Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11-F accident near Anchorage, Alaska, May 16, 1996
On May 16, 1996 at about 2:33 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11-F, registered N614FE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Anchorage International airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper in-flight planning/decision, which allowed the airplane (MD-11) to encounter wake turbulence from a larger/heavy jet airplane (Boeing 747), while on a short final approach for landing on a close-by/parallel runway with a staggered threshold. Factors relating to the accident were the staggered/off-set runway thresholds, which positioned the normal approach path of runway 24R below that of runway 24L; the steeper than normal final approach path; and the left crosswind, which resulted in wake turbulence drifting from the Boeing 747's approach path to the MD-11's approach path.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 1996 · about 2:33 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Anchorage International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11-F · all MD-11-Fs on the register
- Registration
- N614FE · registry record · serial 48528
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
MD-11 was cleared visual approach (apch) to runway (rwy) 24R, 3 mi (1 min) behind Boeing 747 (landing on rwy 24L). Rwys were 550 ft apart with rwy 24L threshold staggered 4300 ft beyond that of rwy 24R. MD-11 captain (capt) used VASI, which had 3.25 deg glide path. On final apch, 21 kt left crosswind diminished to about 5 kts. From 100 ft agl, MD-11 exhibited left, then right roll & slight yawing. About 50 ft agl, MD-11 entered high sink rate. Capt began go-around & raised nose. Lower aft fuselage hit rwy & MD-11 bounced. Capt discontinued go-around; MD-11 bounced two more times; sustained damage to aft pressure bulkhead. Last 20 sec of flight, MD-11 averaged 1380 ft/min rate of descent, 152 kts, 5.12 deg apch angle. MD-11 flight manual discussed visual apchs, go-around procedure, & tail/wing clearance issues, but operator did not have formal tailstrike awareness training for MD-11 pilots. After accident, operator developed tail strike awareness training program that included bounced landing recovery & simulator training, & limited pitch attitude to 7-1/2 deg for recovery from bounced landing. AIM recommended that for landing behind larger acft on parallel rwy, closer than 2500 ft, stay above larger acft's flight path. Tower controller did not issue precaution for wake turbulence.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,500 hours in all; 1,470 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,393 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 29, 1996; 205 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 625,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CF6-80C2 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EWR Newark NJ at 2:28 am
- Destination: ANC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24R, 10,601 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:38 am from ANC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.