# NTSB FTW88IA029: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10, N121AA, Newark, NJ, November 22, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: November 21, 1987, 23:07 local (Nov 22, 1987, 04:07 UTC)
- Place: Newark, NJ
- Location: 40.6925° N, 74.1687° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NEWARK LIBERTY INTL (EWR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6925&lon=-74.1687&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 94 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 2, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22566
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88IA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22566/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88IA029

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - incapacitation(cardiovascular), pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HARD LANDING THE CAPTAIN WAS OBSERVED BY THE COPILOT AND FLIGHT ENGINEER TO BE INCAPACITATED. THE COPILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND GUIDED IT ONTO A HIGH SPEED TAXIWAY. WITH THE AID OF A FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND THE FLIGHT ENGINEER MANIPULATING THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING THE AIRPLANE WAS TAXIED SAFELY TO THE GATE. THE CAPTAIN WAS FOUND TO HAVE DIED OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION. THE AUTOPSY REVEALED SEVERE OCCLUSIVE ARTHEROSCLEROTIC DISEASE OF SEVERAL CORONARY ARTERIES. THE PILOT HAD A LONG HISTORY OF HYPERTENSION AND GOUT, WHICH HAD BEEN UNDER CONTROL UNTIL 18 MONTHS BEFORE THE INCIDENT WHEN A STRESS TEST WAS ABNORMAL. THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECOMMENDED FOLLOW-UP CARE AND FAILED TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM ON HIS TWO SUBSEQUENT APPLICATIONS FOR CLASS 1 MEDICAL CERTIFICATES, ON WHICH HE FALSELY INDICATED THAT HE WAS ON A FAA-APPROVED HEALTH MAINTENANCE PROGRAM ADMINISTRERED BY AMERICAN AIRLINES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N121AA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46521
- Engines: GE CF-6-6 40000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines
- Registered owner: American Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Destination: EWR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EWR, Newark International, runway 29, 6,800 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 14,550 total, 1,168 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 310° at 19 knots, gusting 27
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: EWR

## 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 19871121074009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871121074009I), Nov 21, 1987: Doug DC1010, Newark, NJ, 1 fatal. Captain suffered heart attack on final approach. First officer took over controls and taxied to gate.

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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