What happened
During the descent toward San Francisco Airport, the crew encountered a mechanical issue where the nose landing gear failed to extend from its wheel well. Despite attempts to rectify the situation, the gear remained retracted.
The flight proceeded with a standard approach pattern despite the malfunction. Upon touchdown, the aircraft made contact with the runway on its main undercarriage only. Due to the lack of nose gear support, the plane slid forward on its nose for several hundred yards before the motion ceased.
All 133 occupants were successfully evacuated from the aircraft type without reported injuries. While there were no fatalities, the impact and subsequent sliding resulted in the aircraft being declared a total loss as it was damaged beyond repair.
Findings
- The primary issue involved the nose gear remaining stuck in the retracted position during the approach phase.