N79017

On July 22, 1999, about 1610 eastern daylight time, a Douglas DC3C-S4C4G, N79017, registered to Saber Cargo Airlines Inc., had a landing gear collapse while holding on a taxi ramp at the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, Charlotte, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an IFR flight plan was filed, but not opened, for the 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The two airline transport-rated pilots reported no injuries. The flight was preparing for departure to Greensboro, North Carolina, to pick up cargo.

The crew told the FAA that while they were waiting on the ramp for taxi instructions, the copilot brought to the captain's attention that the gear lock handle was out of the down and locked position. The latch handle would not return to the mid-position. The captain then placed the gear handle in the down position to increase hydraulic pressure, and within 3 to 5 seconds the right main gear began to lower. The crew tried to shut the right engine down, but the gear collapsed before the engine stopped.

The original notification of this accident reported the damage as minor. On September 9, 1999, the FAA reported that the damage to the airplane was substantial, after the right wing was disassembled, and additional wing spar damage was observed.

Many attempts have been made by the NTSB and FAA to have Saber Cargo Airlines Inc., management personnel fill out the NTSB Form 6120. 1/2. Saber Cargo Airlines has not cooperated at all with the investigation, never returned the form 6120.1/2, and never obtained statements from their crew. The crew, or the operator's account of the accident are not known.