Date: June 1, 1999
Type: McDonnell Douglas MD-82
Operator: American Airlines
Flight Number: 1420
Departure airport: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, USA
Destination airport: Little Rock National Airport, USA
Destination airport: Little Rock National Airport, USA
American Airlines Flight 1420 was a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Little Rock National Airport in USA. On June 1, 1999, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (registration number N215AA) overran the runway upon landing in Little Rock and crashed.According to the NTSB's report, the crew of Flight 1420 learned that the winds were changing direction and that a wind shear alert had sounded on the airport due to a thunderstorm nearby. The crew was originally told to expect Runway 22L for landing but requested a change to Runway 4R.
As the aircraft approached Runway 4R, a severe thunderstorm arrived over the airport. The controller's last report to the crew prior to landing stated that the winds were 330 degrees at 28 knots. During the rushed approach, the pilots had failed to arm the spoilers, devices atop the wings that reduce lift by "spoiling" airflow.
After landing, the first officer stated, "We're down. We're sliding." The aircraft never fully settled onto its landing gear and therefore braking was ineffective. Despite the application of brakes and reverse thrust, the aircraft skidded off the far end of the runway at high speed and crashed into an approach lighting tier, ending up on the banks of the Arkansas River. Such structures are usually frangible - i.e. designed to shear off on impact - but because the approach lights were located on the unstable river bank, they were firmly anchored and the impact destroyed the aircraft. It broke into three pieces and ignited.
The captain, one of six crew members, died in the crash, along with 10 of the 139 passengers. The captain died when a steel walkway hit the cockpit. Some of his final words were "it's a can of worms", describing his situation when attempting to land the plane.Of the surviving flight crew, the other member received serious injuries.
Crew: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 6
Passengers: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 139
Total: Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 145
Airplane damage: Written off
Probable Cause:
"The flight crew's failure to discontinue the approach when severe thunderstorms and their associated hazards to flight operations had moved into the airport area and the flight crew's failure to ensure that the spoilers had extended after touchdown. Contributing to the accident were the flight crew's (1) impaired performance resulting from fatigue and the situational stress associated with the intent to land under the circumstances, (2) continuation of the approach to a landing when the company's maximum crosswind component was exceeded, and (3) use of reverse thrust greater than 1.3 engine pressure ratio after landing. "
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