What happened
During a cargo mission to Shindand Air Base, a four-engine aircraft was transporting 4,700 pounds of voting materials intended for US military personnel. During the landing sequence, the aircraft experienced a heavy touchdown followed by a bounce. Upon the subsequent contact with the runway, the left main landing gear was separated from the airframe.
Following the gear failure, the aircraft traveled approximately 1,750 meters along the runway before veering toward the left side of the strip. The aircraft eventually came to a stop in a nearby drainage ditch. Although the impact and a subsequent fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft, all six occupants managed to evacuate the wreckage without injury.
Findings
Investigations into the incident indicate that the aircraft suffered a structural failure of the left main gear following a hard landing and subsequent bounce on the runway.