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Cargo Aircraft Undercarriage Failure at Wapenamanda Airport (VH-MAE)

Wapenamanda, Papua New GuineaLanding (descent or approach)

On July 17, 1972, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration VH-MAE) operated by Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea was involved in an aviation accident near Wapenamanda, Papua New Guinea during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the right main gear on landing due to a fractured trunnion at the rear of the undercarriage strut. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 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

A cargo aircraft suffered a right main gear collapse upon landing at Wapenamanda Airport from Madang. The aircraft veered off the runway and was damaged beyond repair, while both crew members were unhurt.

Incident Overview and Location Details During a cargo flight from Madang, an aircraft experienced a mechanical failure while landing at Wapenamanda Airport. The incident occurred during the landing phase, resulting in the collapse of the right main landing gear. The specific aircraft type, registration, operator, and exact date of the event are not provided in the available source material. Following the gear collapse, the aircraft lost directional control and veered off the runway before coming to a complete stop. The event resulted in significant structural damage to the airframe, which was assessed as being beyond repair. Both crew members on board sustained no injuries during the incident.

Probable cause

Failure of the right main gear on landing due to a fractured trunnion at the rear of the undercarriage strut.

Related events

Same operator

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