# NTSB FTW83IA044: Boeing 727-223, N846AA, Little Rock, AR, November 23, 1982

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: November 22, 1982, 21:31 local (Nov 23, 1982, 03:31 UTC)
- Place: Little Rock, AR
- Location: 34.7294° N, 92.2248° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BILL AND HILLARY CLINTON NTL/ADAMS FLD (LIT), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7294&lon=-92.2248&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 23 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 22, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 71446
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83IA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/71446/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83IA044

## Analysis

THE AIRCREW REPORTED THAT THEY BROKE OUT OF THE CLOUDS AT ABOUT 744 FT AGL WHILE ON AN ILS APPROACH AND THAT THE CEILING WAS RAGGED. AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL, THE CAPTAIN TURNED ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE FIRST OFFICER WAS FLYING THE AIRCRAFT FROM THR RIGHT SEAT AND MADE A SMOOTH TOUCHDOWN. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE RAIN BECAME EXTREMELY HEAVY TO THE POINT THAT THE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE DIFFUSED, BUT STILL SOMEWHAT VISIBLE. THE CAPTAIN TOLD THE FIRST OFFICER THAT THE PLANE WAS DRIFTING LEFT, BUT THE FIRST OFFICER DID NOT DETECT THE DRIFT. THE CAPTAIN TOOK CONTROL, BUT NOT IN TIME TO PREVENT THE AIRCRAFT FROM DRIFTING OFF THE RUNWAY. THREE RUNWAY LIGHTS WERE KNOCKED OUT AND THE PLANE RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE BEFORE IT WAS STEERED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY. MARKS ON THE RUNWAY INDICATED THAT THE TIRES HAD HYDROPLANNED.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor)
  - aircraft performance,hydroplaning condition - water (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - visual/aural detection, copilot/second pilot (contributing factor)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - runway light (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N846AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N846AA-2002-04-30), registration cancelled 2002-04-30, S/N 20987, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-223
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-223](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-223) (registry code 1384074) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-1) (registry code 52044, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20987
- Engines: P & W JT8D-9 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines
- Registered owner: American Airlines
- Departed: MEMPHIS, TN
- Destination: LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LIT, Adams, runway 22, 7,012 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 11,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 147 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LIT

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.