# NTSB LAX90LA055: Boeing 757-223, N611AM, Santa Ana, CA, December 22, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 21, 1989, 22:34 local (Dec 22, 1989, 06:34 UTC)
- Place: Santa Ana, CA
- Location: 33.6757° N, 117.8682° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at JOHN WAYNE/ORANGE COUNTY (SNA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6757&lon=-117.8682&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 111 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26708
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90LA055
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26708/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90LA055

## Probable cause

THE COPILOT'S OVERROTATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE FLARE WHICH ALLOWED THE TAIL TO COLLIDE WITH THE RUNWAY. THE FAILURE OF THE CAPTAIN TO TAKE APPROPRIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - light condition - dark night
  - flare - improper, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - remedial action - not performed, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE TAIL OF A BOEING 757 STRUCK THE RUNWAY DURING A VISUAL NIGHT LANDING AT THE ORANGE COUNTY AIRPORT. THE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER INDICATED A PITCH ATTITUDE OF 11.074 DEGREES FOR TWO SECONDS AT TOUCHDOWN. THE BOEING COMPANY STATED THE MAXIMUM PITCH AT TOUCHDOWN SHOULD NOT EXCEED 10.3 DEGREES. THIS WAS THE CAPTAIN'S FIRST NIGHT TIME FLIGHT INTO ORANGE COUNTY AIRPORT IN THIS TYPE OF AIRCRAFT. AIRCREWS CERTIFIED IN THE BOEING 767 AIRCRAFT ARE ALSO QUALIFIED IN THE BOEING 757 AIRCRAFT. AS OF FEBRUARY, 1990, THERE HAVE BEEN 27 KNOWN TAIL STRIKES IN THE 767 AND 51 TAIL STRIKES IN THE 757 AIRCRAFT DURING THE TAKEOFF AND LANDING PHASES OF FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N611AM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 757-223
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 24487
- Engines: ROLLS-ROYCE RB-211-53 40100 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Transport
- Departed: DFW, DALLAS/FT WORTH, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SNA, Orange County, runway 19, 5,700 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,674 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SNA

## FAA reports on this event (1)

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

- [Accident 19891221065369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891221065369A), Dec 21, 1989: Boeing 757223, Santa Ana, CA, Substantial damage. Struck tail on runway on landing due to abnormal pitch atitude on flare.

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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