# NTSB MIA99LA248: Douglas DC3C-S4C4G, N79017, Charlotte, NC, July 22, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 1999, 16:10 local (20:10 UTC) - Place: Charlotte, NC - Coordinates: 35.229698, -80.910133 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2297&lon=-80.9101&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47312 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA248 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47312/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA248 ## Probable cause the pilot-in-command did not use the check list which resulted in the right main landing gear collapsing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear collapsed, standing - engine(s) operating - landing gear,gear lever - unlocked - gear down and locked - not verified, flightcrew (cause) ## Analysis Waiting on the ramp for taxi instructions, the copilot brought to the captain's attention that the gear lock handle was out of the down and locked position. The latch handle would not return to the mid-position. The captain then placed the gear handle in the down position to increase hydraulic pressure, and within 3 to 5 seconds the right main gear began to lower. The crew tried to shut the right engine down, but the gear collapsed before the engine stopped. Many attempts have been made by the NTSB and FAA to have Saber Cargo Airlines Inc., management personnel fill out the NTSB Form 6120. 1/2. Saber Cargo Airlines has not cooperated at all with the investigation, never returned the form 6120.1/2, and never got statements from their crew. The crew or the operator's account of the accident are not known. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 1999, about 1610 eastern daylight time, a Douglas DC3C-S4C4G, N79017, registered to Saber Cargo Airlines Inc., had a landing gear collapse while holding on a taxi ramp at the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an IFR flight plan was filed, but not opened, for the 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The two airline transport-rated pilots reported no injuries. The flight was preparing for departure to Greensboro, North Carolina, to pick up cargo. The crew told the FAA that while they were waiting on the ramp for taxi instructions, the copilot brought to the captain's attention that the gear lock handle was out of the down and locked position. The latch handle would not return to the mid-position. The captain then placed the gear handle in the down position to increase hydraulic pressure, and within 3 to 5 seconds the right main gear began to lower. The crew tried to shut the right engine down, but the gear collapsed before the engine stopped. The original notification of this accident reported the damage as minor. On September 9, 1999, the FAA reported that the damage to the airplane was substantial, after the right wing was disassembled, and additional wing spar damage was observed. Many attempts have been made by the NTSB and FAA to have Saber Cargo Airlines Inc., management personnel fill out the NTSB Form 6120. 1/2. Saber Cargo Airlines has not cooperated at all with the investigation, never returned the form 6120.1/2, and never obtained statements from their crew. The crew, or the operator's account of the accident are not known. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N79017](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N79017-2007-07-18), registration cancelled 2007-07-18, S/N 19227, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Douglas DC3C-S4C4G - Registry model: [Douglas DC3C-S4C4G](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc3c-s4c4g) (registry code 3021460) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-1830 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1830-series) (registry code 52020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19227 - Engines: P&W R1830 1350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Saber Cargo Airlines Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CLT - Destination: GSO, GREENSBORO, NC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CLT, Charlotte/Douglas Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: CLT ## 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 19990722047379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990722047379A), Jul 22, 1999: Doug DC3CS4C4G, Charlotte, NC, Substantial damage. (.4) Waiting on the ramp for taxi instructions, the copilot brought to the captain's attention that the gear lock handle was out of the down and locked… 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.