Seems to me the 1995 Cali tragedy was the first fatal accident had since the Chicago DC-10 crash in 1979.
Just look at the AA DC-10 accident...a maintenance fiasco if there ever was one.
Imagine, lifting an engine with a fork lift, and in doing so, severely damaging the pylon...completely contrary to the manufactures maintenance clearly written guidelines.
If we look carefully at AA ops over the last years, severe lack of judgement can be noticed, at the training/maintenance/flight ops levels.
In other words...presently, AA is a disgrace to its former rather proud name.
A few years ago, a retired AA pilot who had been a well respected Chief Pilot, was tragically killed in a light twin accident along with another AA pilot. 411A in true disgusting and revolting fashion castigated them immediately for the accident before their bodies had even been removed from the burning wreckage.
And, what did the NTSB report have to say?
The pilot failed to observe the aircrafts limitations with regard to fuel tank selection on takeoff, and thereby created a smoking hole.
Even in retirement, he couldn't get it right.
Quite typical.