FlightFinder
Check my flight
No fatalities

Aircraft crash during landing at SANAE Station (OO-HAD)

SANAE Station, AntarcticaLanding (descent or approach)

On February 9, 1970, a De Havilland DHC-3 Otter (registration OO-HAD) operated by Belgische-Nederlandse Zuidpool Expeditie was involved in an aviation accident near SANAE Station, Antarctica during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of both the skis and the landing gear during the landing sequence caused the aircraft to crash. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

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

A single-engine aircraft experienced a structural failure of its landing equipment while attempting to land at SANAE Station, resulting in a crash with no injuries.

What happened

During an arrival procedure at SANAE Station, a single engine airplane encountered a critical mechanical failure. As the aircraft was in the process of landing, it suffered the loss of both its skis and its landing gear.

This sudden loss of equipment destabilized the aircraft, leading to a crash upon impact with the ground. Despite the severity of the impact, there were no casualties reported among those on board the aircraft.

Findings

  • The primary factor in the accident was the separation of the landing gear and skis from the airframe during the landing phase.

Probable cause

The loss of both the skis and the landing gear during the landing sequence caused the aircraft to crash.

More accident analyses