- Date
- October 28, 1987, 12:20 local (18:20 UTC)
- Place
- Chicago, IL
- Injuries
- 228 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1813UMcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 10, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19871028076419I
- Case key
- 13980
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.
Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Wing,skin - not securedCause
Maintenance,installation - improperCause
Information unavailableFactor
Maintenance,inspection - poorCause
Analysis
A wing panel separated from the airplane while in cruise flight. Crew declared an emergency and landed without further incident. Examination revealed that maintenance personnel did not fasten 4 of the 5 rod end assembilies used to secure the panel to the top of the wing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1813U
- Reported as
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 46612
- Airframe hours
- 43,582
- Engine
- P&W JT9D, 51,800 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- United Airlines
- Registered owner
- United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- SFO · San Francisco, CA
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 13,026 total · 1,154 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.