No fatalities

Landing gear collapse during touchdown at Valencia Airport (EC-AHJ)

Valencia, SpainLanding (descent or approach)

On April 19, 1962, a Bristol 170 Freighter (registration EC-AHJ) operated by Aviaco - Aviacion y Comercio was involved in an aviation accident near Valencia, Spain during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The collapse of one of the main landing gear units upon touchdown caused the aircraft to slide along the runway. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-06-14Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft experienced a structural failure of its landing gear upon arrival at Valencia Airport, resulting in a runway excursion and hull loss.

What happened

During the landing phase at Valencia Airport, an aircraft experienced a significant mechanical failure immediately following contact with the runway. As the plane made touchdown, one of the main landing gear units collapsed under the weight of the aircraft.

This structural failure caused the aircraft to lose stability, leading to a slide along the runway surface for a distance of several meters before the movement ceased. While the incident resulted in no injuries to those on board, the impact and subsequent sliding caused extensive damage to the airframe. Due to the severity of the structural compromise, the aircraft was declared a total loss.

Findings

  • The primary event was the failure of a main landing gear component during the touchdown sequence.

Probable cause

The collapse of one of the main landing gear units upon touchdown caused the aircraft to slide along the runway.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 19 Apr 1962 Bristol 170 Freighter accident near Valencia, Spain?

An aircraft experienced a structural failure of its landing gear upon arrival at Valencia Airport, resulting in a runway excursion and hull loss.

Were there any fatalities in the 19 Apr 1962 Bristol 170 Freighter accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 19 Apr 1962 involved a Bristol 170 Freighter, registration EC-AHJ, operated by Aviaco - Aviacion y Comercio, at Valencia, Spain.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The collapse of one of the main landing gear units upon touchdown caused the aircraft to slide along the runway.