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Flying Boxcar Crash at Hagerstown-Washington County Airport (51-7995)

Hagerstown, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On March 3, 1955, a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (registration 51-7995) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Hagerstown, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Too low approach on part of the flying crew. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A Flying Boxcar aircraft crashed at Hagerstown-Washington County Airport after a low approach, shearing its undercarriage and catching fire. All 13 crew members evacuated safely.

Incident Overview On final approach to Hagerstown-Washington County Airport, a Flying Boxcar aircraft descended too low and touched down short of the runway threshold. The impact with the concrete surface caused the undercarriage to be sheared off. The aircraft then skidded along the runway before veering off and coming to rest in flames. All 13 crew members evacuated safely, but the aircraft was destroyed by fire. ## Probable Cause The official investigation determined that the accident was caused by a too-low approach on the part of the flying crew. ## Outcome The incident resulted in no fatalities, with all 13 crew members escaping safely. The aircraft was destroyed by fire following the crash.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 3 Mar 1955 Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar accident near Hagerstown, United States of America?

A Flying Boxcar aircraft crashed at Hagerstown-Washington County Airport after a low approach, shearing its undercarriage and catching fire. All 13 crew members evacuated safely.

Were there any fatalities in the 3 Mar 1955 Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 3 Mar 1955 involved a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, registration 51-7995, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Hagerstown, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Too low approach on part of the flying crew.

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