Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80 accident near Denver, Colorado, May 29, 1989
On May 29, 1989 at about 2:03 am local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80, registered N806NY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denver, Colorado (Stapleton Int'L airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 7 people had minor injuries; 38 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR VIBRATION OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN, WHICH RESULTED IN A FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TORQUE LINK AND SIDE BRACE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1989 · about 2:03 am local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Stapleton Int'L · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 7 people had minor injuries; 38 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas MD-80
- Registration
- N806NY · no longer on the register · serial 49260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING TOUCHDOWN FROM A NORMAL LANDING, AND DURING THE INITIAL PORTION OF THE LANDING ROLL, A RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR VIBRATION OF INCREASING AMPLITUDE OCCURRED. THE VIBRATION CONTINUED UNTIL THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR FAILED APPROXIMATELY 40 FEET BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP. EXAMINATION REVEALED A FAILURE OF THE TORQUE LINK, SIDE BRACE, AND SHIMMY DAMPENER. THE RIGHT MAIN TIRES FAILED DUE TO FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE AND SKIDDING. THE LEFT MAIN TIRES FAILED DUE TO OVERHEAT. AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION WAS CONDUCTED USING THE TAIL CONE EXIT, WHICH WAS DEPLOYED MANUALLY. THERE WAS NO FIRE.
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, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,500 hours in all; 1,325 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 5,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 149,500 lb
- Seats: 146
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W JT8D (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Continental Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: EWR Newark NJ at 9:50 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26R, 7,926 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:07 am from DEN, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 6 | |||
| Passengers | 7 | 32 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N806NY the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.