Miami – Fort Lauderdale – Cleveland

On May 18, 1972 at 03:21 PM, Miami – Fort Lauderdale – Cleveland experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-9, operated by Eastern Airlines, with the event recorded near Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Florida.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

10 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 10 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 6, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft was completing flight EA346 from Miami to Cleveland with an intermediate stop in Fort Lauderdale. On approach to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and limited visibility due to rain showers. Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed hard on runway 09L with a rate of descent of 2,000 feet per minute. On impact, the undercarriage and the tail were torn off and the airplane slid on the wet runway before coming to rest in flames. Three occupants were injured while seven others escaped unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed by a ground fire.

Aircraft reference details include registration N8961E, MSN 45870/332, year of manufacture 1968.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 26.0720°, -80.1510°.