Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary FTW88IA029

NEWARK, NJ, USA

Aircraft #1

N121AA

MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10

Analysis

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE HARD LANDING THE CAPTAIN WAS OBSERVED BY THE COPILOT AND FLIGHT ENGINEER TO BE INCAPACITATED. THE COPILOT TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND GUIDED IT ONTO A HIGH SPEED TAXIWAY. WITH THE AID OF A FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND THE FLIGHT ENGINEER MANIPULATING THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING THE AIRPLANE WAS TAXIED SAFELY TO THE GATE. THE CAPTAIN WAS FOUND TO HAVE DIED OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION. THE AUTOPSY REVEALED SEVERE OCCLUSIVE ARTHEROSCLEROTIC DISEASE OF SEVERAL CORONARY ARTERIES. THE PILOT HAD A LONG HISTORY OF HYPERTENSION AND GOUT, WHICH HAD BEEN UNDER CONTROL UNTIL 18 MONTHS BEFORE THE INCIDENT WHEN A STRESS TEST WAS ABNORMAL. THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECOMMENDED FOLLOW-UP CARE AND FAILED TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM ON HIS TWO SUBSEQUENT APPLICATIONS FOR CLASS 1 MEDICAL CERTIFICATES, ON WHICH HE FALSELY INDICATED THAT HE WAS ON A FAA-APPROVED HEALTH MAINTENANCE PROGRAM ADMINISTRERED BY AMERICAN AIRLINES.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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