41.6005° N, 93.6091° WPlaced by OpenAirDocs: center of Des Moines, IA, within about 6 miles.Open in the map
Date
February 6, 1978 · 17:45 local
Place
Des Moines, IA
Phase of flight
Normal Cruise
Operating rules
Air carrier (Part 121)
Operator
UAL
Aircraft
N7028U
Reported as
Boeing 727
People aboard
78
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
12,832 total4,953 in this make and model0 in the last 90 days
From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
One engine spooled down to idle, another flamed out. Descended 8000 feet before discovering fuel boost pumps off.
As the FAA filed it
ONE ENGINE SPOOLED DOWN TO IDLE, ANOTHER FLAMED OUT. DESCENDED 8000 FEET BEFORE DISCOVERING FUEL BOOST PUMPS OFF.