- Date
- September 2, 1987, 19:05 local (Sep 3, 1987, 00:05 UTC)
- Place
- Chicago, IL
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 126 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- N8078UMcdonnell Douglas DC-8-71
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report July 10, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870902074899I
- Case key
- 13674
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
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
Smoke detected in the cabin resulted in an evacuation of the aircraft just after being pushed back from the jet-way. Subsequent investigation established that a malfunctioning pack valve had caused the air-conditioning system to overheat causing the smoke. The emergency slide at door 2R inflated partially inside the acft and was not usable. At the time of initial investigation the slide tray door from 2R was found lying on the floor inside the acft. Exits 1L, 2L, 4L, 4R and four over wing exits were used (the capt had lowered the flaps to full down for the evacuation). It was determined during investigation that the door was not opened fully enough for exit 2R to operate properly. Ual modified the training to emphasize the door opening procedure. The fa said she pulled the (manual inflation) handle on 2R.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8078U
- Reported as
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-8-71
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 45946
- Airframe hours
- 56,166
- Engine
- CFM 56-2C1, 20,560 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- ORD
- Destination
- SMF · Sacramento, CA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ORD · O'Hare International
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Unknown, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 14,591 total · 5,102 in this make and model · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 30° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ORD
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.