What happened
During a scheduled transition training session at San Francisco Airport, a four-engine aircraft experienced a hard landing on the runway. The crew was performing a local training maneuver as part of an ongoing instructional program when the descent rate increased significantly during the final approach phase.
As the pilot-in-command attempted to execute the flare, the aircraft failed to arrest its downward momentum, resulting in a direct impact with the runway surface. The force of the collision caused the undercarriage to be sheared from the airframe. Following the impact, the aircraft slid across the pavement for a short distance before catching fire.
Findings
- The crew successfully evacuated the aircraft during the emergency.
- There were zero fatalities and zero injuries reported among the three crew members on board.
- The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it beyond repair.