No fatalities

Nose gear collapse during landing (CR-CAD)

São Pedro-Cesária Évora, Cabo VerdeLanding (descent or approach)

On September 7, 1961, a De Havilland DH.104 Dove (registration CR-CAD) operated by Aero Club do Cabo Verde was involved in an aviation accident near São Pedro-Cesária Évora, Cabo Verde during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The collapse of the nose landing gear during the landing sequence. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft experienced a nose gear failure upon touchdown, resulting in a ground slide and the total loss of the airframe.

What happened

During the landing phase of the flight, the aircraft's nose landing gear failed to support the weight of the plane, leading to a structural collapse. Following the impact of the gear failure, the aircraft type slid across the runway surface for a distance of several yards before the movement ceased.

While the incident resulted in no injuries to those on board, the damage sustained during the slide was severe enough that the aircraft was declared a total loss and written off.

Findings

Official investigations concluded that the primary factor in the accident was the mechanical failure of the nose gear at the moment of landing.

Probable cause

The collapse of the nose landing gear during the landing sequence.