American Airlines Flight 1420 Runway Overrun at Little Rock National Airport (N215AA)

Accident Overview and Flight Details American Airlines Flight 1420, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) with registration N215AA, crashed on June 1, 1999, at 2350:44 central daylight time after overrunning the end of runway 4R during landing at Little Rock National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas. The flight departed from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas, at approximately 2240 and touched down in Little Rock at 2350:20. Aboard the aircraft were 2 flight crewmembers, 4 flight attendants, and 139 passengers. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 on an instrument flight rules flight plan. ## Sequence of Events and Impact After departing the end of the runway, the airplane struck several tubes extending outward from the left edge of the instrument landing system localizer array, located 411 feet beyond the end of the runway. The aircraft then passed through a chain link security fence and over a rock embankment to a flood plain, located approximately 15 feet below the runway elevation, before colliding with the structure supporting the runway 22L approach lighting system. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. ## Casualties The accident resulted in the deaths of the captain and 10 passengers. The first officer, the flight attendants, and 105 passengers received serious or minor injuries, while 24 passengers were not injured.