American Airlines accidents

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This page lists American Airlines accidents and incidents. For lists of accidents and incidents on subsidiary carriers, see American Eagle Airlines and American Connection

October 23, 1942; American Airlines Flight 28, en route from Burbank, California to New York City, crashed in Chino Canyon near Palm Springs after it was clipped by a U.S. Army Air Corps Lockheed B-34 Ventura II bomber. The crash killed all nine passengers and crew of three aboard the Douglas DC-3; among the victims was award-winning composer and Hollywood songwriter Ralph Rainger. The bomber, being flown by a two-man crew, landed safely.
July 28, 1943: American Airlines Flight 63 (Flagship Ohio), a Douglas DC-3 routing Cleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati-Louisville-Nashville crashed on the last segment of the flight (Louisville-Nashville) about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) west of Trammel, KY. The plane descended from 200 feet (61 m) until it struck trees, then across an open field and stopped in an upright position. Of the 22 people on board (18 passenger and 4 crew) 20 died. The cause of the crash was loss of control due to severe turbulence and violent downdrafts.
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October 15, 1943: American Airlines Flight 63 (Flagship Missouri) a Douglas DC-3 routing Nashville-Memphis crashed near Centerville, TN. As the plane was cleared to climb by Nashville, the plane instead descended until it struck a sloped hill and burst into flames. All 11 people on board (8 passengers and 3 crew) were killed, including Blan R. Maxwell, who was the speaker of the Tennessee State Senate. The cause of the crash was determined to be icing on the plane either on the wings or propellers.
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February 10, 1944: American Airlines Flight 2, a DC-3 routing Little Rock, Arkansas-Memphis crashed into the Mississippi River about 18.1 miles (29.1 km) from Memphis International Airport. All 24 occupants on board (21 passengers and 3 crew members) were killed. 11 of the fatalities were members of the armed services The cause of the crash was never determined.
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January 10, 1945: American Airlines Flight 6001, a Douglas DC-3 was approaching Lockheed Air Terminal now known as Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, CA when it apparently veered to the left as if circling to landing. The pilot radioed, stating he could not contact visual with the ground and requested vectors to Palmdale. The plane was given clearance to proceed, and was not seen or heard from again until the next day when search crews found the wreckage in foothills approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) NE from the Lockheed Air Terminal. All 24 occupants (21 passengers and 3 crew) including 17 members of the Army and Navy were killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be the pilot's missed approach procedure to the point where it could not be applied safely.
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February 23, 1945: American Airlines Flight 9, a Douglas DC-3 flying on a routing New York City-Washington, DC-Nashville-Los Angeles, crashed into the wooded summit of Glade Mountain about 6 miles (9.7 km) SW of the town of Rural Retreat, VA. Of the 22 occupants on board (19 passengers and 3 crewmembers) 17 were killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be pilot error in not properly remaining at a safe altitude.
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March 3, 1946: American Airlines Flight 6-103, a Douglas DC-3, routing New York-Tucson-San Diego, crashed into Thing Mountain, CA near El Centro, CA. The plane reported flying over El Centro; thereafter the plane descended and crashed into the mountain. All 25 occupants on board (22 passengers and 3 crew) were killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be the pilot's action in permitting the descent to occur, to which no explanation has ever been given.
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August 25, 1946: American Airlines Flight 26, (Flagship Tulsa), a Douglas C-47 was on a training flight originating and terminating in Memphis, TN. Approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) WSW of Ashland, MS the plane crashed into the ground. Both occupants on board were killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be an unexplained loss of control.
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December 28, 1946: American Airlines Flight 2007, a Douglas C-50, routing Detroit-Chicago crashed near Michigan City, IN after an emergency divert to South Bend after the pilot reported problems with both engines. The plane crash-landed near Michigan City. Of the 21 occupants on board (18 passengers and 3 crew) 2 of the crew were killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be fuel starvation in both engines.
August 8, 1947: American Airlines Flight ? a Douglas DC-3 flying New York City-Buffalo on a cargo flight (transporting an engine) crashed into Flushing Bay while returning to La Guardia Airport after the pilot reported low oil pressure in engine #2. The plane upon impact sank in approximately 5 minutes. Both pilots on board were killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be insufficient air speed for a single engine operation while attempting the landing.
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November 29, 1949: Flight 157, a Douglas DC-6, veered off the runway and struck buildings after the flight crew lost control of the plane during its final approach to Dallas Love Field 26 passengers and 2 crew members were killed.
August 22, 1950: American Airlines Flight 14 a Douglas DC-6 flying from Los Angeles-Chicago suffered decompression after a propeller blade from the #3 engine failed and punctured the fuselage near Eagle, CO. The plane made a safe landing in Denver. One passenger, who was suffering from a heart condition died. The cause of the crash was fatigue in the engine.[9]
January 22, 1952: American Airlines Flight 6780, a Convair 240 was on routing Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse-Newark when it crashed into the corner of the intersection of Williamson and South Streets, in the city of Elizabeth, New Jersey approximately 3.4 miles (5.5 km) SE of Newark while descending for a landing. The plane was noticed to be drifting off course and descending prior to the crash. All 27 occupants on board (20 passengers and 3 crew) plus 7 civilians on the ground, were killed. Among the passengers was Robert P. Patterson, former Undersecretary of War under Franklin Delano Roosevelt and former War Secretary under Harry S. Truman. The cause of the crash was never determined.
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September 16, 1953: American Airlines Flight 723, a Convair 240 was flying Boston-Springfield-Albany-Syracuse-Rochester-Buffalo-Detroit-Chicago-when it crashed while descending for landing. The plane crashed into a series of radio towers in a fog, crashed and burned. All 28 occupants on board (25 passengers and 3 crew) were killed.
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July 6, 1954: American Airlines Flight 163, a Douglas DC-6 was flying Cleveland-St. Louis when a 15-year-old passenger burst into the cockpit with an empty pistol. The captain produced his own gun, shot and killed the perpetrator.
March 20, 1955: American Airlines Flight 711, a Convair 240, was flying Chicago-Branson, MO when it crashed a quarter mile short of the airport while landing. Of the 35 occupants on board (32 passengers and 3 crew), 13 were killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be spatial disorientation and inattention to instruments.
August 4, 1955: American Airlines Flight 476, a Convair 240, flying Tulsa-Springfield, Missouri-St. Louis-New York City crashed while attempting to make an emergency landing at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri after the #2 engine caught fire. While descending the right wing broke off and the plane crashed into a forest. All 30 occupants on board (27 passengers and three crew were killed). The cause of the crash was determined to be the "installation of an unairworthy cylinder".
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January 6, 1957: American Airlines Flight ?, a Convair 240, flying Providence, Rhode Island-Joplin-Tulsa when it struck trees about 4 miles (6.4 km) N of the approach end to Rwy 17 at Tulsa International Airport, slid along the ground to the top of an upslope, and then jumped a ditch and came to rest 540 feet (160 m) from the approach end. Of the 10 occupants on board (7 passengers and 3 crew) one passenger was killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be the lack of alertness by the captain in allowing the first officer to continue the descent at too low of an altitude.
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February 3, 1959: Flight 320, a Lockheed L-188 Electra, crashed on approach to LaGuardia on February 3, 1959 due to pilot error.
August 15, 1959: American Airlines Flight 514 (Flagship Connecticut), a Boeing 707 was on a training flight ending at Grumman Peconic River Airport, Calverton, NY now known as Calverton Executive Airpark, when during descent the plane began a barrel roll to the right, yawed and crashed in flames after the pilots shut off the engines to simulate a flameout. All 5 crew on board were killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be the failure of the crew to recognize the yaw.
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January 28, 1961: American Airlines Flight 1502 (Flagship Oklahoma) was on a training flight from Idlewild Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport) when it crashed about five miles (8 km) W of Montauk Point after being seen left-wing low steep dive. All six occupants on board were killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be a loss of control but the reason for loss was never known.
March 1, 1962: Flight 1, a Boeing 707, crashed shortly after takeoff from Idlewild airport due to a maintenance error causing rudder failure.
November 8, 1965: Flight 383, a Boeing 727, crashed on approach to Cincinnati airport. The aircraft crashed, killing 58 and leaving four survivors, including a flight attendant, Toni Ketchell. Pilot error was cited.
December 28, 1970: American Airlines (Trans Caribbean Airways) 727-200; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands: The pilot made a hard landing which caused the aircraft to bounce, followed by a second touchdown which caused the main landing gear to fail. The aircraft overran the runway and hit an embankment. Two of the 46 passengers were killed, the crew survived.
June 12, 1972: Flight 96 A new DC-10 on route from Los Angeles to New York with stops in Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Buffalo Niagara International Airport. It's rear cargo door opened in flight causing an explosive decompression over Windsor, Ontario. Tail controls were damaged but it landed safely at Detroit. Design flaw of the DC-10 rear cargo door. (See Turkish Airlines Flight 981)
April 27, 1976: Flight 625, a Boeing 727, crashed on approach to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Overran short runway, pilot error cited.
May 25, 1979: Flight 191, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10, crashed at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. During the takeoff roll, the left engine and pylon separated from the wing. The crew continued the takeoff, but wing damage due to the engine separation also damaged the aircraft hydraulic system and caused retraction of some flight control surfaces. The aircraft rolled and crashed shortly after takeoff. All 258 passengers and 13 crew were killed. Two people on the ground were also killed.
15 November 1979: American Airlines Flight 444 en route from Chicago-Washington, DC; an unsuccessful bomb aboard the plane that did not result in any fatalities.
12 November 1995: American Airlines Flight 1572 an MD-83 on a domestic scheduled passenger flight between Chicago-Hartford struck trees and landed short of the runway threshold on landing at Bradley International Airport. There were no injuries among the 78 on board. The cause of the crash was determined to be the failure of the crew to properly maintain the required altitude during descent.
December 20, 1995: Flight 965, a Boeing 757, crashed on approach to Calí, Colombia, due to a human error.
February 9, 1998: Flight 1340 a Boeing 727-223 struck the ground short of the runway 14R threshold at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) while conducting a Category II (Cat II) instrument landing system (ILS) coupled approach.
June 1, 1999: Flight 1420, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, overran the runway while landing at Little Rock, Arkansas.
September 11, 2001 attacks: Two American Airlines aircraft were hijacked and crashed: Flight 77 (a Boeing 757) was intentionally crashed into the Pentagon and Flight 11 (a Boeing 767) was intentionally crashed into the North tower of the World Trade Center.
November 12, 2001: Flight 587, an Airbus A300 crashed in the Belle Harbor neighborhood of New York City due to separation of the vertical stabilizer.
December 22, 2001: A plot to bomb Flight 63 by "shoe bomber" Richard Reid was foiled. The flight was en route from Paris Charles De Gaulle to Miami, and was diverted to Boston's Logan Airport.
December 7, 2005: Rigoberto Alpizar, a passenger on Flight 924, who officials said claimed to have a bomb in a carry-on bag, was shot and killed by a team of federal air marshals on the jetway as the plane boarded at Miami International Airport for a flight to Orlando, Florida, from Medellín, Colombia.