No fatalities

Emergency belly landing near El Paso following engine failure (48-0342)

El Paso, United States of AmericaFlight

On July 15, 1951, a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (registration 48-0342) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near El Paso, United States of America in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine failed while the aircraft was in flight, necessitating an emergency landing. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft was forced to perform an emergency landing in a desert region northwest of El Paso after experiencing an in-flight engine malfunction.

What happened

During the flight, the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure involving one of its engines. This loss of power necessitated an immediate emergency descent and landing procedure by the crew.

The aircraft subsequently performed a belly landing within a desert landscape situated approximately 8 miles northwest of El Paso. Despite the impact associated with landing without landing gear, the aircraft came to a complete stop without further incident.

There were no fatalities or injuries reported among the occupants following the emergency touchdown.

Findings

  • The primary factor leading to the emergency was an engine failure during the flight phase.

Probable cause

The engine failed while the aircraft was in flight, necessitating an emergency landing.