FedEx Flight 14
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Summary | |
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Date | July 31, 1997 |
Type | Pilot error |
Site | Newark International Airport, Newark, NJ |
Passengers | 3 |
Crew | 2 |
Injuries | 5 |
Fatalities | 0 |
Survivors | 5 (all) |
Aircraft type | MD-11F |
Operator | FedEx |
Tail number | N611FE |
Federal Express corp. (FedEx) flight 14 was a flight between Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Anchorage, Alaska and Newark International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey that crashed during landing on July 31, 1997.
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[edit] Summary
Flight 14 crashed while landing on runway 22R at Newark on July 31 1997. The flight originated in Singapore with intermediate stops in Penang, Malaysia, Taipei, Taiwan, and Anchorage, Alaska. In addition to the Captain and First Officer there were 3 passengers including one riding in the jump seat.
Upon landing, the pilot had failed to arrest the aircraft's descent, and it touched down at a descent rate of 500 feet per minute. The MD-11 bounced and rolled to the right. On the second touchdown, about 1,100 feet later, the No. 3 engine (right wing engine) contacted the runway, with the right roll continuing until the right wing spars broke. The aircraft came to rest off the right side of the runway and on its back, and on fire. All five occupants escaped through a cockpit window. The airplane was destroyed by fire.
[edit] The investigation
The NTSB conducted a full investigation of the accident. The probable cause was determined to be pilot error. The Captain was found to have overcontrolled the airplane during the landing and his failure to go around after a destabilized flare. The Captain's concern with touching down early is also believed to have contributed to the crash.