Alaska is more dependent on airplanes than any other state in the country. But with that dependence comes danger: during the summer, Alaska faces an average of one plane crash every day. The region's plane accidents range from the historic crash that claimed THE LIFE of Senator Ted Stevens to the single-engine plane that crashed into an office building in downtown Anchorage in 2015. The new Smithsonian Channel series, ALASKA AIRCRASH INVESTIGATIONS, goes behind-the-scenes with unprecedented access to the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) Alaska "Go Team." For the first time, The NTSB has allowed a television crew to follow its Alaska unit as it investigates the more than 125 crashes that occur in the state every year. The series, comprised of six hour-long episodes, premieres tonight, March 13 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
ALASKA AIRCRASH INVESTIGATIONS rides along with the NTSB and its interagency partners as they work together to determine the probable cause of aircraft accidents. These NTSB investigations provide a window into the integral role of air travel in Alaskan life, while raising awareness that might prevent future accidents.
ALASKA AIRCRASH INVESTIGATIONS follows five NTSB members as they risk their lives in extreme environments to access remote crash sites in the unpredictable Alaskan wilderness. From dense forests to raging rivers, there is no place impenetrable for the "Go Team." Every investigation tests these brave men and women, from the seasoned veterans to the rookies who are just beginning their careers in air safety.
The five "Go Team" members featured in the series are:
· Clint Johnson - Regional Chief of the NTSB Alaska Regional office in Anchorage, Johnson has 18 years of crash site experience and also spent 13 years as a helicopter pilot in Alaska.
· Millicent Hoidal - A former NTSB intern and flight instructor, Hoidal is the first female NTSB crash investigator assigned to the Alaska base.
· Shaun Williams - A former airline captain and flight instructor who recently transferred from the FAA, Williams believes that it's his calling to investigate crashes to help enhance safety in the skies.
· Chris Shaver - A former corporate jet captain, and now a seasoned NTSB aircraft accident investigator, Shaver has examined his fair share of accidents, but his greatest concern is dealing with the loss of life and the grieving families who put pressure on him to provide answers.
· Brice Banning - As a Senior Aircraft Investigator of the "Go Team," Banning sees each crash as both a human tragedy, and a fascinating mystery to be solved.
Every investigation has three major phases: the on-scene; the wreckage layout; and the off-scene. For the on-scene, the NTSB must overcome Alaska's rugged terrain to reach the accident site where they document the scene, collect wreckage, and gather evidence. On the wreckage layout, the NTSB painstakingly examines pieces of the wreckage to determine if there were any mechanical issues with the airplane that could have led to the crash. Finally, the NTSB delves into the pilot's history and plane records. Each phase is a piece of the puzzle, and when evidence in a stage is missing, the puzzle becomes more difficult to solve.
Each case presents its own unique set of challenges. From the nearly inaccessible crash site in dense forest, to the plane that crashes on a major road and bursts into flames, the Alaska NTSB is on the case.
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