AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT REPORT . EASTERN AIR LINES, INC., L-1011, N310EA, MIAMI, FLORIDA, DECEMBER 29, 1972

An Eastern Air Lines Lockheed L-1011 crashed at 2342 eastern standard time, December 29, 1972, 18.7 miles west-northwest of Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida. The aircraft was destroyed. Of the 163 passengers and 13 crewmembers aboard, 94 passengers and 5 crewmembers received fatal injuries. Two survivors died later as a result of their injuries. Following a missed approach because of suspected nose gear malfunction, the aircraft climbed to 2,000 feet mean sea level and proceeded on a westerly heading. The three flight crewmembers and a jumpseat occupant became engrossed in the malfunction. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the flightcrew to monitor the flight instruments during the final 4 minutes of flight, and to detect an unexpected descent soon enough to prevent impact with the ground. Preoccupation with a malfunction of the nose landing gear position indicating system distracted the crew's attention from the instruments and allowed the descent to go unnoticed.

  • Corporate Authors:

    National Transportation Safety Board

    Office of Aviation Safety
    Washington, DC  United States  20594
  • Publication Date: 1973-6-14

Media Info

  • Pagination: 51 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00050776
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
  • Report/Paper Numbers: NTSB-AAR-73-14 Acc Rpt
  • Files: NTIS
  • Created Date: Jan 31 1974 12:00AM