- Date
- July 31, 1997, 01:31 local (05:31 UTC)
- Place
- Newark, NJ
- Injuries
- 5 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N611FEMcDonnell Douglas MD-11
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report February 7, 2001
- Report
- Board-adopted at Board Meeting
- Investigation class
- Class 1
- NTSB office
- Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations
- Yes
- FAA report
- 19970731020129A
- Case key
- 11026
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The captain's overcontrol of the airplane during the landing and his failure to execute a go-around from a destabilized flare. Contributing to the accident was the captain's concern with touching down early to ensure adequate stopping distance.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
On July 31, 1997, at 0130 edt, Federal Express cargo flight 14, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, N611FE, crashed while landing on runway 22R at Newark IAP, Newark, NJ. The airplane experienced a hard landing, bounced, and the right main landing gear collapsed on the second touchdown. A fire broke out after the airplane came to a stop and destroyed the airplane. VFR conditions prevailed at the time, and the two pilots and three other company personnel received minor injuries. The flight originated at Anchorage, AK, and was on an IFR flight plan.
Factual narrative
On July 31, 1997, about 0132 eastern daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11, N611FE, operated by Federal Express, Inc., (FedEx) as flight 14, crashed while landing on runway 22R at Newark International Airport, Newark, New Jersey (EWR). The regularly scheduled cargo flight originated in Singapore on July 30 with intermediate stops in Penang, Malaysia; Taipei, Taiwan; and Anchorage, Alaska. The flight from Anchorage International Airport to EWR was conducted on an instrument flight rules flight plan and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. On board were the captain and first officer, who had taken over the flight in Anchorage for the final leg to EWR, one jumpseat passenger, and two cabin passengers. All five occupants received minor injuries in the crash and during subsequent egress through a cockpit window. The airplane was destroyed by impact and a postcrash fire.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N611FE
- Reported as
- McDonnell Douglas MD-11
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 48604
- Airframe hours
- 13,034
- Engine
- GE CF6-80-C2, 62,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Federal Express, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Wilmington Trust Company
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · July 18, 1997 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- ANC · Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- EWR · Newark International Airp, runway 22R, 8,200 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport, Flight engineer
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- July 11, 1997
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 11,000 total · 1,253 in this make and model · 155 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 39
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight engineer
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 3,111 total · 96 in the last 90 days · 57 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 68 °F
- Observed at
- EWR, 1 nm away
Docket · 73
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 1998, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 75.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N611FE · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.