Boeing 727-22 – N7030U – Air Crash Data

Incident Overview

Date: Thursday 11 November 1965

Aircraft Type: Boeing 727-22

Owner/operator: United Airlines

Registration Number: N7030U

Location: Salt Lake City International Airport, UT (SLC) – ÿ United States of America

Phase of Flight: Approach

Status: Destroyed, written off

Casualties: Fatalities: 43 / Occupants: 91

Component Affected: The Boeing 727 aircraft’s flight control system, specifically the pilot’s control inputs and the aircraft’s automatic landing system (ALS).The Boeing 727 aircraft’s flight control system, specifically the pilot’s control inputs and the aircraft’s automatic landing system (ALS).

Investigating Agency: CABCAB

Category: Accident

On October 26, 2023, a Boeing 727 aircraft, Flight UA227, crashed while on approach to Salt Lake City Airport, Utah, USA, resulting in the deaths of four passengers and four flight crew members. The aircraft took off from Denver at 16:54 and climbed to its assigned cruising altitude of FL310. At 17:38, the flight controller issued instructions for a descent to Salt Lake City. The pilot responded by slowing to two fifty knots and stating they were at ten,000 feet. The approach controller then advised a descent to a localizer course, requiring the pilot to clear for ILS runway three four left approach. The pilot complied, but the descent rate exceeded the recommended rate for landing approaches, reaching approximately three times the recommended rate. The aircraft then touched down 335 feet short of the runway threshold, suffering severe damage due to a combination of factors. The impact caused a large impact hole and ruptured fuel lines, resulting in a fire and subsequent damage to the aircraft’s electrical systems.On October 26, 2023, a Boeing 727 aircraft, Flight UA227, crashed while on approach to Salt Lake City Airport, Utah, USA, resulting in the deaths of four passengers and four flight crew members. The aircraft took off from Denver at 16:54 and climbed to its assigned cruising altitude of FL310. At 17:38, the flight controller issued instructions for a descent to Salt Lake City. The pilot responded by slowing to two fifty knots and stating they were at ten,000 feet. The approach controller then advised a descent to a localizer course, requiring the pilot to clear for ILS runway three four left approach. The pilot complied, but the descent rate exceeded the recommended rate for landing approaches, reaching approximately three times the recommended rate. The aircraft then touched down 335 feet short of the runway threshold, suffering severe damage due to a combination of factors. The impact caused a large impact hole and ruptured fuel lines, resulting in a fire and subsequent damage to the aircraft’s electrical systems.

Description

United Airlines flight 227, a Boeing 727, crashed while on approach to Salt Lake City Airport, Utah, USA, killing 43 occupants; 48 survived the accident. Flight UA227 took off from New York-LaGuardia (LGA) for a flight to San Francisco (SFO) via Cleveland (CLE), Chicago (MDW), Denver (DEN) and Salt Lake City (SLC). The aircraft took off from Denver at 16:54 and climbed to its assigned cruising altitude of FL310. At 17:38 flight 227 began its descent for Salt Lake City. The flight proceeded in accordance with radar vectors. After a radar handoff to Salt Lake City Approach Control new clearance altitudes were given. At 17:47 the approach controller advised, “United seventy twenty seven … five miles south of Riverton Fan Marker coming on localizer course cleared for ILS runway three four left approach.” The pilot replied “Okay we’re slowed to two fifty (Knots) and we’re at ten (10,000 feet) we have the runway in sight now, we’ll cancel and standby with you for traffic.” Control of the flight was transferred to the tower and at 17:49:40 landing clearance was issued. The aircraft crossed the outer marker over 2,000 feet above the ILS glide slope. The rate of descent during the final approach exceeded 2,000 ft/min, approximately three times the United Air Lines recommended rate of descent for landing approaches. The first officer attempted to apply power but the captain stopped him. Power was then applied too late to arrest the rate of descent. The airplane touched down 335 feet short of the threshold of runway 34L. The right and left main landing gear began to separate and the airplane slid onto the runway. Severe upward and rearward impact forces from the right main Landing gear assembly produced a large impact hole and ruptured fuel lines and the no. 3 generator leads between fuselage station 1030 and 1130 on the right side. The fuel was ignited by sparks from the fuselage scraping on the runway and/or the severed generator leads. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The failure of the captain to take timely action to arrest an excessive descent rate during the landing approach.”

Primary Cause

Excessive descent rate during the final approach, compounded by insufficient action to arrest the descent.Excessive descent rate during the final approach, compounded by insufficient action to arrest the descent.

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