Boeing 707-323C N8404

Summary

On 9 July 1991 at about 02:36 local time, a Boeing 707-323C registered N8404, operated by Southern Air Transport (Sat), was involved in an accident near Denver, Colorado, United States. 6 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 July 1991 at 02:36

Classification

Accident

Location

Denver, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Stapleton International (DEN)

Coordinates

39.6696, -105.0893

Aircraft

Boeing 707-323C

Registration

N8404

Category

Airplane

Engines

4

Operator

Southern Air Transport (Sat)

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Kansas City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

DEN91FA098

Nobody was injured.

IMPROPER OVERHAUL OF THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING ROTATION ON THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE NOSE LANDING GEAR CAME OFF THE AIRPLANE AND REMAINED ON THE GROUND. AS THE AIRCRAFT PASSED OVER THE NOSE LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY, DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE BELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT. TAKEOFF WAS COMPLETED AND AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS CONDUCTED WITH THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND THE STUB OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR SHOCK STRUT EXTENDED. DISASSEMBLY OF THE SHOCK STRUT INNER CYLINDER REVEALED THE ABSENCE OF SEVERAL PARTS. THE AREA WHERE THESE PARTS ARE LOCATED IS A SEALED AREA THAT WAS NOT COMPROMISED. THIS DISCREPANCY ALLOWED A RETENTION NUT TO BACK OFF WHICH RESULTED IN NOSE GEAR SEPARATION. THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS OVERHAULED ON 9/4/85.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.