Eastern Air Lines Crash Case Study

Eastern Air Lines aircraft crashed into the Everglades around 11:42 pm Eastern Standard time. This occurred on December 29, 1972 and missed its landing airfield by 18 miles to the Northwest. The Aircraft was spread across the swampy terrain and was a complete lost. Due to accident, 94 passengers of the 163 lost their lives as well as five of the 13 crew. All passenger were injured with varying degrees of injuries. The flight started from John F. Kennedy Airport and was generally uneventful until it’s decent. During the decent the landing gear was lowered. The lowering of the landing gear usually started by moving the landing gear handle to the down and locked. This action is followed by all the gear showing a green light indicating it is down …show more content…
The second officer was finally able to remove the nose gear light housing but was unable to ascertain if it was burnt out or not, as he went to replace it had jammed. Becoming increasingly frustrated with the situation the captain ordered the second officer to enter the forward electronics bay, below the flight deck, to check visually check the nose gear through a peep hole. At 2337:24, a downward vertical acceleration transient of 0.04 g caused the aircraft to descend 100 feet; the loss in altitude was arrested by a pitch up input. Meanwhile, the flight crew continued their attempts to free the nose gear position light lens from its retainer, without success. (NTSB, 1974) Shortly after 2341, the second officer raised his head into the cockpit and stated, “I can’t see it, its pitch dark and I throw the little light, I get, ah, nothing.” (NTSB, 1974) The flight crew and an Eastern Air Lines maintenance specialist who was occupying the forward observer seat then discussed the operation of the nose wheel well light. Afterward, the specialist went into the electronics bay to assist the second