Airbus A300-600 crash, Nov 12, 2001 (265 killed), Belle H...
Airbus A300-600 accident on November 12, 2001 near Belle Harbor, New York, United States with 265 fatalities. Cause: In-flight separation of the...
- Date: November 12, 2001
- Aircraft: Airbus A300-600
- Location: Belle Harbor, New York, United States
- Fatalities: 265
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: In-flight separation of the vertical stabilizer after loads beyond ultimate design were created by the first officer's unnecessary and excessive rudder pedal inputs. The A300-600 rudder system design and elements of the airline's aircraft maneuvering training were contributing factors.
American Airlines Flight 587, an Airbus A300-600, lost its vertical stabilizer and rudder shortly after takeoff from New York JFK and crashed into the Belle Harbor residential area. All 260 people aboard and five people on the ground were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire. The NTSB traced the failure to excessive rudder inputs.