No fatalities

1981-09-07: Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (N8504W) — Gifford Aviation — Dahl Creek, United States of America

Dahl Creek, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On September 7, 1981, a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (registration N8504W) operated by Gifford Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Dahl Creek, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The right main landing gear failed to lock due to an overload that caused the gear shear pin to fail. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781222228Data APIEditorial standards

A landing accident involving a gear collapse occurred at Dahl Creek, resulting in significant aircraft damage but no injuries.

What happened

During the landing phase at Dahl Creek, the aircraft experienced a structural failure of its landing gear. Specifically, the right main gear collapsed as the plane touched down. Following the collapse, the aircraft type slid across the ground for several dozen yards before the movement ceased.

There were no casualties reported in the incident. Both members of the flight crew managed to exit the aircraft without sustaining any injuries. While the occupants were safe, the impact and subsequent slide resulted in the plane being declared a total loss, as it was damaged beyond repair.

Findings

Investigations into the mechanical failure determined that the right main landing gear failed to remain locked during the landing sequence. This malfunction was attributed to the failure of the gear locking mechanism, which was triggered by an overload failure and the subsequent failure of the gear shear pin.

Probable cause

The right main landing gear failed to lock due to an overload that caused the gear shear pin to fail.