McDonnell Douglas MD-80 N498AA
17 October 1991 · Newark, New Jersey, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 17 October 1991 at about 01:07 local time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 registered N498AA, operated by American Airlines, Inc., was involved in an accident near Newark, New Jersey, United States. 170 people were on board and 36 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:07
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Newark, New Jersey, United States
- Nearest airport
- Newark Intl (EWR)
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- McDonnell Douglas MD-80
- Registration
- N498AA
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- American Airlines, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 121: Air Carrier
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Raleigh/Durham → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Bright
- NTSB number
- NYC92FA009
People
36 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 170 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 134 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE CREW OF THE B-737, N7385F, TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING, AND FAILURE BY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS TO PROVIDE TRAFFIC INFORMATION AND/OR ISSUE WARNINGS TO EITHER FLIGHTCREW. A FACTOR WAS THE AFTER-LANDING TASK SATURATION OF BOTH FLIGHTCREWS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
BOTH AIRPLANES LANDED IN SEQUENCE ON RUNWAY 4R, AND WERE PROCEEDING TO THEIR RESPECTIVE GATES. THE AMERICAN MD-80 LANDED FIRST. THE CONTINENTAL BOEING 737 WAS TOLD TO CROSS RUNWAY 4L AND CONTACT GROUND AFTER CROSSING. THE COLLISION OCCCURRED AT THE INTERSECTION OF TAXIWAYS 'R' AND 'K'. BOTH FLIGHT CREWS WERE OCCUPIED WITH COCKPIT DUTIES AND DID NOT SEE EACH OTHER PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. NEITHER CREW RECEIVED TRAFFIC INFORMATION OR A WARNING FROM ATC PRIOR TO THE IMPACT. THE ATC SPECIALISTS IN THE TOWER WERE DISTRACTED BY A MAINTENANCE AIRPLANE TAXING NEAR RUNWAY 11. THE LOCAL AND GROUND CONTROLLERS SAID THEY THOUGHT THE AIRPLANES WOULD NOT COLLIDE, SO THEY DID NOT ISSUE A WARNING OR TRAFFIC INFORMATION. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON A CLEAR NIGHT AND WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonnell Douglas MD-80 MD-80 | N498AA | American Airlines, Inc. | Substantial |
| Boeing 737-291 737-291 | N7385F | Continental Airlines | Substantial |
Other McDonnell Douglas MD-80 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jul 1991 | McDonnell Douglas MD-80 | Dfw Airport, Texas, United States | American Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 12 Sep 1989 | McDonnell Douglas MD-80 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | American Airlines | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Aug 1989 | McDonnell Douglas MD-80 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | American Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 29 May 1989 | McDonnell Douglas MD-80 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Continental Airlines | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 1987 | McDonnell Douglas MD-80 | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | American Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 27 Dec 1987 | McDonnell Douglas MD-80 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Continental Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1991 | Airbus A-300-605R | Newark, New Jersey, United States | American Airlines, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 14 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-28-180 | Old Bridge, New Jersey, United States | Martin Sade | No injuries | - |
| 3 Aug 1991 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Quantico Marine Corps Flying | No injuries | - |
| 5 Sep 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Somerville, New Jersey, United States | Somerset Air Service Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 1991 | Cessna 182RG | Robbinsville, New Jersey, United States | Aero Venuture Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jun 1991 | Van's RV-4 | Manville, New Jersey, United States | Komoroski, Edward J. | Minor injuries | - |