Emergency belly landing of cargo aircraft near Linz-Hörsching Airport

No fatalities • Sankt Florian, Austria • Flight

A cargo flight traveling from Munich to Zagreb was forced to perform an emergency landing in a snow-covered field following an engine failure.

What happened

During a scheduled cargo flight operating between Munich and Zagreb, the flight crew experienced a mechanical malfunction involving the left engine. Upon detecting the loss of power, the crew notified Air Traffic Control regarding the engine failure and received authorization to divert to Linz-Hörsching Airport for an emergency arrival.

As the flight progressed toward the diversion airport, the captain determined that the aircraft would be unable to reach the runway safely. Consequently, a decision was made to execute an emergency landing in a nearby prairie. The aircraft type (unspecified) performed a belly landing into a field covered in snow. The impact caused the plane to slide across the terrain for several yards before coming to a complete stop.

Findings

While the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss, there were no injuries reported among the four crew members on board. The primary factor contributing to the emergency was the failure of the left engine during the cruise phase of flight.

Probable cause

The failure of the left engine during the cruise portion of the flight.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1968-01-08 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Sankt Florian, Austria?

A cargo flight traveling from Munich to Zagreb was forced to perform an emergency landing in a snow-covered field following an engine failure.

Were there any fatalities in the 1968-01-08 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1968-01-08 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration YU-ABK, operated by JAT Yugoslav Airlines - Jugoslovenski Aerotransport (JAT Airways), at Sankt Florian, Austria.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The failure of the left engine during the cruise portion of the flight.

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