What happened
During the final stages of a non-scheduled cargo flight, a modified Douglas DC-4 was performing a VFR approach to a remote mining airstrip. As the aircraft entered the landing flare and attempted touchdown, it undershot the runway threshold. During this maneuver, the right main landing gear made contact with the edge of the runway.
This impact caused the right main landing gear to be ripped from the aircraft, leading to a subsequent collision between the nose and the right wing with the runway surface. The force of the impact tore the right wing away from the fuselage, which subsequently ignited a fire. The main fuselage, which was carrying a cargo of fuel bladders, slid along the ground before coming to a rest after rolling approximately 90 degrees to the left. There were 0 fatalities reported in the accident.
Findings
Investigation into the accident highlighted a significant issue regarding the aircraft's modified configuration. The aircraft featured a raised cockpit positioned above the standard fuselage to accommodate a nose door that swings upward. The pilot reported that this increased cockpit height resulted in a distorted perception of the aircraft's actual altitude, causing the plane to be lower than the pilot believed during the landing flare.