on the broadcast tonight -- moment of impact. exclusive and dramatic new images that may help explain that deadly midair collision above the hudson river. tight money. americans aren't spending. can there be recovery without them? what may be the downside of the cash for clunkers program. overwhelmed, the health care crisis close up. what happened when word got around about the free health care clinic we told you about earlier this week. and death of a legend. if you never picked up a guitar, he changed your life, the remarkable les paul is gone. he changed your life, the remarkable les paul is gone. "nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television

good evening. i'm ann curry in for brian williams. and tonight a new video obtained exclusively by nbc news may help investigators explain last weekend's tragic midair collision over new york's hudson river. all nine people aboard the plane and the sightseeing helicopter died in an accident experts said did not need to happen. taken by a tourist, practicing with a new camera, the video clearly shows the moment of impact. a warning now this video is hard to watch. nbc's tom costello now joins us with more on this. tom. good evening. this is the kind of video investigators have been hoping for. it shows, or appears to show the crash as it happened last saturday in the skies over new york's hudson river. again, a warning, it is disturbing to watch. the video was shot by an italian tourist on a boat on the hudson river. while experimenting with his new camera he zooms in on a

helicopter flying over the river just as a small plane comes up from behind. >> oh, my god. oh, my god. >> the plane seems to almost explode on impact with pieces raining down on the river. it is the kind of video investigators from the national transportation safety board have asked the public for. >> if they have any that might have captured the aircraft, the sequence or collision, if that could be provided that would be very helpful. >> reporter: an early theory is that the chopper was in the plane's blind sight buy low its wings. now, slowed down, frame by frame, the images seem to show the single engine piper turning and climbing. then clipping the helicopter's rotor blades. the plane's right-wing is sheered all. the plane flips over as both the plane and the chopper nose-dive into the river below. former ntsb investigator greg fife. >> the key here is that whatever took place in the cockpit of that piper aircraft was enough to distract the pilot and not allow him to see the helicopter

as he intercepted its flight path. >> reporter: the video also captures the aftermath as boats race to the area where both went down only to find a few pieces of debris floating in the water. earlier today, in italy, the coffins of the five italian tourist whose died in the crash returned home for burial, greeted by family, friends, and flowers. now investigators will closely examine this new tape to determine exactly how the plane and helicopter crashed. their altitude and position, in relation to each other. and how on a beautiful blue-sky day with thousand of people watching, two experienced pilots could have had a fatal encounter. it has raised concerns about the safety of the hudson river air corridor, a three mile stretch in which pilots fly without air traffic control if they're under 1,100 feet. the ntsb and faa intend to look at whether restrictions are necessary, ann. >> so how long will this investigation take before we

find out in fact whether they will issue new guidelines, tom? >> typically a year to 1 months for the investigation. the faa under the obama administration has already taken action on issues before the ntsb has made any recommendations. so, the aviation world will be watching very closely whether it takes action on the hudson airspace. >> tom costello tonight. tom, thank you for your reporting. turning to the economy, one day after a survey showed that a majority of economists think the recession is over. there are new numbers out today showing the consumers aren't so sure. trish reagan joins us from cnbcs global headquarters. trish? >> there are growing numbers of positive signals. the economy grew more last quarter, pace of job loss is slowing, and productivity is increasing. still you can't have a full economic recovery without the consumer. and new data today points to an american consumer who is still struggling. while the cash for clunkers program gave the auto industry a much-needed boost, there are new

concerns today for the rest of the economy. >> people are buying automobiles, and notanalysts wo even weaker in part because those new cars come with new car payments. >> it leveraged up the consumer for future months. they have now got debt they didn't have before because these were clunkers they were trading in. >> reporter: home foreclosures shot up 7% last month, a 32% increase from this time last year. as more americans lose their jobs. >> since there is typically, three to six month lag time between when somebody loses a job and goes into foreclosure we can expect to see activity unemployment related go well through 2010. >> reporter: signs today that the job market remains under

pressure. first time claims for state unemployment benefits ticked up 4,000 to $558,000 in the latest week. wall street took the news in stride, closing up 37 points on the dow. still with the unemployment rate expected to hit double digits before the end of the year, some investors worry the consumer may be unable to support an economic recovery. >> there is a chance of a double dip recession. if you look at the experience of 1980 to 1982, it was the consumer that really shut down and led at least in part to the second phase of that recession. >> reporter: now wall street did get a little good news from overseas today. ann, france and germany reported a return to positive economic growth in the last quarter. their turnaround should help us. it should mean a strong market for u.s. goods. that is good news. in california, hundreds of residents are on the run from several major wildfires.

we are joined from davenport in the santa cruz mountains. michael. >> reporter: the air is thick with smoke. all afternoon ash has been raining from the sky. the very big concern at this hour, the erratic winds that stoked this wildfire last night. and are expected to return to whip up the wind here again late this afternoon. authorities have begun mandatory evacuations, making reverse 911 calls to more than 2,000 people in communities just inland from the pacific ocean. over 300 fire fighters are attacking the blaze, which has now burned more than 2,800 acres of steep, hard-to-reach terrain. there are now five large wildfires burning in the state of california. charring some 90 square miles. officials say this one is zero percent contained, ann. michael, thank you. also in california tonight, a vivid reminder of the need for affordable health care in this country. tuesday we reported on a group

of doctors offering free care at a health fair. since then, the demand for their services has become even more overwhelming. nbc's correspondent is in los angeles with more on this. miguel. ann, every chair that has a doctor has a patient in it. this massive medical floor is designed to get those patients in and out as quickly as possible. but volunteers just can't keep up. >> reporter: 3-year-old jaden green. hasn't seen a dentist in a year. her teeth are rotting. two were pulled today. ann, the massive mobile hospital will stay intact all the way until tuesday. organizers say if it was here all month they still wouldn't be able to meet the demand. back to you. >> miguel, it looks as though

they're dealing with people of all ages. and so therein lies the need. there is so much need out there. it must be so overwhelming to see. describe what you are seeing. you are surrounded by people? >> ann, for the last several days we have seen every race, every age of folks come out here. they have waited for several days. hours have turned into days. they have waited their turn to get into the forum. some have gone home in frustration. others stuck it out, waiting in bleachers, sleeping in cars for a chance to see a doctor. >> some of these people i understand have been in pain for some time. i have been seeing some of your reporting on this. it appears that some of the people have waited for this opportunity. what is this telling us about the need? what are you hearing about the need for medical care? >> ann, the folks say they are so desperate. some of them have insurance. others do not. they are all showing up to the forum to see doctors. one mother we spoke to brought her 3-year-old daughter who hadn't seen a doctor in more than a year. today she had two teeth extracted. she said it pained her to see her daughter in so much pain. over the last year.

>> miguel, thank you so much. you have done a great job brink the story to us. the debate over health care has been so heated lately, the white house today sent out its own viral e-mail, one that it hopes will spread. to counter what it sees as misinformation in the fight over reform. as we follow all of this we are looking into how the current system affects americans from all walks of life. tonight, nbc's chief science correspondent robert bazell examines how small businesses are faring as part of our effort at making sense of it all. >> reporter: cupcake royale, a chain of three coffee shops and bakeries in seep yachtle is doing well despite the tough economy. >> mama's little cupcake. >> jody hall, a new mom left her position as an executive at starbuck's six years ago to start the venture. >> if you buy 11 you get 12. >> she offers health insurance to all 57 employees who work at least 25 hours a week. >> i feel like it is a moral obligation for a company that takes from the community so to

speak, because they're bringing their dollars in here, to really support the community behind the counter. to make sure they have a viable job that is going to, company that supports them. and it is becoming harder and harder. >> reporter: harder because the insurance available for cupcake royale and other small businesses costs far more than the plans big companies buy. >> i was astounded by the fact my dollars, similar level what i just had in corporate america, bought me about half the coverage if that. >> reporter: that is why so many small business owners just can't get insurance even for themselves. like tess deluna who owns a boutique across the street. >> it is something you try not to think about after a while. until you, until something happens. then you have to go to the doctor. >> reporter: about half employed americans own or work for a small business. and because of that they are far less likely to have health insurance. 95% of americans who work for large companies get health insurance at work.

but only 42% of people who work for small businesses like these get health insurance. that is why so much of the health reform discussions, in townhalls and in congress, have been about new options for small business owners and their workers. private health insurers exchanges and/or a new public plan. the benefits are obvious even for young people. ali masterson who works at cupcake royale was hit by a car while riding her bicycle. >> my first reaction was -- maybe i shouldn't go to the er it will be expensive. then, wait, i have health insurance. >> that will be $3.41. >> reporter: her boss, jody hall believes small business owners have to pay more precisely because they are small, work constantly and lack the voice to negotiate. she and many others are counting on health care reform to change that. >> two carrot. robert bazell, nbc news, seattle. when "nightly news" continues on this thursday evening. kennedy family and friends

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a display of sisterhood today on secretary of state hillary clinton's tour of africa. she voiced strong support for liberia's president ellen johnson-sirleaf, first woman to become head of state in africa.

clinton's trip ends soon she returns tomorrow night. on cape cod, the kennedy family is saying good-bye to eunice kennedy shriver, the sister of the late president and the woman who stood up for the rights of the physically and mentally challenged. nbc's andrea mitchell joins us from centerville, massachusetts. andrea. good evening, ann. all day here today, the family greeted the famous and the not-so-famous at our lady of victory church behind me. as the wake continues tonight. you have seen everyone here from of course, maria shriver, the daughter of eunice kennedy shriver, and her brothers, her siblings. also of course, arnold schwarzenegger, oprah, carolin kennedy. and the not so famous. the special olympians who think of eunice kennedy shriver as their grandmother. she told me they mentored them and loved them. in fact an inspiration. she single-handedly changed the way that the physically and mentally challenged are treated all over the world. and she will, tomorrow, be buried. there will be a funeral mass.

the one person missing here today was of course, teddy kennedy, who is battling brain cancer. we don't know yet whether he will be here tomorrow for the funeral. but they will march after the casket and they will go to a different church in hyannis and a torch carried by one of the special olympians. ann. >> to bury a great woman. andrea mitchell tonight. thank you so much. also tonight the remans of the long-lost navy pilot, scott spiker has returned to his home in florida. his flag-draped coffin arrived at the jacksonville naval air station. spiker's jet was shot down on the first night of the first gulf war. it wasn't until this month that his remains were positively identified. when we come back, secrets of the deep that might help fight cancer. discover new seafood creations inspired from around the country.

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back now with the race to protect a natural wonder of our planet, one that is down so deep until now only fish have seen it. nbc's kerry sanders has just returned from an extraordinary look at a discovery on the ocean floor that might one day help treat pancreatic cancer. >> reporter: 52 miles due east of cape canaveral. >> we're diving -- >> reporter: researchers launch a submersible to probe the ocean's depths more than 1,000 feet down. so deep there is no sun light, water temperatures in the 40s. you're looking at a never-before-seen section of deep water corals, an underwater amazon. 20 years ago scientists believed coral reefs only existed in shallow waters, but now we know they exist as deep as 3,000

feet. off the coast of north carolina, to the florida keys, believed to be the largest continuous concentration of deep water corals on earth. 23,000 square miles. >> in the eight years of the deep water expeditions scientists have discovered at least ten new species and with each find there is hope it will somehow benefit man. >> it is called a glass sponge. >> the most promising discovery has been an abrasive sandpaper. awe the delicate glass sponge which contains a chemical compound that is magical. >> ground it up and tested it against different types of cancer cells. and they found out that it killed the cancer. >> reporter: so the south-atlantic fisher management council is racing to make an area the size of west virginia off-limits to fishermen before they ever drop lines here. the likely commercial catch. >> he is not a happy camper. >> reporter: golden crabs. scientists fear crab traps could

crush the delicate corals. some 100,000 years old. >> it takes a pretty hard heart to look at that beautiful coral reef and say -- i want to knock that down for a one-time fishing catch. >> reporter: scientists hoping to protect deep water corals that hold so much promise before they're gone. kerry sanders, nbc news, off the coast of florida. when we come back, a look back at a guitar hero who transformed the sound track of our lives. (male announcer) if you've had a heart attack

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today a man who changed your life died. you may not even know his name. whether you love jazz, blues, pop, or rock 'n' roll, you owe a debt of gratitude to les paul. he lived for 94 years. but as nbc's ron paul -- ron allen, rather, reports, his music and his enormous influence will live on. ♪ >> reporter: if you have listened to or played just about any kind of popular music going back decades, then les paul has been a part of your life.

he was not just a musician and performer, he was also an innovator and inventer known for creating a distinctive sound and style. he was the father of the electric guitar, one of the most popular models bears his name, the gibson les paul. for the past 12 years, well into his 90s, paul had been playing every monday night at new york's iridi iridium jazz club. >> the enjoyment of hearing people laugh, applause. there is ego involved. you want to, you want to perform, you want them to look you. his spirit and his contributions are in every musician that plays today. so everybody is carrying a piece of les paul with them. >> reporter: he created effect like reverb. he devised a recording technique, multitracking. ♪ penny lane is in my ear >> reporter: les paul performed with the music world's greatest. they are some of his most

devoted fans. >> my sound is develop and style developed because of playing les paul. >> reporter: born lester paulus, in wisconsin, played the harmonica and by 17 was making a living with his guitar. les paul had hits through the early 40s and 50s. and became a household name on tv with his wife, mary ford. he is in the grammy hall of fame, the rock 'n' roll hall of fame and inventers' hall of fame and even honored by a president. paul had not appeared here on stage the last eight weeks or so. so ill he missed his 94th birthday party here in june. every week he was gone his fans thought and hoped that would be the monday night he returned. paul said he wanted to be remembered as just a plain, old guitar player. >> that's good enough for me. yeah, i just do the best i can. that i do. >> reporter: but he was an icon who revolutionized music. ron allen, nbc news, new york. ♪

that is our broadcast for this thursday evening. i'm ann curry in for brian williams. for all of us here at nbc news, thank you. and good night. thank you. and good night. ♪ -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com