Boeing 727 200 accident near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, January 29, 2019
On January 29, 2019 at about 4:05 am local time, a 1977 Boeing 727 200, registered N720CK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Tuscaloosa Regional Airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the captain's decision to continue the landing with an unsafe gear indication.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 2019 · about 4:05 am local time
- Place
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama · Tuscaloosa Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing 727 200 2B6F, built 1977 · all 727 200s on the register
- Registration
- N720CK · registry record · serial 21298
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight from LRD to the TCL area was normal, with no weather or operational issues. As the flight was on final approach, with the power near idle, the captain called for flaps 15 and gear down. A red status light for the nose gear illuminated indicating it was not down and locked. All flight crewmembers reported they saw the light. The flight engineer recommended recycling the gear lever, and the First Officer recommended a go-around to troubleshoot. The Captain declined and continued the approach. He did not call for or conduct any checklists for abnormal gear operation. The airplane landed long, and upon derotation, the forward fuselage contacted the runway with the nose gear retracted, resulting in substantial damage. The airplane came to rest with less than 500 feet of pavement remaining. The aircraft operation manual notes that attempting to extend gear while simultaneously operating flaps at idle power may result in unreliable gear operation. A crew operating the accident airplane two days prior reported having a gear issue under those conditions. Recycling the gear lever cleared the problem. It is likely that if the crew had conducted a go-around and completed the abnormal checklists and/or cycled the gear, the nose gear would have extended. Had it not extended, a go-around would have allowed for a more stabilized approach and landing with more runway available.
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
What happened, in order
- Landing gear not configured during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,700 hours in all; 6,800 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 22, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,850 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 535 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight Engineer
- Certificate: flight engineer
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 57,932.1 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, January 20, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 140,875 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 3: (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Kalitta Charters Ii Llc
The flight
- Departed from: LRD Laredo TX
- Destination: KTCL Tuscaloosa AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 4, 6,499 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on November 21, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Photo of Airplane | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Interviews of Crew | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | B727 Gear Abnormals | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 4 | B727 Aom Nlg | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | ATC | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Cockpit Voice Recorder | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Crew Statements | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.