On April 16, 1977, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration B-247) operated by Far Eastern Air Transport - FAT was involved in an aviation accident near Tainan, Taiwan during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The landing gear failed to support the weight of the aircraft upon touchdown, causing a belly slide. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 5 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aircraft experienced a landing gear failure upon arrival at Tainan Airport, resulting in the plane sliding on its fuselage.
What happened
During the landing phase of the flight at Tainan Airport, the aircraft's undercarriage failed. This structural collapse caused the plane to lose support from its wheels, forcing the airframe to make contact with the runway surface. As a result of the gear failure, the airplane slid along its belly until it eventually reached a complete stop.
Despite the impact of the fuselage against the ground, there were no casualties reported following the incident. The aircraft remained intact enough that no injuries or fatalities occurred during the sequence of events.
Findings
The primary event was the collapse of the undercarriage immediately upon touchdown.
Probable cause
The landing gear failed to support the weight of the aircraft upon touchdown, causing a belly slide.