How One Syllable Doomed Flight 182
Summary
This episode examines the 1978 mid-air collision between PSA Flight 182 and a Cessna in San Diego, the deadliest aviation disaster in U.S. history at the time. It details how visual illusions, seat adjustments, and a misheard radio transmission led to the crash. The discussion highlights how this tragedy spurred major safety reforms, including the sterile cockpit rule and the development of TCAS technology.
Topics discussed
Intro and advertisements
The San Diego mid-air collision of 1978
Chaos at Lindbergh Field and visual separation rules
The crash, casualties, and initial investigation
Investigating the Cessna's drift and pilot disorientation
Visual illusions and the phantom plane mystery
Cockpit ergonomics and the blind spot discovery
Alarm fatigue and the misheard radio transmission
NTSB findings and shared blame
Legacy: TCAS, sterile cockpit rule, and modern safety
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