In late December 1978, a United Airlines DC-8 carrying 181 passengers crashed outside Portland, Oregon. 8 passengers and 2 crew members died. The NTSB investigation concluded the crew's inability to work together effectively led to fuel exhaustion causing all 4 engines to flame out.
This crash directly led to multiple airline companies adopting Crew Resource Management (CRM) training beginning in 1981.
SUMMARY OF EVENTS
The aircraft delayed southeast of the airport for about 1 hour while the crew dealt with a landing gear malfunction. The plane crashed about 6 nautical miles from the airport when all fuel was exhausted.
PROBABLE CAUSE
The failure of the captain to monitor properly the aircraft's fuel state, resulting from preoccupation with a landing gear malfunction. Contributing was the failure of the other crew members to successfully communicate their fuel concerns.
See also: CRM for Doctors
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