MEDIA ADVISORY
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, D.C. 20594
February 10, 1998
At approximately 9:48 a.m. Central Standard Time on February 9, 1998, at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, American Airlines flight #1340, N845AA, a Boeing 727-223, with 6 crew (3 flight attendants) and 115 passengers aboard, landed approximately 200 feet short of runway 14R. The airplane skidded approximately 2,000 feet before coming to rest on the west side of the runway. The aircraft had been cleared for an Instrument Landing System approach to runway 14R.
The main landing gear separated and the #1 engine (left) detached from the aircraft. There was a spill of an undetermined amount of fuel.
An emergency evacuation was conducted. No injuries were reported.
The NTSB works in a party system, which includes the FAA , as well as the airline, aircraft and major component manufacturers and other parties that can lend technical knowledge. However, all information concerning the accident investigation comes from the Board. It typically takes staff 9 to 12 months to present a report determining probable cause to the Board.
The NTSB forms groups that are headed by an NTSB investigator and include representatives from the parties to investigate various aspects of the accident. The following groups have been formed:
Operations Weather Maintenance Records
Survival Factors Cockpit Voice Recorder Aircraft Performance
Air Traffic Control Flight Data Recorder Airworthiness
Weather conditions at the time of the accident were reported as:
winds were 180 degrees at 4 knots
runway visibility at touchdown point 1600 feet, at midfield 3000 feet
altimeter reading 29.38 inches of mercury
freezing fog
ceiling was 1000’ overcast
The NTSB is continuing to document the aircraft. The cockpit was documented this morning and the crew will be interviewed this afternoon.
The FDR and CVR have been recovered and are at NTSB Headquarters in Washington, DC where they are being analyzed. The FDR contained 11 flight parameters.
There will be no press conferences. Another media advisory will be issued tomorrow.
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Media Contact: Shelly Hazle 202-314-6100.