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LAX90IA293

1990-08-21 · LOS ANGELES, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport LAX

N305UA has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (DRS TECHNOLOGIES SENTRY HP), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

IMPROPER MAINTENANCE SERVICE BY A COMPANY EMPLOYEE WHO ALLOWED A FOREIGN OBJECT (FLASHLIGHT) TO REMAIN IN THE LANDING GEAR EXTEND/RETRACT LINKAGE DURING A NIGHT SERVICING BEFORE THE FLIGHT.

Factual narrative

THE FLIGHT OF UAL FLIGHT 1257 WAS UNEVENTFUL UNTIL THE CREW EXTENDED THE LANDING GEAR FOR LANDING AT THE DESTINATION AND RECEIVED AN UNSAFE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR INDICATION. THE CREW WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND THE GEAR AND PRECEDED TO AN AIRPORT WITH A LONGER RUNWAY FOR A GEAR UP LANDING. THE LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT INJURIES. THE RIGHT POWERPLANT NACELLE RECEIVED INCIDENTAL DAMAGE DURING THE LANDING TOUCHDOWN. WHEN THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR WAS OPENED A 3 CELL FLASHLIGHT WAS FOUND SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE CARGO FLOORING AND THE LANDING GEAR RETRACT/EXTEND LINKAGE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1990_LAX90IA293.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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Related research

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