# NTSB DCA73A0003: Boeing 737, N9031U, Chicago, IL, December 8, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 8, 1972
- Place: Chicago, IL · CHICAGO, IL
- Location: 41.8500° N, 87.6501° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chicago, IL, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8500&lon=-87.6501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 43 fatal, 12 serious, 2 minor, 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 29, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79481
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA73A0003
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA73A0003

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1-0048   72/12/8   CHICAGO,ILL         BOEING 737          CR-  3  1  2  SCHED DOM PASSG SRV       AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1428                    N9031U              PX- 40 11  4                            44, 18000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            2435 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CHICAGO-MIDWAY
        OPERATOR - UNITED AIR LINES,INC.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          WASHINGTON,DC               OMAHA,NEBR                   CHICAGO,ILL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE SUPERVISION OF FLIGHT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CREW COORDINATION-POOR
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - COMPANY DISPATCH
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       27
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          250                                                       6
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      IFR
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- ABT 700FT HIGH AT LOM DRG LOC APCH.SPOILERS DEPLOYED TO FLT DETENT PSN FRM LOM TO MDA LVL-OFF.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9031U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9031U-1974-05-28), registration cancelled 1974-05-28, S/N 19069 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-222](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-222) (registry code 1384473) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Chicago-Midway

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.

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