Casualties unknown

Delta Air Lines Flight 554 Runway Overrun at LaGuardia Airport (N914DL)

Flushing, NY, US

On October 19, 1996, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD-88 (registration N914DL) operated by Delta Air Lines, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Flushing, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The Safety Board's full report is available at www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm. NTSB Report AAR-97/03. the inability of the captain, because of his use of monovision contact lenses, to overcome his misperception of the airplane's position relative to the… This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N914DL
Aircraft registered N914DL. Photo: redlegsfan21 from Vandalia, OH, United States / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On October 19, 1996, an MD-88 operated by Delta Air Lines struck approach lights and the runway deck at LaGuardia Airport during an IFR approach. Three passengers were lightly injured.

Accident Overview On October 19, 1996, at approximately 1638 eastern daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-88, registration N914DL, operated by Delta Air Lines, Inc., as flight 554, struck the approach light structure and the end of the runway deck during an approach to land on runway 13 at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in Flushing, New York. ## Flight Operations Flight 554 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Atlanta, Georgia, to Flushing, New York, operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121. The flight departed William B. Hartsfield International Airport at Atlanta, Georgia, at approximately 1441. The aircraft was carrying two flightcrew members, three flight attendants, and 58 passengers. ## Injuries and Damage Three passengers reported minor injuries; no injuries were reported by the remaining 60 occupants. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage, wings (including slats and flaps), main landing gear, and both engines. ## Meteorological and Operational Conditions Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed for the approach to runway 13, and flight 554 was operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. ## Reference The Safety Board's full report is available at www.ntsb.gov/publictn/publictn.htm. NTSB Report AAR-97/03.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X06964. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.