No fatalities

Gear collapse and post-landing fire involving aircraft (5H-RAZ)

Tunduru, TanzaniaLanding (descent or approach)

On June 27, 1996, a Cessna 402 (registration 5H-RAZ) operated by Fleet Air (Tanzania) was involved in an aviation accident near Tunduru, Tanzania during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A broken pin in the landing gear lock mechanism caused the left main gear to collapse upon landing. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft experienced a left main landing gear failure during touchdown, resulting in a belly slide and subsequent fire.

What happened

During the landing phase of the flight, the left main gear of the aircraft failed to remain intact. This structural collapse caused the aircraft to lose stability upon contact with the runway, leading it to slide along its undercarriage/belly.

As the movement ceased, the vessel ignited, resulting in a post-crash fire. Despite the intensity of the flames following the impact, there were no fatalities and no injuries were reported among those on board.

Findings

Investigations into the incident determined that the mechanical failure was triggered by a broken pin located within the gear's locking mechanism. This specific component failure prevented the left main landing gear from remaining securely locked during the touchdown sequence.

Probable cause

A broken pin in the landing gear lock mechanism caused the left main gear to collapse upon landing.