Austin Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Austin, Texas 78701
Sunday, April 18, 1982 21:24 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED & PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT STRUCTURE. EXAMINATION OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY REVEALED A FAILED DRAG STRUT ASSEMBLY #65-57903-11. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A PRE-EXISTING CRACK PRIOR TO THE STRUT SEPARATION. THE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING PROBABLY INITIATED FROM PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE STRUT CYLINDER RESULTING FROM A TIRE BLOWOUT INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED ON 3/10/82. EITHER A SMALL CRACK OR GROUP OF CRACKS INITIATED IN THE STRUT AT THE TIME OF THE PRIOR DAMAGE, OR THE DAMAGE WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO DISRUPT THE INTEGRITY OF THE SURFACE FINISH & PRODUCE A NOTCH AND/OR UNFAVORABLE RESIDUAL STRESS WHICH MADE THE STRUT SUSCEPTABLE TO STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IN THIS AREA.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/18/1982
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 2124
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City AUSTIN
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78701
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport AUSTIN MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AUS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 68
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1680
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N32717
NTSB Number FTW82DA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOEING
Aircraft Model 727-200
Aircraft Series Identifier 727-200
Aircraft Serial Number 20386
Certified Max Gross Weight 171000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 98
Number of Engines 3
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 1416
Airframe Hours 39609
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address INT. AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City LOS ANGELES
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 90009
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address INT. AIRPORT
Operator City LOS ANGELES
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 90009
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HOU
Departure City HOUSTON
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City BENNETTSVILLE
Destination State NC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2002 12:42PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 7269
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --