>>...I might point out that a lot of the aircraft we were nosing out of tight spots were very high time super 70 series DC-8s, and none of them had catastrophic landing accidents that I'm aware of. <<
How about this one:
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NTSB Identification: NYC95IA106 . The docket is stored in the (offline) NTSB Imaging System.
Scheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier UNITED PARCEL SERVICE
Incident occurred Saturday, May 13, 1995 in LOUISVILLE, KY
Probable Cause Approval Date: 2/27/96
Aircraft: DOUGLAS DC-8-71, registration: N707UP
Injuries: 3 Uninjured.
THE DC-8-71 LANDED, AND THEN ON ROLLOUT, IT SETTLED TO THE RIGHT, ALLOWING THE #3 AND #4 ENGINE COWLINGS TO SETTLE ONTO THE RUNWAY. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR CYLINDER HAD FAILED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY, JUST ABOVE THE RETRACT CYLINDER ATTACH POINT. THE LANDING GEAR THEN ROTATED AND COLLAPSED REARWARD. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR CYLINDER REVEALED PREEXISTING CRACKS ON THE INSIDE SURFACE. THE CAUSE OF THE CRACKING WAS NOT VERIFIED.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this incident as follows:
preexisting crack(s) on the inside surface of the right main landing gear cylinder, and the subsequent fracture of the cylinder, which resulted in a collapse of the right main landing gear.
Full narrative available
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...07X03525&key=1