Product: NOVA: The Deadliest Plane Crash (1974)
Rating: 5.0
"We've Been Lucky Too Long."
This episode of "Nova" is a standout for the normally very well made series. Narrated by Stacy Keach, the subject of this show is the deadly collision on the runway of two 747's on the Canary Island of Tenerife which killed 583 people. It is still the deadliest aviation accident in history.The DVD explores the intricate set of circumstances that came together to cause the accident, and while human error, especially in the KLM crew, was the obvious focus of the episode, other deeper causes are analyzed. The interviews are generally well executed, although there are minor misstatements in places which do not materially detract from the points being made.I was pleased that the show didn't stop at the Tenerife accident, but discussed the implications of runway incursions going forward. The NTSB and FAA have targeted runway incursions for years, and many (myself included) believe that the relative avoidance of accidents (there are exceptions, certainly) in recent years is more a matter of luck than anything else. Although systems for mitigating incursions are in development, none has yet come to full fruition, and even simple things such as in-ground flashing lights signaling the entry to a runway are uncommon except at very large airports. One gentleman interviewed put it perfectly: "We've been lucky too long." He's right, and this episode of Nova not only explains how it happened, but how it can happen again.This is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in aviation safety, or safety systems in general. The computer animations, while not up to the CGI effects of a Hollywood production, are quite effective, and the reenactments are much more skillfully staged than in many aviation programs.