1966-12-30: Douglas DC-7 (N4059K) — Airlift International — Saigon, Vietnam

No fatalitiesSaigon, VietnamTakeoff (climb)

An aircraft experienced a structural failure of its landing gear during the takeoff roll at Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, resulting in the vessel veering off the runway.

What happened

While performing a takeoff roll at Saigon-Tan Son Nhat Airport, the aircraft experienced a sudden failure involving its landing gear. Specifically, both the nose gear and the right main gear collapsed during the high-speed portion of the maneuver. This mechanical failure caused the aircraft to lose directional control, leading it to veer off the active runway.

Following the excursion from the runway, the aircraft came to a stop. There were no injuries reported among the four crew members on board. However, the structural damage sustained during the incident was severe, and the aircraft was declared a total loss, being damaged beyond repair.

Findings

Official investigations into the incident concluded that the primary factor was the collapse of the undercarriage or an issue related to the gear retraction mechanism. The specific trigger for why the gear failed during the takeoff roll remains undetermined.

Probable cause

The collapse of the aircraft's landing gear or a failure in the retraction mechanism during the takeoff roll.