American Airlines Flight 191

High school (ages 12+)
Transportation

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/american-airlines-flight-191

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote American Airlines Flight 191?National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
2. What is the aircraft model?McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10
3. What is the flight number?American Airlines Flight 191
4. What happened to American Airlines Flight 191?During takeoff, the left engine and its support broke off from the wing, causing the plane to crash and all 271 people on board were lost.
5. Why did the plane crash after the engine fell off?The engine loss cut the hydraulic lines that kept the wing’s lift‑generating slats open. With one wing losing lift, the plane rolled uncontrollably and crashed.

Engine Pylon: The structural component that rigidly attaches an aircraft engine to the wing or fuselage.
Leading-Edge Slats: Extendable aerodynamic surfaces on the leading edge of a wing that increase lift and improve low-speed handling.
Hydraulic System: A system that uses pressurized fluid to transmit power and control various aircraft components.
Aerodynamic Imbalance: A condition where the forces of air acting on an aircraft are uneven, leading to instability.