Darwin Charles Brown for the Civil Aeronautics Board

“ Investigation disclosed that the stop provided in the wheel-well is not of sufficient length to perform its function unless the shock strut is fully extended, and the Safety Bureau of the Civil Aeronautics Board has brought this fact to the attention of the staff of the Civil Aeronautics Administration. ”

“ When it became apparent that it would be impossible to lower the left wheel, landing on Love Field with the wheels up was authorized by the Chief Flight Superintendent of Delta Air Corporation. Captain Dice continued to circle the field for about an hour in order to use up as much fuel as possible and thereby reduce the fire hazard; during this time preparations for an emergency landing were made at Love Field. ”

“ Examination of the landing gear revealed that the right wheel could be extended normally but that the left wheel could not be lowered. Inspection showed that when last retracted, the axle of the left wheel had missed the stop provided in the wheel-well and had gone further into the well than its normal position. The wheel was so tightly wedged into the wheel-well that only after removing approximately one inch of the stop cashing by use of a hack-saw could the gear be lowered. ”