NOVA: The Deadliest Plane Crash [DVD]

Item arrived in a timely manner, and the DVD is in good shape, no scratches, nothing like that, plays very well. Case in great condition. Quality is such that I'd not be afraid to give it as a gift to someone. Thank you to the seller for a good, quality product.

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.

I enjoy documentaries on engineering and natural disasters. The scicence of accident investigation is very amusing and I enjoy puzzles and mysteries. This is largest life-loss event in aviation history and its a very interesting story on how problems with communication, systems, and coincidence can create disaster. There are some interviews with survivors, computer animation, and recreation by actors as well as news footage. The film includes some information on the changes in the industry since the PanAm/KLM crash at Tenerife that have made aviation safer.I do find watching the episode of "Seconds From Disaster" (aired by the National Geographic Channel) an important supplement as it includes the theory of a heterodyne that temporarily masked important communications between the two 747s involved and the tower at Los Rodeos Airport. This documentary preseted by Nova doesn't include that theory, but details the official investigation quite well. 4 of 5 stars.

This is a very good DVD, about 60 minutes long, with a mix of actual photos, computer graphics, interviews with actual passengers and crew and with FAA, NTSB investigators, etc., and film of actor re-enactment. The computer animation of when the two planes hit is gut-wrenching. I can't imagine being in the position of anyone on the PanAm plane, or on the KLM for that matter. There is still no conclusion made, or reason given, as to why the KLM pilot took off without an actual verbal take-off clearance. This is a sobering film, and the issue of runway incursions is made even more serious when the narrator (excellent by the way) brings up more recent runway incursions, with computer animations for those as well. NTSB people and others state that runway incursions are still happening, and there could possibly be another awful accident (this DVD was made in 2006). Luckily it hasn't happened yet. My thoughts and prayers for everyone involved, those who didn't make it and those who survived.

The Noval presentation is a watered down version of the British release: The Deadliest Plane Crash.Although it uses the same reenactment, much is cut from the original such as:1) The imperiousity of the KLM captain shows why the crew was intimidated from stopping him on take-off. They show him yell at one of the flight attendants when two children were missing from the flight prior to departure from Tenerif and his threats to her.2) How the one survivor off KLM had to sneak off of the plane in order to go with her boyfriend. They would not allow her off.3) The cruise that the Pan Am passengers were booked on and how one survivor said that he returned to the airport at a later date to see the crash site before proceeding to take the cruise that he had missed.4) There was more dialogue in the tower showing their distraction and annoyance at the situation.These are just a few that gave a more rounded picture of this disaster. The entire British release can be found on YouTube but it's broken up in about 8 segments since they only allow a maximum of 10 minutes per segment.

This was an excellent documentary. I use this in one in one of my college courses.

As a former airline pilot I am very critical of news reports that tend to be so inaccurate that they are laughable. However, this video was well researched and reenacted. This accident was a key factor in changing the culture in airlines where the captain was god. Cockpit Resource Management or CRM was born from this and a tragic series of other accidents in the 1970's that killed hundreds of people at a time, very publicly. Because of CRM and culture change the U.S. Major Airlines have operated at Six Sigma or "0" deaths per million operations for the last 12 years or so. Read John Nance's book "Why Hospitals Should Fly" to see where this next culture change should take place.

Detailed account from start to finish highlights the dangers of HUMAN errors in managing and flying Airplanes. These errors can be attributed to even the highest level of Senior Captains not just pilots .Other personnel such as Traffic Controller's dealing with fatigue and equipment whether outdated or no equipment in many countries.

Worth watching