No fatalities

Aircraft Skids After Undercarriage Failure on Landing (PH566)

Udine, ItalyLanding (descent or approach)

On September 5, 1946, an Avro 652 Anson (registration PH566) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Udine, Italy during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident occurred because the landing gear was not locked down and collapsed upon landing. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 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

An aircraft suffered a gear collapse upon touchdown, resulting in a belly skid and total loss of the airframe without any injuries to occupants.

What happened

During the landing phase, the undercarriage failed to remain extended. As the aircraft made contact with the runway surface, the landing gear collapsed, causing the fuselage to strike the ground directly. The machine subsequently skidded along its belly until it came to a complete stop. While the structural damage was severe enough to render the airframe beyond repair, there were no casualties reported among those on board.

Findings

The official investigation determined that the primary factor leading to the accident was a mechanical configuration error. Specifically, the landing gear had not been locked in the down position prior to touchdown. This failure of the locking mechanism resulted in the collapse of the undercarriage upon impact with the runway.

Probable cause

The accident occurred because the landing gear was not locked down and collapsed upon landing.