No fatalities

Aircraft Undershoots Runway, Landing Gear Collapses on Tundra (N8504X)

Shageluk, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On May 13, 1987, a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (registration N8504X) operated by Northern Pacific Transport was involved in an aviation accident near Shageluk, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Occurrence #1: undershoot due to downdraft, inadequate wind compensation by pilot, and go-around not performed. Occurrence #2: gear collapsed from overload and failure. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

An airplane on approach destabilized by vertical air movement touched down short of the runway, collapsing the landing gear and sliding onto adjacent tundra. All five occupants escaped uninjured.

Incident Overview

During approach, the airplane encountered a slight vertical air movement that destabilized its descent. The pilot subsequently touched down the airplane short of the intended runway surface. The impact caused the landing gear to collapse, and the airplane slid off the strip into the adjacent tundra.

All five occupants aboard the airplane escaped the incident without injury.

Investigation Findings

The official investigation identified two occurrences. The first, an undershoot during the landing flare/touchdown phase, was attributed to a downdraft weather condition, inadequate compensation for wind conditions by the pilot in command, and the pilot in command not performing a go-around. The second occurrence, a collapsed landing gear during the flare/touchdown, was due to overload and total failure of the main landing gear.

Probable cause

Occurrence #1: undershoot due to downdraft, inadequate wind compensation by pilot, and go-around not performed. Occurrence #2: gear collapsed from overload and failure.