MEDIA ADVISORY
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

February 12, 1998

At approximately 9:54 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.

They began moving the aircraft last night, finishing this morning at 7:45 a.m.

The NTSB interviewed the air traffic controllers yesterday.

The NTSB will be interviewing the crews of the two aircraft which landed just before the accident aircraft. The NTSB will also be interviewing the crews of United Airlines flight 702, a B727, which was cleared to land on 14R at approximately 9:53:56 a.m., as well as, the crew of United Airlines flight 754, a B737, which was given a "go around" by Air Traffic Control, at approximately 9:59:26 a.m.

Airport personnel on routine maintenance saw the accident aircraft off the runway and advised the tower that there was debris on the runway. UAL 702 had already landed when the Tower was advised by the maintenance crew.

Runway lights were on level 5, the brightest setting, approach lights and sequence flashers were on. Runway Visibility Range trace showed little variation in visibility during this period.

Flight Attendants estimated that the evacuation took about 1 to 2 minutes and that Crash, Fire & Rescue personnel were on scene in approximately 5 minutes. Fire Department logs indicate that they were notified at 9:57:45 a.m. and on scene at 10:00:09 a.m.

CREW FLYING TIME

CAPTAIN: FIRST OFFICER:

10500 hours total 5740 hours total

1600 hours in B727 3740 hours in B727

400 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC) in B727 0 hours as PIC in B727

proficiency April, 97 700 hours as PIC in other aircraft

proficiency October, 97

Both had current medical certificates with no limitations. Neither had any accidents and no FAA enforcement actions had ever been taken against them. The Captain had completed 10-11 Category II and Category III approaches in other aircraft and had practiced approaches in simulators.

There will be no press conferences.

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Media Contact: 202-314-6100.