Dead Weight (Air Crash Investigation - National Geographic)

A packed commuter plane, Air Midwest Express Flight 5481, crashes to the ground just 37 seconds after take off. The crash created a fire that engulfs one of the US Airways hangars at Charlotte airport, North Carolina. All nineteen passengers and two pilots aboard died in the accident, and one person on the ground received minor injuries. However, none of the US Airways employees working in the hangar received injuries. Why did the crash happen in such a short time after take off? Find out how this accident prompted an investigation into the method by which FAA estimated a passenger's weight, and how this mistake could be so costly in this accident.


About the documentary series Air Crash Investigation (also known as Mayday / Air Emergency) by National Geographic

Air Crash Investigation shares stories of astonishing survival and heartbreaking disasters of some of the most tragic incidents in the history of aviation. 

Plane crashes and near-disasters from around the globe, are investigated in meticulous detail, providing a look into what went wrong and if they could have been prevented. These events have helped change aviation safety and brought about some of the most important standard regulations that we know today. Survivor accounts and event re-enactments weave gripping tales while computer generated images (CGI) and expert testimony better explain the reasons behind the fatal or near fatal events.

Watch other episodes in the series here

Watch the full documentary here