Casualties unknown

Autopilot Disconnection at Touchdown Leads to Tail Strike During Go-Around (EICDK)

Honolulu, HI, US

On June 21, 1997, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11 (registration EICDK) operated by Garuda Indonesian Airways PT was involved in an aviation accident near Honolulu, HI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to apply adequate manual control inputs following his decision to disconnect the autopilot during the autoland operation, resulting in a subsequent loss of directional control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During an autoland approach, the captain disconnected the autopilot at touchdown. Insufficient manual inputs caused directional and pitch issues. After reverse and go-around thrust, asymmetrical three-engine thrust led to overrotation and a tail strike.

Incident Overview

An incident occurred during an autopilot autoland approach and landing. The captain disconnected the autopilot at the moment of touchdown. Following the disconnection, manual flight control inputs were not sufficient to maintain runway heading or to prevent a pitch-up attitude upon spoiler deployment.

Sequence of Events

After touchdown, the crew selected reverse thrust. Subsequently, go-around thrust was applied. During the go-around, the thrust from the three engines was not symmetrical. This asymmetry contributed to the aircraft being overrotated, which resulted in a tail strike.

Result

The incident involved a tail strike. No further details regarding injuries, damage, or other consequences are available from the source.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X08104. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.