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American Airlines Flight 1340 Ground Impact at Chicago O'Hare (N845AA)

Chicago-O'Hare, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On February 9, 1998, a Boeing 727-200 (registration N845AA) operated by American Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Chicago-O'Hare, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the flight crew to maintain a proper pitch attitude for a successful landing or go-around. Contributing to the accident were the divergent pitch oscillations of the airplane, which occurred during the final approach and were the result of an… This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 11 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary report: the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archiveUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N845AA
Aircraft registered N845AA. Photo: Aeroprints.com / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

On February 9, 1998, American Airlines Flight 1340, a Boeing 727-223 (N845AA), impacted the ground short of runway 14R at Chicago O'Hare during a CAT II ILS approach, causing minor injuries and substantial damage.

Accident Overview and Aircraft Details On February 9, 1998, at approximately 0954 central standard time, a Boeing 727-223 (727) with registration N845AA, operated by American Airlines as flight 1340, impacted the ground short of the runway 14R threshold at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). The aircraft was conducting a Category II (CAT II) instrument landing system (ILS) coupled approach at the time of the incident. The airplane was substantially damaged, and twenty-two passengers and one flight attendant received minor injuries. The aircraft was operating as a scheduled domestic passenger flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121, with 116 passengers, 3 flight crewmembers, and 3 flight attendants on board. The flight was destined for Chicago, Illinois, from Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Kansas City, Missouri. Daylight instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

Probable cause

The failure of the flight crew to maintain a proper pitch attitude for a successful landing or go-around. Contributing to the accident were the divergent pitch oscillations of the airplane, which occurred during the final approach and were the result of an improper autopilot desensitization rate.
Loss of control in flight

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 9 Feb 1998 Boeing 727-200 accident near Chicago-O'Hare, United States of America?

On February 9, 1998, American Airlines Flight 1340, a Boeing 727-223 (N845AA), impacted the ground short of runway 14R at Chicago O'Hare during a CAT II ILS approach, causing minor injuries and substantial damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 9 Feb 1998 Boeing 727-200 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 9 Feb 1998 involved a Boeing 727-200, registration N845AA, operated by American Airlines, at Chicago-O'Hare, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The failure of the flight crew to maintain a proper pitch attitude for a successful landing or go-around. Contributing to the accident were the divergent pitch oscillations of the airplane, which occurred during the final approach and were the result of an improper autopilot desensitization rate.

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