No fatalities

Four-engine aircraft belly lands due to unextended landing gear (90386)

Oberpfaffenhofen, GermanyLanding (descent or approach)

On February 15, 1949, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 90386) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident occurred because the crew failed to extend the landing gear during the approach phase, violating standard operating procedures. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft made an emergency belly landing after the crew failed to extend the landing gear during approach, resulting in a fire and total loss of the airframe.

What happened

During the final approach phase of flight, the four-engine aircraft touched down on its fuselage rather than its wheels. The impact caused the plane to skid for several yards before it came to a complete stop. Upon landing, the airframe caught fire and was subsequently damaged beyond repair. Despite the severity of the crash and the resulting flames, all occupants were successfully rescued from the wreckage.

Findings

The investigation concluded that the incident resulted from procedural errors by the flight crew. Specifically, it was determined that the crew did not follow the approach procedures and failed to lower the undercarriage prior to landing. This omission directly led to the belly landing and subsequent structural failure.

Probable cause

The accident occurred because the crew failed to extend the landing gear during the approach phase, violating standard operating procedures.