We translate statecharts into PROMELA, the input language of the SPIN verification system, using extended hierarchical automata as an intermediate format We discuss two possible frameworks for this translation, leading to either sequential or parallel code. We show that in this context the sequential code can be verified more efficiently than the parallel code. We conclude with the discussion of an application of the resulting translator to a well-known case study, which demonstrates the feasibility of linear temporal logic model checking of statecharts.