. . . At 2 minutes and 57 seconds past 7:00, three thumps are heard in the cockpit. "Sheez!" exclaims Germano. "Zuh," says Emmett almost simultaneously. Then there is another mysterious thump. Germano inhales and exhales rapidly. There's an unknown clicking sound, then another thump, this time softer. "Whoa," says Germano, and there's more mysterious clicking and Emmett grunts. There's another, different clicking sound and Germano yells, "Hang on!" The aircraft's engines power up and there's more grunting, louder this time, from Emmett. "Hang on," repeats Germano, and there's another click and the sound of the autopilot-disconnect warning, a wailing horn. . . .

"What the hell is this?" asks Germano as various automated warnings go off in the cockpit. "What the . . . ," he repeats. "Oh," says Emmett. "Oh God, Oh God," says Germano. Then the approach controller cuts in and he's only just said "USAir . . ." when Germano yells into the radio mike, "Four twenty-seven emergency!"

"Shit," says Emmett. "Pull!" yells Germano. "Oh shit," says Emmett, "Pull, pull," says Germano. "God," says Emmett, and Germano screams. "No!" yells Emmett, and the recording suddenly ends.

About the AuthorGerry Byrne is a science journalist based in Dublin, Ireland. His work has appeared in the Daily Telegraph, New Scientist, and Flight International. Specializing in the coverage of aviation and space technologies, in 1999 and 2000 he won the IBM-sponsored Science and Technology Journalism Award for reporting on space and aviation issues.