John F. Kennedy Intl Apt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jamaica, New York 11401
Saturday, May 8, 1999 7:01 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The RVR went below minimums, and the flightcrew was issued holding instructions. While flying toward the holding fix, the RVR increased. The ATC specialist offered the flightcrew the ILS approach, but advised that they might be too high. The captain accepted the approach clearance, and the ATC specialist asked if the flightcrew would be able to make the approach from their position. The captain gave an affirmative reply. He continued the entire approach with excessive altitude, airspeed, and rate of descent; while remaining above the glide slope. This was contrary to the company procedures, the instrument approach procedure, Federal Aviation Regulations 91.175, and four audible warnings from the airplane GPWS. During the approach, the first officer failed to make the required callouts, including a missed approach callout. The airplane landed approximately 7,000 feet beyond the approach end of the runway, at 157 knots; and subsequently overran the runway. During interviews, both pilots stated that they were fatigued. The flightcrew was working a continuous duty overnight schedule. The previous day, they both awoke during the morning hours, did not sleep during the day, and reported for duty about 2200 for a flight scheduled at 2246. The flight was delayed, and arrived at BWI about 0100. They were asleep about 0130, and awoke about 0445 for the accident flight, which was scheduled to depart at 0610.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot-in-command's failure to perform a missed approach as required by his company procedures. Factors were the pilot-in-command's improper in-flight decisions, the pilot-in-command's failure to comply with FAA regulations and company procedures, inadequate crew coordination, and fatigue.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/8/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 701
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City JAMAICA
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 11401
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport JOHN F. KENNEDY INTL APT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID JFK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 13
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 705 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID JFK
Elevation of weather observation facility 13
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 1800
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 58
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 58
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 90
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 11
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 29
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1563
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 8 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 746
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2001 4:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N232AE
NTSB Number NYC99FA110
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Saab-Scania AB (Saab)
Aircraft Model 340B
Aircraft Series Identifier 340B
Aircraft Serial Number 340B-232
Certified Max Gross Weight 29000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 37
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection May 7 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 17488
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CHASE MANHATTAN BANK & TRUST
Aircraft Owner Street Address 101 CALIFORNIA STREET
Aircraft Owner City SAN FRANCISCO
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94111
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AMERICAN EAGLE AIRLINES, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4333 AMON CARTER BLVD
Operator City FORT WORTH
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 76155
Operator Code SIMA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BWI
Departure City BALTIMORE
Departure State MD
Departure Country
Departure Time 615
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code JFK
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4R
Runway Length 8400
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --