approaches the runway. The crew notice that the plane is descending too fast and try to increase the power. But as they do so, the plane's left wing suddenly dips, and it sideswipes a house before crashing into the ground. All 49 passengers and crew, along with a person on the ground, lost their lives in the accident.

The show expertly analyzes the moments leading up to the accident, identifying the causes and the contributing factors. It explores how the crew's lack of training and experience, the malfunctioning of the de-icing system, and the turbulence caused by the other planes combined to create a disaster. The episode also highlights the improvements made to aviation safety as a result of this tragedy.

Overall, Air Disasters season 8, episode 4 named Sideswiped is a gripping and insightful episode that showcases the impact of small errors that can lead to catastrophic accidents. The show provides valuable insights into the importance of training, communication, and teamwork in aviation, and the measures taken to ensure that such incidents are never repeated.