Cone of Silence

Captain George Gort's Phoenix 1 jetliner crashes on takeoff from Ranjibad airport, killing his copilot. An investigation quickly accuses him of rotating too early, which increased drag and prevented the aircraft from reaching flying speed.

Gort is reprimanded and reduced in seniority following the crash, as the investigation points at pilot error. He is told he may return to flying only after completing a check flight under Captain Hugh Dallas.

Gort's daughter Charlotte refuses to accept that her father could be at fault, challenging the official verdict. Her conviction adds emotional weight to the investigation as the public questions the outcome.

During an unusually low approach to Calcutta, a piece of hedge is found wrapped around an undercarriage leg. The swirl of evidence suggests the problem may be linked to the in-cockpit actions of captain Clive Judd, who was present to assess Gort and lowered the flaps too soon.

In similar circumstances to the first crash, Gort crashes again at Ranjibad, killing passengers and crew. The tragedy compounds the scrutiny of his career and the airline's safety culture.

Dallas learns from another pilot that there is no hedge at Calcutta's runway threshold, and that the hedge piece found on Gort's flight likely came from Ranjibad where Judd had flown. This realization shifts attention away from Calcutta and toward earlier operations.

Dallas discovers that the aircraft's designer may have withheld information about potential takeoff difficulties in warm-weather conditions. This suggests systemic issues beyond pilot error.

In similar weather conditions, a third takeoff is avoided when a message from the designer reaches a crew, advising them to add eight knots to the calculated unstick speed and to keep the nose wheel on the ground until just before unstick.

The crew follows the designer's advice and the takeoff proceeds successfully, preventing a repeat disaster. This near-miss becomes the turning point that prompts a reevaluation of the crash verdict.

Gort is exonerated posthumously after the investigations reveal the design and procedural issues. The earlier blame shifts away, acknowledging that he may not have been at fault.

The cascade of events reveals broader problems in how warm-weather takeoffs are handled and how design information is communicated to flight crews. The airline and manufacturer face scrutiny to prevent future tragedies.

Captain Hugh Dallas's role becomes central as the check flight and subsequent investigations lead to the truth about the accidents. His involvement demonstrates how a test flight can uncover the real factors behind a crash.