93 Seconds to Disaster: The Government's Great Cover-up [Paperback]

Captain Brian Power-Waters XIII (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 25, 2005

“Sew another stripe on the arm of Captain Brian Power-Waters as the Conscience-in-Chief of America’s flying industry. In 93 Seconds to Disaster, the story of the tragic post-9/11 crash of American Airlines A-300 Airbus flight 587 in Queens, NY, he takes us inside the cockpit on the fateful morning of November 12, 2001 as the plane gets caught in bone-jarring wake turbulence from the 747 in front of it. Stacking up facts, figures, black box transcripts, and his own profound expertise, Power-Waters criticizes the NTSB for its rush-to-judgment conclusion that the co-pilot caused the breakup of the plane. The author cites reports of ‘popping noises’ and shedding of plane parts after takeoff, and believes the Airbus either was not airworthy before takeoff or there was an explosive device on board. Power-Waters’ probe flatly concludes that Airbus covered up evidence of the extreme sensitivity of the plane’s rudder. He hammers at airlines, accuses the FAA of ‘sleeping with the airlines’, and once again tests the air industry’s commitment to safety. A must read!”

—Alex Michelini, former Chief Investigative Reporter, New York Daily News

“If you think your airline captain is trained to recover from any position that the airplane might encounter, you’d be wrong.”

—Carl T. Butterworth, Senior Captain, American Airlines, Ret. Brig. Gen. (ANG)

“Thanks for writing your excellent book concerning the tragedy of American Airlines Flight 587. In it, you have raised questions that need to be addressed, and in doing so, you have helped make the rest of the world aware of these questions.”

—Andrew J. Michalak, Captain, American Airlines (Ret.)

Product Details

• Paperback: 126 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse, Inc. (March 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595348521
• ISBN-13: 978-0595348527
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #280,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #90 in Books > Professional & Technical > Transportation > Aviation > Commercial

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Capt. Dan Corsello wrote this review NOT A KIDS REVIEW, August 28, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: 93 Seconds to Disaster: The Government's Great Cover-up (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book
As both an retired American Airlines captain on Boeing 767's and a former Journeyman Air Traffic Controller at Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 93 SECONDS to DISASTER. It is a well researched book that is written in a manner that creates a deep emotion in the reader whether that person is an experienced commercial airline pilot a student pilot or simply has a love for aviation. Unfortunately, those of us familiar with the lax attitudes regarding aviation safety of both the FAA and NTSB continue to realize their long-time and continued method of 'Preventative Maintenance' is what I refer to as 'THE AUTOPSY METHOD'. In the writing of the book, you developed the situation initially in 'aviation speak' familiar to those of us in the industry and then referred to the situation in language that those who are not in the industry would understand the end result objective you had in mind. Very well done Captain! I congratulate you for your fine work in telling the world that the Government agencies invovled the manufacturer airline training procedures all need to be improved to have one common goal: safety of the flying public. Everyone employed in the aformentioned needs to remember that a passenger flying at any given moment is probably someone they love more than anyone a Wife Husband Son Daughter Mother or Father! The capital letters show the importance of each. Thank you so for the writing of this book and I know all who read it will be impacted by it's content. Even though I could write much more of what the book meant to me, I should now sign off. Dan Corsello

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read Book On Aviation That Will Shake Up!, September 28, 2006

By 

W. H. McDonald Jr. "The American Author Assoc... (Elk Grove, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 93 Seconds to Disaster: The Government's Great Cover-up (Paperback)

Captain Brian Power-Waters has authored many great books related to aviation and is more than qualified as a commercial pilot. So, when he presents us the facts and his conclusions in his book "93 Seconds to Disaster: The Government's Great Cover-up" he has my fullest attention.

I have about two-thousand hours flying as a crew-chief in Huey helicopters and am a huge reader of aviation books. I am a retired safety manager for the federal government. I have also been personally involved in many aircraft crashes as crew member and have survived--all this gives me a unique special interest in what the author had to say in his book. This book is a fascinating read but is not something you would want to read while waiting in an airport lounge for your flight to board. But this is a book that all passengers should read and absorb his message.

In the post 9/11 days there was another aircraft that crashed in the New York City area. It was the American Airlines A-300 Airbus Flight #587. It crashed shortly after take off into a neighborhood in Queens, New York on November 12, 2001. This book deals with the investigation and the possible causes of that crash and the rush to judgment made by the government which blamed the co-pilot. His book gives us an insider look at what went on and his intelligent and educated conclusions. He also adds some personal interest to the book by giving some background information on the crew so we get to know them as real people and not just a name on the investigation reports.

This book is well researched and hard hitting. I think all pilots, either private or commercial, would get a great deal from this reading experience but there is something of interest for all non-pilots as well. The book is a great education on aviation accident investigations but it is also entertaining. The author gives us lots of details of the accident and what they think happened. This book is a must read book! I personally endorse it and ask you to read it.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Capt. Andrew J.Michalak WROTE THIS REVIEW, July 11, 2005

By 

Brian Power-waters - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 93 Seconds to Disaster: The Government's Great Cover-up (Paperback)

Thanksfor writing your excellent book conserning the tragedy of American Airlines flight587, in it ,you have raised questions that need to be answered,and in doing so,you have helped make the rest of the world aware of these questions

Andrew J. Michalak
Captain American Airlines Ret.