# NTSB DCA98MA023: Boeing 727-223, N845AA, Chicago, IL, February 9, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 1 · Major · Final report - Date: February 9, 1998, 09:54 local (15:54 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Location: 41.9769° N, 87.9081° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHICAGO O'HARE INTL (ORD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9769&lon=-87.9081&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 23 minor, 99 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 14, 2001 - Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting - Investigation class: Class 1 - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 11046 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA98MA023.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11046/pdf - Board report AAB0101 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAB0101.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA98MA023 ## Probable cause the failure of the flight crew to maintain a proper pitch attitude for a successful landing or go-around. Contributing to the accident were the divergent pitch oscillations of the airplane, which occurred during the final approach and were the result of an improper autopilot desensitization rate. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr) - weather condition - low ceiling - autopilot - improper (contributing factor) - visual/aural detection, pilot in command - aircraft control - not maintained, flightcrew (cause) - Undershoot, landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - communications/information/atc - not complied with, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) - air/ground communications - not used, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) ## Analysis The full report for NTSB Report Number AAB-01-01 is available at www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm. On February 9, 1998, about 0954 central standard time (CST), a Boeing 727-223 (727), N845AA, operated by American Airlines as flight 1340, impacted the ground short of the runway 14R threshold at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) while conducting a Category II (CAT II) instrument landing system (ILS) coupled approach. Twenty-two passengers and one flight attendant received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane, being operated by American Airlines as a scheduled domestic passenger flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121, with 116 passengers, 3 flight crewmembers, and 3 flight attendants on board, was destined for Chicago, Illinois, from Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Kansas City, Missouri. Daylight instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative The full report for NTSB Report Number AAB-01-01 is available at www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm. On February 9, 1998, about 0954 central standard time (CST), a Boeing 727-223 (727), N845AA, operated by American Airlines as flight 1340, impacted the ground short of the runway 14R threshold at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) while conducting a Category II (CAT II) instrument landing system (ILS) coupled approach. Twenty-two passengers and one flight attendant received minor injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane, being operated by American Airlines as a scheduled domestic passenger flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121, with 116 passengers, 3 flight crewmembers, and 3 flight attendants on board, was destined for Chicago, Illinois, from Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Kansas City, Missouri. Daylight instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N845AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N845AA-1999-08-19), registration cancelled 1999-08-19, S/N 20986 (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: 20986 - Airframe hours: 59069 - Engines: P&W JT8D-9 14500 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: American Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 6, 1998, 12 hours before - Departed: MCI, KANSAS CITY, KS - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ORD, Chicago O'Hare Internatio, runway 14R, 13,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 25, 1997; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 11,000 total, 1,319 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 0.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ORD ## Other investigations on N845AA (1) 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. - [NTSB IAD98LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD98LA021), Jan 6, 1998: Boeing 727-223 (N845AA), Philadelphia, PA, minor damage. Probable cause: failure of the tug driver to see-and-avoid the taxiing airplane. 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.