Mayday Season 15 Episode 2 Impossible Pitch

Mayday is a documentary television series that explores aviation disasters and how they occur. The show aims to examine what went wrong, analyze the sequence of events and causes, and learn from them to prevent future accidents.

Season 15, episode 2 of Mayday is titled "Impossible Pitch." This episode chronicles the tragic events that took place on August 4, 2010, when a UPS cargo plane crashed while attempting to land at the Dubai International Airport.

The episode starts by introducing the viewer to the crew of UPS Flight 6, consisting of pilot Captain Doug Lampe, First Officer Matthew Bell, and Flight Engineer Steve Pfaff. The Boeing 747-400F cargo plane was carrying a payload of over 80 tons of various goods from Dubai to Cologne, Germany.

As the plane takes off, the crew notices warning lights for one of the engines. The captain decides to continue the flight, and they reach cruising altitude without any issues. However, as they start their descent for landing, they encounter a problem that would lead to their demise.

The first officer is flying the plane when the crew experiences an anomaly. The stick shaker, a device that alerts pilots of an impending stall, activates. Despite their training, the pilots cannot explain why their plane is behaving in this way. The autopilot is disengaged, and the aircraft is in a critical situation.

The episode delves into the science of aerodynamics and how the Boeing 747-400F is designed to fly. The show explains how the plane's wings and engines work in balance to keep the aircraft aloft. But if that balance is disturbed, the aircraft can stall, leading to a catastrophic crash.

As the crew tries to diagnose the issue, they slowly realize that they are experiencing an impossible pitch. One of the plane's cargo containers has shifted, compromising the plane's center of gravity and causing it to pitch upward. This shift in weight slowly pushes the plane towards a stall.

The episode also shows how the crew is trained to deal with such situations. The training involves turning off the autopilot, taking manual control of the plane, and stabilizing the aircraft's pitch. However, when the crew tries these steps, they realize that the situation is much worse than they thought.

Captain Lampe eventually takes over control of the plane and tries to level it out. But the situation is so dire that he has to use his skill and experience as a pilot to keep the plane hovering above the ground. The team on the ground is preparing for a possible crash landing, and everyone is holding their breath, hoping for a miraculous outcome.

"Impossible Pitch" offers a detailed account of the tragic events that led to the UPS Flight 6 crash. The episode shows the investigation into the incident and how it led to a better understanding of aerodynamics and the importance of cargo loading in aircraft safety.

The episode also highlights the human element in aviation. Mayday's producers interview family members of the crew and show the impact that the crash had on their loved ones. The show reminds us that aviation accidents don't just affect those on board but also their families and the wider community.

Overall, Mayday season 15, episode 2, "Impossible Pitch," is a gripping account of the tragic events that took place on UPS Flight 6. The episode offers a detailed analysis of the incident and shows how human error and mechanical failure can interact to cause aviation disasters. It is a sobering reminder that aviation safety is a matter of constant vigilance and attention to detail.