June 1, 1999,  11:50 PM  Cental Time, An American Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-80 enroute from Dallas, Texas on an approach to Little Rock, Arkansas airport transitioned on its final approach through thunderstorms with winds at 50 mph and gusts of up to 75 mph crashed while landing. The aircraft skidded off the runway with its 139 passengers and six crew on board. 

The aircraft fuselage spilt in two and then caught on fire. The pilot and 7 passengers were killed and over 90 people onboard were injured. Authorities report the MD-80 had made a 150 degree turn before slamming into a steel tower on the edge of the Arkansas River. This was the first deadly crash for a major U.S. airline in close to 18 months. The captain of flight 1420 has been a pilot for American since 1979 and had logged more than 9,600 total flight hours at American, including more than 5,500 hours as an MD-80 captain. The first officer has been with American since early 1999.