# NTSB CHI81FEE43: Douglas SBD-5, N54532, Rockford, IL, July 3, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 3, 1981
- Place: Rockford, IL · ROCKFORD, IL
- Location: 42.2711° N, 89.0940° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rockford, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2711&lon=-89.0940&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124578
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI81FEE43
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FEE43

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1923   81/7/3  NR.ROCKFORD,IL        DOUGLAS SBD-5       CR-  0  0  1  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 47, 3200
        TIME - 1120                    N54532              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  TOTAL HOURS, 2 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GREATER ROCKFORD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         ROCKFORD,IL                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GEAR RETRACTED                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: IMPROPER MAINTENANCE (MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL)
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: GEAR LOCKING MECHANISM
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER ALIGNMENT/ADJUSTMENT
        REMARKS- L/G SEL VALVE LEVER COULD BE SELECTED OUT OF DOWN POS W/O DISENGAGING LATCH PIN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N54532 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS SBD-5
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Greater Rockford

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19810703038149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810703038149A), Jul 3, 1981: Doug SBD5SWAIRLIN, Rockford, IL, Substantial damage. Failed to ascertain landing gear latch was in down and locked position. Latch pin adjustment prevented lock.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.