American Airlines Flight 191

American Airlines Flight 191. It was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago to Los Angeles International Airport. On May 25, 1979, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 operating the route crashed moments after takeoff, killing all 271 people on board and two individuals on the ground. The disaster remains the deadliest aviation accident to have occurred on U.S. soil and the deadliest involving a McDonnell Douglas DC-10.

Accident

The aircraft, commanded by Captain Walter H. Lux and First Officer James Dillard, initiated its takeoff from runway 32R at O'Hare International Airport at 3:02 p.m. Central Daylight Time. As the McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 reached rotation speed, its left pylon and engine assembly separated, ripping upward and over the wing. This catastrophic failure severed hydraulic lines and damaged the wing's leading edge, causing the left slat to retract. The aircraft continued its climb to about 325 feet before it began an uncommanded left roll. Despite the crew's efforts, the roll increased until the aircraft was inverted, and it impacted an open field near a trailer park in Des Plaines, Illinois. The crash and ensuing fire killed all 271 passengers and crew, as well as two individuals at a nearby repair garage, resulting in a total of 273 fatalities. Witnesses, including pilots on other aircraft and personnel at the Federal Aviation Administration control tower, observed the engine separation and subsequent crash.

Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board led the official investigation into the disaster. The inquiry focused on the failure of the left engine pylon, a structure that attaches the CF6-6D engine to the wing. Investigators determined that the pylon had been damaged during a maintenance procedure performed by American Airlines mechanics at their Tulsa, Oklahoma facility. The procedure, which involved removing the engine and pylon as a single unit for servicing using a forklift, led to the creation of a stress fracture in the pylon's rear bulkhead. This fracture grew with each subsequent flight due to metal fatigue, ultimately causing the complete separation during takeoff. The NTSB concluded that the design of the pylon made it vulnerable to damage if the maintenance procedure was not performed with extreme precision. The investigation also scrutinized the Federal Aviation Administration for inadequate oversight of maintenance practices and the certification process for the McDonnell Douglas DC-10.

Aftermath and legacy

In the immediate aftermath, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded all McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft in the United States on June 6, 1979. The grounding, which lasted 37 days, had a significant impact on airlines worldwide, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Continental Airlines. The crash led to major changes in aviation maintenance regulations and procedures. The NTSB issued numerous safety recommendations, leading to the redesign of the pylon and the prohibition of the forklift removal method. The disaster also accelerated the development of the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder regulations, eventually mandating longer recording times. The crash site, near the intersection of Touhy Avenue and Mount Prospect Road, is marked by a memorial dedicated to the victims. The accident profoundly influenced the culture of aviation safety, emphasizing the critical importance of maintenance human factors and regulatory vigilance.

In popular culture

The tragedy has been featured in several documentary series and media productions. It was a central case in the *Mayday* episode titled "Catastrophe at O'Hare" and was also covered in the BBC series Seconds From Disaster. The crash is examined in the book The Crash of Flight 191 by John J. Nance and is frequently cited in aviation safety literature. The event has been referenced in other cultural works, including an episode of the television drama Mad Men, which used archival footage of the crash's news coverage. The story of the disaster continues to be a somber point of reference in discussions about engineering, maintenance, and systemic safety failures within the aviation industry.

Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States Category:American Airlines accidents and incidents Category:1979 in Illinois