McDonnell Douglas MD-11 N803DE
2 August 1992 · Los Angeles, California, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 2 August 1992 at about 21:34 local time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 registered N803DE, operated by Delta Air Lines, was involved in an incident near Los Angeles, California, United States. 149 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 21:34
- Classification
- Incident
- Location
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Los Angeles Intl (LAX)
- Coordinates
- 33.9508, -118.3996
- Aircraft
- McDonnell Douglas MD-11
- Registration
- N803DE
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 3
- Operator
- Delta Air Lines
- Operating rule
- Part 121: Air Carrier
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Portland → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL92IA151
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 149 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 149 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROLS (ELEVATOR) DURING THE LANDING, WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT TAIL CONTACTING THE RUNWAY SURFACE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE FLIGHT CREW WAS PERFORMING A NORMAL LANDING (MANUAL THROTTLES/AUTO GROUND SPOILER). THEY REPORTED THAT AFTER THE MAIN GEAR HAD TOUCHED DOWN, THE NOSE PITCHED UP 'VIOLENTLY'. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT TAIL SCRAPED THE RUNWAY SURFACE. DFDR DATA INDICATED THAT AFTER MAIN GEAR TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE WAS LOWERED AT AN EXCESSIVE RATE, FOLLOWED BY LARGE, AFT YOKE INPUT TO ARREST THE RATE OF NOSE SINK. THE NOSE GEAR CONTACTED THE RUNWAY WHILE THE AFT YOKE INPUT WAS MAINTAINED, AND THE GROUND SPOILERS EXTENDED TO 60 DEGREES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT WITH THIS SCENARIO, A PITCH UP OF THE NOSE WOULD OCCUR.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other McDonnell Douglas MD-11 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 1992 | McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | Yuma, Arizona, United States | McDonnel Douglass Corp | No injuries | - |
| 1 May 1993 | McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | Los Angeles, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 1993 | McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | Shemya, Alaska, United States | China Eastern Airlines | Fatal | 2 |
| 4 Nov 1994 | McDonnell Douglas MD-11/F | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Oct 1994 | McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | Dfw Airport, Texas, United States | U. S. Africa Airways | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jun 1994 | McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | Caribbean | - | Serious injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Feb 1992 | Piper PA-28R-201T | Ludlow, California, United States | Higgins, Melvin W & Jean | Minor injuries | - |
| 22 Feb 1992 | Beechcraft C-23 | Fullerton, California, United States | Eldon R. Howe | No injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 150 | San Jose, California, United States | Veda Corporation | Minor injuries | - |
| 23 Feb 1992 | Cessna 182N | San Ardo, California, United States | Soil Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Grumman G-164B | Dixon, California, United States | Sunrise Duster, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Bellanca 7ECA | Apple Valley, California, United States | Chester Waite | Serious injuries | - |