Plot Synopsis

Directed by Phil Lott and Ari Mark, THE INVISIBLE PILOT is a three-part documentary that tells the story of pilot Gary Betzner -- a charismatic, daredevil husband and father -- who unexpectedly jumped off a bridge in 1977, despite a seemingly happy home life and a lucrative career as a pilot. His small-town Hazen, Arkansas community searches for his body in vain while family and friends seek answers. Years later, a mysterious story emerges involving hypnosis, secret identities and a double life of dangerous missions and law-breaking. And that's just the beginning. Using archival material and storytelling by Gary's wife, ex-wife, children, friends and associates, public defenders, law officers and journalists, THE INVISIBLE PILOT is a cautionary tale of unchecked power and covert operations, centered around a small-town man with outsized dreams. Episodes include:

"Chapter One" (Monday, April 4, 2022): 1977. When crop-dust pilot Gary Betzner inexplicably jumps off a bridge to his death, he leaves behind a grieving family, a shocked Arkansas town, and more questions than answers. In the years that follow, an even more complicated story emerges -- one involving drugs, money, hypnosis, dangerous secrets, and a double life.

"Chapter Two" (Monday, April 11, 2022): After faking his own death, Gary trades his quiet Arkansas life for a fresh start in Miami, but is soon caught up in a whirlwind of greed, deception, and dealings with Pablo Escobar. But everything changes when the CIA recruits Gary in a secret, illegal war he believes is being conducted at the highest levels of the U.S. Government.

"Chapter Three" (Monday, April 18, 2022): Facing decades in prison for his role in the CIA's covert Central American operations, Gary's growing resentment leads him to serve as a star witness in the Senate's investigation of the Iran-Contra scandal. But will the whistleblowing testimony of a lifelong felon be enough to threaten the legacy of President Ronald Reagan?