Air Disasters Season 12 Episode 4 Nuts and Bolts

In the fourth episode of season 12 of Air Disasters, titled "Nuts and Bolts," viewers will follow the investigation of a tragic accident that occurred on October 31, 1999. A Learjet 35A, carrying professional golfer Payne Stewart and his fellow passengers, was en route from Florida to Texas when it began to veer off course and lose altitude.

The episode begins by exploring the background and career of Payne Stewart, who was a beloved figure in the world of golf. Stewart had won numerous tournaments and was known for his distinctive fashion sense, which included wearing knickers and a tam o'shanter hat on the golf course.

The Learjet that Stewart and his group were traveling in was owned by SunJet Aviation, a charter company that specialized in luxury travel for celebrities and athletes. The plane was piloted by Michael Kling, who had over 14,000 hours of flight experience, and co-piloted by Stephanie Bellegarrigue, who had over 3,000 hours of flight experience.

As the Learjet approached its destination, air traffic control attempted to establish contact with the plane but received no response. After several unsuccessful attempts, they dispatched military fighter jets to intercept the Learjet.

The fighter jets reported that the Learjet appeared to be unresponsive, with its cockpit windows frosted over. They also observed that the plane was in a gradual descent and was trailing smoke.

Despite their efforts to guide the Learjet to safety, it eventually crashed in a remote area of South Dakota, killing everyone on board.

The episode details the extensive investigation that followed the crash, as investigators worked to uncover the cause of the accident. They discovered that the Learjet had suffered a significant loss of cabin pressure, which would have caused the passengers and crew to lose consciousness.

The investigation also revealed that the plane's oxygen system had not been properly maintained, with several parts that needed replacement having been left in place for longer than recommended. This led to the plane's oxygen system failing, which in turn caused the loss of cabin pressure.

Viewers will also learn about the safety measures that have been put in place since the accident to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. These include stricter maintenance requirements for aircraft oxygen systems and improved training for pilots to recognize and respond to sudden cabin pressure loss.

Through interviews with experts and reenactments of the flight, "Nuts and Bolts" provides a comprehensive and compelling look at one of the most tragic accidents in aviation history.