UA 173
28 Dec 1978 · Fuel Starvation & ManagementUNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT 173
McDonnell Douglas DC-8 · United Airlines · Image: Wikimedia Commons
Why it happened
Fixated on a gear light while fuel ran out
Fuel management
Crew resource management
Landing gear indicator
Aircraft
McDonnell Douglas DC-8
United Airlines
Route
Denver–Stapleton (DEN), USA
→ Portland (PDX), USA
People
189 on board
10 fatalities
Date
28 Dec 1978
Flight crew
Captain: Malburn McBroom
Category
Fuel Starvation & Management
Empty tanks at altitude.
THE STORY
The crew circled for an hour troubleshooting a landing-gear light. Nobody watched the fuel — all four engines quit. The crash gave birth to modern crew resource management.