Boeing 737-222 – N9031U – Air Crash Data

Incident Overview

Date: Friday 8 December 1972

Aircraft Type: Boeing 737-222

Owner/operator: United Airlines

Registration Number: N9031U

Location: 2 km from Chicago-Midway Airport, IL (MDW) – ÿ United States of America

Phase of Flight: Approach

Status: Destroyed, written off

Casualties: Fatalities: 43 / Occupants: 61

Component Affected: Boeing 737-200 Aircraft ? Specifically, the aircraft’s flight control systems, airspeed, and control surfaces.Boeing 737-200 Aircraft ? Specifically, the aircraft’s flight control systems, airspeed, and control surfaces.

Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB

Category: Accident

On October 26, 2005, a United Airlines Boeing 737-200 aircraft, flight UA553, crashed while on approach to Chicago-Midway Airport, IL, USA, resulting in the loss of 43 occupants and two persons on the ground. The aircraft, designated ‘City of Lincoln,’ departed Washington-National Airport as part of a flight to Chicago and Omaha. The flight was initially cleared for a standard approach to Midway Airport, with vectors for a runway 31L localizer course. At 14:19, the flight was transferred to Chicago Approach Control, where the controller requested a slowing down to 180 knots and subsequent down to 160 knots. Following this, the controller issued a missed approach clearance: ‘United 553 execute a missed approach make a left turn to a heading of 180 climb to 2000’. At 14:27:04, the air traffic controller initiated a missed approach, instructing the aircraft to descend to 2000 feet, and then, at 1000 feet, the stick shaker activated. The aircraft then began descending, attaining a high nose-up attitude of at least 30 degrees, and subsequently clipped a tree, impacting houses, utility pole cables, and garages before coming to rest. The crash resulted in significant damage to the fuselage.On October 26, 2005, a United Airlines Boeing 737-200 aircraft, flight UA553, crashed while on approach to Chicago-Midway Airport, IL, USA, resulting in the loss of 43 occupants and two persons on the ground. The aircraft, designated ‘City of Lincoln,’ departed Washington-National Airport as part of a flight to Chicago and Omaha. The flight was initially cleared for a standard approach to Midway Airport, with vectors for a runway 31L localizer course. At 14:19, the flight was transferred to Chicago Approach Control, where the controller requested a slowing down to 180 knots and subsequent down to 160 knots. Following this, the controller issued a missed approach clearance: ‘United 553 execute a missed approach make a left turn to a heading of 180 climb to 2000’. At 14:27:04, the air traffic controller initiated a missed approach, instructing the aircraft to descend to 2000 feet, and then, at 1000 feet, the stick shaker activated. The aircraft then began descending, attaining a high nose-up attitude of at least 30 degrees, and subsequently clipped a tree, impacting houses, utility pole cables, and garages before coming to rest. The crash resulted in significant damage to the fuselage.

Description

United Airlines flight 553, a Boeing 737-200, crashed while on approach to Chicago-Midway Airport, IL, USA, killing 43 occupants and 2 persons on the ground. The aircraft, named “City of Lincoln”, took off from Washington-National Airport as United flight 553 to Chicago and Omaha. Departure time was 12:50 CST. Chicago ARTCC cleared the crew to descend to 4000 feet and the flight was given vectors for a Midway Airport runway 31L localizer course. At 14:19 the flight was transferred to Chicago Approach Control which later requested UA553 to slow down to 180 knots and later down to 160 knots. After issuing a descent clearance down to 2000 feet at 14:23 the controller requested the flight to slow down to approach speed because of separation between UA553 and a preceding Aero Commander. At 14:24 the Aero Commander passed the Outer Marker and was cleared to land on runway 31L. Two minutes later UA553 passed the Outer Marker inbound. Then, at 14:27:04 the air traffic controller decided to issue a missed approach clearance: “United 553 execute a missed approach make a left turn to a heading of 180 climb to 2000”. At the same time, having just reached 1000 feet, the stick shaker suddenly activated. Full power was applied and the gear was retracted in an attempt to execute a missed approach. The Boeing continued to descend however, attaining a high nose up attitude (of at least 30deg, according to some survivors). The aircraft then clipped a tree and impacted trees, houses, utility pole cables and garages before coming to rest. Post crash fire destroyed part of the fuselage. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The captain’s failure to exercise positive flight management during the execution of a non-precision approach, which culminated in a critical deterioration of airspeed into the stall regime where level flight could no longer be maintained.”

Primary Cause

The captain’s failure to exercise positive flight management during the execution of a non-precision approach, which culminated in a critical deterioration of airspeed into the stall regime where level flight could no longer be maintained.The captain’s failure to exercise positive flight management during the execution of a non-precision approach, which culminated in a critical deterioration of airspeed into the stall regime where level flight could no longer be maintained.

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