No fatalities

1971-03-19: Fairchild C-123 Provider (54-0650) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — Thiện Ngôn, Vietnam

Thiện Ngôn, VietnamLanding (descent or approach)

On March 19, 1971, a Fairchild C-123 Provider (registration 54-0650) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Thiện Ngôn, Vietnam during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The collapse of the nose landing gear during the landing roll led to a ground slide and subsequent intense fire. 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 1781235398Data APIEditorial standards

A nose gear failure during landing led to a ground slide and subsequent intense fire, though all crew members escaped safely.

What happened

During the landing phase of the flight, the aircraft experienced a structural failure when the nose gear collapsed. This mechanical failure caused the plane to lose stability on the runway, resulting in the aircraft sliding for a distance of several yards across the ground.

Following the slide, a fire broke out and quickly engulfed the vehicle. Despite the rapid spread of flames, all four crew members managed to exit the cabin successfully. The intense heat and fire eventually resulted in the total destruction of the airframe.

Findings

  • The primary sequence of events was initiated by the collapse of the nose landing gear.
  • The fire was severe enough to consume the entire aircraft after the crew had evacuated.

Probable cause

The collapse of the nose landing gear during the landing roll led to a ground slide and subsequent intense fire.