# NTSB ATL91IA094: Boeing 727-223, N882AA, Nashville, TN, May 15, 1991

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 15, 1991, 08:13 local (13:13 UTC)
- Place: Nashville, TN
- Coordinates: 36.109222, -86.659896 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1092&lon=-86.6599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 138 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8345
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL91IA094
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8345/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL91IA094

## Probable cause

THE CAPTAIN'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER GLIDE PATH AFTER DISCONNECTION OF THE AUTOPILOT DURING THE FINAL APPROACH. FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE: THE CAPTAIN'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW COMPANY PROCEDURES FOR CATEGORY II APPROACHES, THE FIRST OFFICER'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY MONITOR THE APPROACH DURING THE FINAL PHASE, PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, AND THE LOW VISIBILITY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - weather condition - below approach/landing minimums (contributing factor)
  - proper glidepath - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - monitoring - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - approach light/navaid
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - approach light/navaid

## Analysis

FLT 1206 WAS ON FINAL FOR A CAT II ILS RWY 2L APCH. THE LAST RPRTD RVR PRIOR TO LANDING WAS 700 FT, & 1200 FT RVR WAS RPRTD AS THE FLT CROSSED THE OUTER MARKER. MINIMUMS FOR THE APCH WERE 1200 FT RVR. ON SHORT FINAL, THE CAPT SAW APCH LIGHTS & DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPILOT AS THE ACFT DSCNDD BELOW 200 FT AGL. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN 408 FT SHORT OF THE RWY THRESHOLD, DAMAGING THE APCH LIGHTING SYS & THE ACFT. DFDR READOUT REVEALED THE ACFT RATE OF DSCNT INCREASED FROM 720 FPM TO 1400 FPM AFTER THE AUTOPILOT WAS DISCONNECTED, WHILE AIRSPEED REMAINED CONSTANT. INSPN OF THE ACFT NAV EQUIP & ARPT NAV AIDS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. ALTHOUGH THE CAPT STATED THAT HE HAD THE APCH LIGHTS VISUALLY, HE WAS UNAWARE THE ACFT HAD LANDED SHORT. THE FLT ENGINEER STATED HE FELT THE ACFT HAD INDEED LANDED SHORT. THE CAPT DISCONNECTED THE AUTOPILOT AT ABOUT 200 FEET AGL, ALTHOUGH COMPANY PROCEDURES REQUIRED USE OF THE AUTOPILOT DOWN TO DECISION HEIGHT (100 FT AGL).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N882AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N882AA-2002-12-19), registration cancelled 2002-12-19, S/N 21521, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-223
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-223](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-223) (registry code 1384074) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21521
- Engines: P&W JT8D-9A 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: American Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: MSY, NEW ORLEANS, LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BNA, Nashville International, runway 2L, 7,702 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,542 total, 1,542 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BNA, 1 nm away

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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