McDonnell Douglas MD-11 N801DE

Summary

On 11 November 1998 at about 19:20 local time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 registered N801DE was involved in an accident near Portland, Oregon, United States. 124 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 November 1998 at 19:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Portland, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Portland International (PDX)

Coordinates

45.5701, -122.5907

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas MD-11

Registration

N801DE

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cincinnati → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA99LA014

Nobody was injured.

The flight crew's entry of an incorrect weight figure in the Flight Management System (FMS) computer, resulting in the approach being flown at an improper (low) Vref speed and an excessively nose-high attitude through the landing flare.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The flight crew inadvertently entered an incorrect weight figure into the Flight Management System (FMS) computer. This resulted in the approach being flown at 136 knots instead of the correct airspeed of 151 knots. At this airspeed, the aircraft proceeded along the flight path at a pitch attitude of about eight (8) degrees instead of the three or four degrees that would have occurred at the correct airspeed. At this reduced airspeed and excessive attitude, the tail clearance during the flare was reduced to the point where the airframe contacted the runway surface.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.