No fatalities

Cargo Aircraft Undercarriage Collapse During Landing at Kempsey (VH-BCH)

Kempsey, AustraliaLanding (descent or approach)

On August 8, 1947, an Avro 652 Anson (registration VH-BCH) operated by New England Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Kempsey, Australia during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Structural collapse of the undercarriage upon touchdown. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A cargo aircraft suffered an undercarriage collapse upon landing in Kempsey after a flight from Sydney-Mascot, resulting in significant damage and no injuries to the crew.

What happened

The incident occurred during the final phase of a commercial cargo operation. The aircraft was approaching Kempsey following a departure from Sydney-Mascot. As the plane made contact with the runway surface, the landing gear failed structurally and collapsed immediately upon touchdown.

Following the collapse, the airframe lost directional control and skidded across the paved surface of the airport. The aircraft eventually came to a complete stop outside the designated runway area. Post-incident inspections confirmed that the structural damage was extensive, rendering the airframe damaged beyond repair.

Findings

The primary mechanical failure involved the undercarriage system, which could not sustain the load imposed during landing. Despite the severity of the collision and the subsequent skid, both members of the flight crew survived the event without sustaining any injuries.

Probable cause

Structural collapse of the undercarriage upon touchdown