N8082U, the United Airlines DC-8-61 involved, pictured in
1972 sporting a previous identifying design. Photo taken
at Seattle / Tacoma – Int. (SEA).
Originating at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, United
Airlines Flight 173 stopped in Denver, and continued to
Portland on Thursday, December 28, 1978.
The pilot reported a problem with the plane’s nose landing
gear to the Portland tower, and, according to the National
Transportation Safety Board report, failed to monitor properly
the aircraft’s fuel state and to properly respond to the low
fuel state. The Board blamed pilot error for the crash
After circling Portland International Airport the DC-8 ran out
of fuel and crashed into two vacant houses and a grove of
trees at East Burnside Street, five miles southeast of the
airport and about 200 feet east of 157th Avenue at around
6:15 P.M.
The jetliner, reportedly was carrying 172 adult passengers,
five infants and eight crew members.
Capt. Malburn "Buddy" McBroom (52), a World War II Navy
veteran and longtime United pilot, recovers in a Gresham,
Oregon hospital. (KATU)
Malburn Adair “Buddy” McBroom (1926 – 2004)
United Flight 173 survivor Lynn Egli, right, stands with
KATU’s Steve Dunn at the memorial for the passengers
aboard United Flight 173 that killed 10 people. (KATU)
I was there in January just after the cleanup, I was 17 and first time in Portland,, driving my 69 mustang I stopped and visited the crash site. There was a piece of pea green aluminum sticking out of the ground, I picked it up and kept it, I dontbknow why the crash seamed to touch me so. It’s strange I was just talking about it last month to my doughter who was born the fallowing year. I just picked up my phone after a long nap and seent his post, Strang.
I saw the plane flying low and heard the crash moments later. All things considered I always felt the pilot did an amazing job bringing the plane down with as many survivors as he did.