Mayday Season 7 Episode 8 Miami Mystery (Beach Crash)

On May 19, 1997, an air ambulance plane was en route from Cozumel, Mexico to Miami International Airport when it collided with another aircraft over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 10 people aboard. This incident was the subject of Mayday season 7 episode 8, Miami Mystery (Beach Crash).

The episode begins with the air traffic control recording of the accident, as controllers try to establish the location of the two planes and assess the extent of the damage. The air ambulance plane, a Learjet 35A operated by Air Ambulance Professionals, had been cleared to descend to 4,000 feet for its approach to Miami. The other plane, a Cessna 172 flown by two pilots, had been cleared to climb to 5,000 feet to avoid the weather. The Learjet and the Cessna collided at 4,300 feet, with the smaller plane's wing slicing through the jet's fuselage just behind the wing.

With both planes badly damaged, the air traffic controllers scrambled to coordinate the rescue efforts. The Coast Guard, the Navy, and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue all responded to the scene, but the chances of finding any survivors seemed slim. But then, a miraculous discovery was made: one of the passengers on the Learjet, a young girl named Jessica Dubroff, had somehow survived the collision and had been thrown clear of the wreckage. Tragically, however, she died soon after being rescued.

The rest of the episode focuses on the investigation into the cause of the accident. Initial speculation centered on the possibility that the Learjet had suffered a mid-air breakup, but evidence soon emerged that pointed to the Cessna as the cause of the collision. Radar data indicated that the smaller plane had made a sudden turn towards the Learjet just before impact, and the investigation team concluded that the Cessna's pilots had made an error in judgment by flying into the path of the jet.

The episode explores various factors that may have contributed to the pilots' mistake. For one, the Cessna was equipped with only basic instruments, making it difficult for the pilots to maintain their altitude and course in the turbulent weather conditions. In addition, the lead pilot, Don Andrews, was suffering from a cold and may have been impaired as a result. However, the most significant factor was likely the pressure that Andrews felt to complete the flight despite the adverse weather. Andrews was a freelance pilot who had been hired to fly the Cessna back to Florida after it had been rented out for a film shoot in Mexico. He had promised the film crew that he would return the plane to Florida on time, and he may have felt that he couldn't delay the flight any longer.

The episode also examines the regulatory environment that allowed pilots like Andrews to operate under such conditions. At the time of the accident, there were no regulations governing the operation of private charter flights like the one Andrews was flying. The investigation team found that Andrews had been operating the Cessna under a loophole in the regulations that allowed him to use it as a "sightseeing" aircraft. This meant that he could fly passengers without having to meet the more stringent safety requirements that applied to regular charter flights.

The episode concludes with a moving tribute to Jessica Dubroff, the young girl who inspired the nation with her dream of becoming the youngest person to fly across the country. Despite the tragedy of her death, her memory has lived on in the hearts of many, including her father, who still flies in her honor. The episode serves as a reminder of the human cost of aviation accidents and the need for constant vigilance in maintaining safety standards in the air.