Mayday Season 12 Episode 8 Deadly Inclination

On Mayday season 12 episode 8, titled "Deadly Inclination," viewers are taken onboard a Lao Airlines flight that crashed in the Mekong River. The episode examines how the crew of the flight, flying from Vientiane to Pakse, struggled to navigate through stormy weather while dealing with a malfunctioning altimeter. The malfunction caused the aircraft to descend too quickly, leading to a catastrophic crash that claimed the lives of all 49 passengers and crew onboard.

The episode begins with an introduction to the bustling capital city of Vientiane, Laos, and the Lao Airlines Flight 301 which took off from the city's Wattay International Airport. The plane was en-route to Pakse, another destination in southern Laos. However, just six minutes after takeoff, the aircraft began to experience technical problems. The captain radioed the control tower and informed them that they were facing an issue with their altimeter - an instrument that measures the altitude of the aircraft.

Mayday season 12 episode 8 then takes viewers through a step-by-step recreation of the events that led to the plane's tragic crash. With the help of expert interviews and computer graphics, the show explains how the altimeter malfunctioned and why the flight crew failed to respond appropriately. As the plane ascended through the clouds, the altimeter began to register incorrect readings, indicating that the aircraft was ascending too quickly. In response, the crew attempted to stabilize the plane's altitude by adjusting the throttle and reducing the speed. However, they did not realize that the altimeter was giving them inaccurate readings, and they continued to rely on the faulty instrument.

The episode also examines the weather conditions the plane encountered on its ill-fated journey. As the flight progressed, storm clouds grew stronger and more frequent, causing turbulence that would make flying particularly dangerous. With the altimeter still malfunctioning, the crew did not have an accurate idea of the plane's altitude, which made it difficult for them to navigate through the turbulent weather.

As Mayday season 12 episode 8 progresses, viewers see how the plane's descent became steeper and more rapid, until the aircraft crashed into the Mekong River. The crash was so severe that no survivors were found, leaving investigators with few clues as to what had caused the crash. Through interviews with aviation experts and witnesses, Mayday provides insight into how the tragedy unfolded over just a few minutes, highlighting the multiple factors that contributed to the crash.

The episode goes on to detail the investigations that followed the crash. Experts analyzed the wreckage and found that the altimeter had malfunctioned due to a malfunction in the plane's pitot tubes - instruments that measure the airspeed of the aircraft. The pitot tubes had become clogged with debris, leading to false readings by the altimeter. Mayday then examines the steps that were taken to prevent future incidents, including recommendations for more robust pitot tube maintenance procedures.

Overall, Mayday season 12 episode 8, "Deadly Inclination," provides a harrowing and fascinating look at how a sequence of small technical errors can contribute to a catastrophic incident. Through expert interviews, computer graphics, and first-hand accounts, the episode helps viewers understand how aviation professionals work to prevent disasters like the one that took the lives of 49 people onboard Lao Airlines Flight 301.