# NTSB ATL92IA151: Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11, N803DE, Los Angeles, CA, August 2, 1992

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 1992, 14:34 local (21:34 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Coordinates: 33.950843, -118.399581 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9508&lon=-118.3996&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 149 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8527
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92IA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8527/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92IA151

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROLS (ELEVATOR) DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT TAIL CONTACTING THE RUNWAY SURFACE.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - elevator - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT CREW WAS PERFORMING A NORMAL LANDING (MANUAL THROTTLES/AUTO GROUND SPOILER). THEY REPORTED THAT AFTER THE MAIN GEAR HAD TOUCHED DOWN, THE NOSE PITCHED UP 'VIOLENTLY'. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT TAIL SCRAPED THE RUNWAY SURFACE. DFDR DATA INDICATED THAT AFTER MAIN GEAR TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE WAS LOWERED AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE, FOLLOWED BY LARGE, AFT YOKE INPUT TO ARREST THE RATE OF NOSE SINK. THE NOSE GEAR CONTACTED THE RUNWAY WHILE THE AFT YOKE INPUT WAS MAINTAINED, AND THE GROUND SPOILERS EXTENDED TO 60 DEGREES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT WITH THIS SCENARIO, A PITCH UP OF THE NOSE WOULD OCCUR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N803DE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS MD-11
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 48474
- Engines: GE CF6-80C2 61500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Delta Air Lines
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 2, 2000
- Departed: PDX, PORTLAND, OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles Intl, runway 25, 12,091 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 20,500 total, 285 in this make and model, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAX, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19920802033819I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920802033819I), Aug 2, 1992: Doug MD11, Los Angeles, CA, Minor damage. Tail of aircraft struck runway on landing. Damaged the aft pressure bulkhead.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.