Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

March 16, 1986 · Boeing 727 · N8861E

Miami, FL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
March 16, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (140 uninjured)
Location
Miami, FL
Aircraft
Boeing 727
Tail Number
N8861E
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
MIA86IA098

During arrival at Ft Lauderdale, the aircrew attempted to extend the gear, but at first, they were unable to get a safe 'down' indication for the right main gear. After about one hour, they were able to insure that both main gear had extended and were locked. They diverted to Miami, but by then, they were unable to extend the nose gear by using the normal gear extension system and they had only 4000 lbs of fuel remaining. The captain elected to land without manually extending the nose gear; he was concerned about the low fuel condition and believed that he might compromise the main landing gear position by placing the gear handle in the neutral position while the 'A' hydraulic system was off. An exam revealed the rod end of the landing gear lock actuator, PN 69-30537-4, had failed. A metallurgical exam revealed the rod end had failed from fatigue in the threaded area where corrosion had occurred. Also, an electrical failure was found in the landing gear logic resolution circuit that would have caused an improper indication of the right main gear.

Full Narrative

DURING ARRIVAL AT FT LAUDERDALE, THE AIRCREW ATTEMPTED TO EXTEND THE GEAR, BUT AT FIRST, THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET A SAFE 'DOWN' INDICATION FOR THE RGT MAIN GEAR. AFTER ABOUT ONE HOUR, THEY WERE ABLE TO INSURE THAT BOTH MAIN GEAR HAD EXTENDED& WERE LOCKED. THEY DIVERTED TO MIAMI, BUT BY THEN, THEY WERE UNABLE TO EXTEND THE NOSE GEAR BY USING THE NORMAL GEAR EXTENSION SYS & THEY HAD ONLY 4000 LBS OF FUEL REMAINING. THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO LAND WITHOUT MANUALLY EXTENDING THE NOSE GEAR; HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOW FUEL CONDITION AND BELIEVED THAT HE MIGHT COMPROMISE THE MAIN LANDING GEAR POSITION BY PLACING THE GEAR HANDLE IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION WHILE THE 'A' HYDRAULIC SYS WAS OFF. AN EXAM REVEALED THE ROD END OF THE LANDING GEAR LOCK ACTUATOR, PN 69-30537-4, HAD FAILED. A METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED THE ROD END HAD FAILED FROM FATIGUE IN THE THREADED AREA WHERE CORROSION HAD OCCURRED. ALSO, AN ELEC FAILURE WAS FND IN THE LANDING GEAR LOGIC RESOLUTION CIRCUIT THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED AN IMPROPER INDICATION OF THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time00:10 EST
Nearest AirportMiami Intl (0nm N)
Runway9R
Runway Length13000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 727
Tail NumberN8861E
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
Operating RulePart 121
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8D-15 · Turbofan · 15500
Seats149

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (140 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured140
Total140
Crew 1Age 45 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind140° @ 9 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point66 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time05:12
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data