- Date
- August 2, 1989, 10:55 local (14:55 UTC)
- Place
- Greensboro, NC
- Injuries
- 106 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N413USBoeing 737-400
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 11, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890802065989I
- Case key
- 7931
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of the line mechanic, a check mechanic, and first officer to identify and remove the wheel chock from the wheel well during the required inspections.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During approach to charlotte, the main gear would not extend. The flt diverted to Greensboro. The right gear eventually extended after applying extensive g-forces, but the left gear would not. After landing, a 29-inch wheel chock was found wedged between the radius of the left wheel well and the inboard wheel which prevented the left gear from falling down. The airplane had been positioned several times the night before, and the mechanics recalled placing the chocks in the wheel well. An a-check, and a walk-around inspection, had been completed prior to the flight's departure from Washington. Each inspection required an inspection of the wheel well area. The first officer stated that he didn't see the chock which was marked with yellow reflective tape. A flashlight was used during the inspection.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N413US
- Reported as
- Boeing 737-400
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 23882
- Airframe hours
- 2,193
- Engine
- GE 56-382, 22,100 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Piedmont Airlines
- Registered owner
- Wilmington Trust Co.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · June 29, 1989 · 354 hours before
- Departed
- Washington, DC
- Destination
- Charlotte, NC
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- GSO · Greensboro, runway 23, 10,001 × 150 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 14,019 total · 7,944 in this make and model · 189 in the last 90 days · 89 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GSO
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.