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United Airlines Flight 173

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United Airlines Flight 173
Occurrence
DateDecember 28, 1978
SummaryPilot Error
SitePortland, Oregon
Aircraft typeMcDonnell-Douglas DC-8-61
OperatorUnited Airlines
RegistrationN8082Udisaster[1]
Passengers181
Crew8
Fatalities10
Injuries24
Survivors179

United Airlines Flight 173, registration N8082Udisaster[2], was a Douglas DC-8-61 en route from Denver to Portland, Oregon on December 28, 1978. When the landing gear was lowered, only two of the landing gear indicator lights lit up. The plane repeatedly circled in the vicinity of Portland while the crew investigated the problem. Still uncertain, the pilot decided to go around once again, against the recommendation of the co-pilot. As a result the plane ran out of fuel and crash-landed in woodland, killing 10 and seriously injuring 24 of the 181 onboard. The investigation revealed that there was in fact no problem with the landing gear and that the unlit indicator light bulb had burnt out.[3]

Crash investigation and report

The accident was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) which issued its final report on June 7, 1979. In the report, the NTSB determined the following probable cause:[3]

"The failure of the captain to monitor properly the aircraft's fuel state and to properly respond to the low fuel state and the crewmember's

advisories regarding fuel state. This resulted in fuel exhaustion to all engines. His inattention resulted from preoccupation with a landing gear malfunction and

preparations for a possible landing emergency."

The NTSB also determined the following contributing factor:

"The failure of the other two flight crewmembers either to fully comprehend the criticality of the fuel state or to successfully communicate their concern to the captain."

Aftermath

As a result of this accident United Airlines instituted the industry's first Crew (or Cockpit) Resource Management (CRM) program, which proved to be so successful that it is now used throughout the world.

Another aircraft accident involving a faulty landing gear indicator was Eastern Air Lines Flight 401, which crashed while circling around the airport. The crew was pre-occupied with the nose gear problem and accidentally disabled the autopilot causing the aircraft to make a slow descent and crashed into the Everglades. Further investigation revealed that the nose gear turned out to be lowered.

See also

References

  1. ^ "FAA Registry (N8082U)". Federal Aviation Administration.
  2. ^ "FAA Registry (N8082U)". Federal Aviation Administration.
  3. ^ a b NTSB Report (PDF)



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