Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83 (MD-83) accident near Sanford, Florida, March 29, 2007
On March 29, 2007 at about 8:16 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83 (MD-83), registered N877GA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sanford, Florida (Orlando Sandford Intl Airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 1 person had minor injuries; 156 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight crew's failure to complete the checklist and adhere to airplane placards. Contributing to the accident was a separation of a B-nut on the rudder power hydraulic shut off valve for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2007 · about 8:16 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, Florida · Orlando Sandford Intl Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 156 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-83 (MD-83) · all DC-9-83 (MD-83)s on the register
- Registration
- N877GA · no longer on the register · serial 53467
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crew (FC) was in cruise flight when a master caution light illuminated indicating a loss of the right hydraulic system pressure and hydraulic fluid. The FC used the checklist to trouble shoot the system and attempted to manually extend the main and nose landing gear (NLG) using the alternate extension control lever. Both main gear extended and locked into place; however the NLG did not extend. The airplane was landed with the NLG in the retracted position. Initial inspection of the airplane revealed that a B-nut to the check valve on the rudder power hydraulic shut off valve, was separated from the valve resulting in a total loss of right hydraulic quantity and pressure. Examination of the hydraulic tube, including the B-nut and check valve, did not reveal any abnormalities. Examination of the cockpit revealed the landing gear handle was in the stowed position. A placard on the alternate landing gear extension lever stated, "Pull up forcibly Full Stroke." The airplane was placed on jacks and maintenance personnel successfully extended the nose landing gear. The alternate gear extension control system was also inspected and no defects were noted.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,145 hours in all; 2,996 in this make and model; 171 in the last 90 days; 76 in the last 30 days; 2,208 as pilot in command; 942 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,300 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 71 in the last 30 days; 2,586 as pilot in command; 74 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,139 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, March 1, 2007; 976 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 139,500 lb
- Seats: 157
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-219 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Allegiant Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PSM Portsmouth NH at 4:55 pm
- Destination: SFB Sanford FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 9L, 9,600 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 16 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 8:28 pm from SFB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 5 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 151 |
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.