Boeing 737-222 accident near Kinston, North Carolina, July 22, 1990
On July 22, 1990 at about 6:55 pm local time, a Boeing 737-222, registered N210US, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kinston, North Carolina (Kinston Regional Jetport airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 2 people had minor injuries; 25 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL SHAFT BECAUSE OF IMPROPER MACHINING BY THE REPAIR FACILITY DURING MAINTENANCE MODIFICATION OF THE PUMP AND IMPROPER PROCEDURES DURING OVERHAUL OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 1990 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Kinston, North Carolina · Kinston Regional Jetport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 25 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-222 · all 737-222s on the register
- Registration
- N210US · registry record · serial 19555
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS ENGINE POWER WAS INCREASED FOR TAKEOFF, THE NO. 1 ENGINE ACCELERATED BEYOND TARGET EPR. ENGINE SHUT DOWN HAD TO BE DONE WITH THE FUEL SHUT OFF LEVER. THE ASYMMETRIC THRUST WAS CONTROLLED WITH NOSE WHEEL STEERING. BEFORE THE AIRPLANE COULD BE STOPPED THE NOSE WHEELS SEPARATED FROM THE LANDING GEAR. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL PUMP OUTPUT SPLINE TO THE FUEL CONTROL HAD STRIPPED. IT OCCURRED AT SUCH A TIME THAT THE FUEL CONTROL SENSED AN UNDERSPEED & INCREASED FUEL FLOW. MISALIGNMENT OF THE SPLINE SHAFT RESULTED FROM IMPROPER MACHINING DURING PUMP MODIFICATION. THE NOSE GEAR INNER CYLINDER FAILED IN FATIGUE IN AN AREA OF EXCESSIVE GRINDING DURING OVERHAUL.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,100 hours in all; 3,300 in this make and model; 127 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51,264 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 19, 1990; 238 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 109,000 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8-D-9 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CLT Charlotte NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 7,500 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:02 pm from ISO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 5 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 20 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.