Golden Parachute

Plot
Megan Donner returns to the CSI unit in time to work on a jet crash in the Everglades. While searching for survivors, they inexplicably discover a female victim found five miles from the crash site. When the only survivor says the woman opened the plane's hatch in order to commit suicide, Horatio is suspicious. The team must now recreate what happened on that fatal flight, especially when the pieces don't quite fit together.

Trivia

 * This episode is based on a real plane crash that occurred in the Florida Everglades in May 1996.
 * Emily Procter was cast before there was even a script in place.
 * One of the opening shots features the doubles of Horatio and Delko on an air boat making its way through the Everglades. This shot took longer than expected as the toupee on Horatio's double kept blowing off. Another unexpected problem was that air boats are extremely loud.
 * From the outset of the series, David Caruso employed Horatio's trademark gesture - taking off his sunglasses. This was not scripted.
 * This story was originally intended to be the third in the new series.