American Airlines Flight 1420 Crash: Investigation and Findings

Jul 7, 2024

American Airlines Flight 1420 Crash: Investigation and Findings

Introduction to the Incident

Date: June 1, 1999 Flight: American Airlines Flight 1420 Aircraft: MD-80 Route: Dallas Fort Worth to Little Rock Weather Condition: Severe thunderstorms

Key Issues

  • Severe weather affecting flight path
  • Pilot error
  • Intense industry pressure for on-time performance
  • Rigid duty time limits for crews

Timeline of Events

  1. Pre-Flight Conditions: Severe weather conditions and flight delay causes stress before takeoff.
  2. Weather Concerns: Pilots briefed on adverse weather but decide to proceed to Little Rock.
  3. In-Flight: Pilots navigate thunderstorms and severe crosswinds. Passengers informed of bad weather.
  4. Decent Phase: Flight crew aims for visual approach amidst falling visibility and increasing crosswinds.
  5. Final Approach: Blinded by rain and gusts, pilots miscalculate approach; fail to initiate a missed approach.
  6. Crash: Airplane overshoots runway due to failure to deploy spoilers, skids off, crashes into steel walkway. Fatalities and severe damage result.

Contributing Factors

Pilot Errors

  • Spoilers Not Deployed: Ground spoilers were not armed before landing, crucial for braking on a wet runway.
  • Failure to Abort Approach: Despite recognizing hazards, pilots continued approach.
  • Confusion and Stress: Severe weather and time pressures exacerbated errors.

Severe Weather Impact

  • Radar Limitations: Difficulty tracking thunderstorms accurately with limited technology at Little Rock.
  • High Winds and Wind Shear: Crosswinds and wind shear alerts complicated landing.

Industry Pressures

  • On-Time Performance: Strong emphasis on maintaining schedules likely influenced crew decisions.
  • Duty Time Limits: Concerns about reaching legal duty time limitations.

Investigation and Findings

NTSB Activities

  • Pilot Interviews: Information about cockpit decisions under storm pressure, stress due to delays and weather briefing assessments.
  • Spoilers Analysis: Confirmed failure to arm spoilers through cockpit voice recorder analysis.
  • Weather Analysis: Severe thunderstorm impact assessment using radar and pilot reports.

Findings and Conclusion

  • Cause: Pilot decision to continue approach in severe weather and failure to deploy spoilers were primary factors.
  • Contributing Industry Factors: Need for clearer thunderstorm avoidance protocols and assessment of duty time pressures.

Safety Recommendations

  • Enhanced Training: Emphasis on weather-related decision-making and handling of in-flight pressure situations.
  • Technology Upgrades: Improvements in onboard weather radar and better data sharing between air traffic control and flights.
  • Policy Revisions: Clearer guidelines for flight operations under severe weather conditions.

Lawsuits and Public Hearings

  • American Airlines Blames Controllers: Company's initial defense places fault on air traffic control for inadequate weather information.
  • Pilot Accountability: Focus shifts back to the decision-making and errors of flight 1420's crew.

Survivor Accounts

  • Passenger Testimonies: Detailed recollections highlight feelings of impending danger and reactions post-crash including severe frustrations with American Airlines' responses and actions.

Long-Term Impact and Response

  • Policy Changes: American Airlines revised checklist protocols, ensuring dual confirmation for spoiler deployment.
  • Emotional and Psychological Impact: Survivors describe lasting trauma and profound personal changes. Anniversary gatherings for remembrance.