Incident Overview

Date: Monday 20 July 1964
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-7B
Owner/operator: Eastern Air Lines
Registration Number: N831D
Location: Charlotte-Douglas Airport, NC (CLT) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 57
Component Affected: Nose wheel strut collarNose wheel strut collar
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A DC-7 aircraft touched down on runway 05 following an ILS approach. The no. 1 engine reverser failed to respond, prompting the pilot to move the throttle to idle. The plane then veered sharply to the right, causing a nose gear collapse due to severe vibration. Analysis revealed a damaged nose wheel strut collar on both sides, likely caused by improper reversing technique.A DC-7 aircraft touched down on runway 05 following an ILS approach. The no. 1 engine reverser failed to respond, prompting the pilot to move the throttle to idle. The plane then veered sharply to the right, causing a nose gear collapse due to severe vibration. Analysis revealed a damaged nose wheel strut collar on both sides, likely caused by improper reversing technique.

Description

The DC-7 touched down on runway 05 following an ILS approach. Reverser were applied, but the no. 1 engine reverser didn’t respond. The pilot moved the no. 4 throttle to idle. The plane had then reached a rough part of the runway (a 1000 feet area, beginning 2750 feet down the runway). The DC-7 was turning slightly right, but this was corrected with left brake and rudder and left nose wheel steering. Severe vibration then caused the plane to veer sharply right off the runway, causing the nose gear to collapse. It appeared that the nose wheel strut collar had failed from both the left and right sides. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Improper reversing technique resulting in the use of excessive directional corrective forces during which the aircraft struck an unsuitable runway condition. Unsuitable runway condition, resulting from inadequate runway maintenance. Inadequate supervision by the captain.”

Primary Cause

Improper reversing technique resulting in excessive directional corrective forces during which the aircraft struck an unsuitable runway condition.Improper reversing technique resulting in excessive directional corrective forces during which the aircraft struck an unsuitable runway condition.

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