No fatalities

1954-05-17: Curtiss C-46 Commando (CU-C556) — Cubana de Aviación — Havana, Cuba

Havana, CubaLanding (descent or approach)

On May 17, 1954, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration CU-C556) operated by Cubana de Aviación was involved in an aviation accident near Havana, Cuba during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The landing gear collapsed during the touchdown phase of flight. 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 1781252119Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft sustained significant damage after its landing gear failed during the touchdown phase of flight, resulting in no injuries.

What happened

During the landing phase of the flight, the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure upon contact with the runway. As the plane made touchdown, the undercarriage collapsed, causing the aircraft to lose stability and veer out of control.

The sequence of events led to the aircraft coming to a halt in a position that caused extensive structural damage. Following the incident, the aircraft was determined to be a total loss and was categorized as damaged beyond repair. There were no reported fatalities or injuries among the occupants during the event.

Findings

  • The primary factor in the accident was the failure of the landing gear assembly.
  • The collapse occurred specifically at the moment of touchdown.

Probable cause

The landing gear collapsed during the touchdown phase of flight.