No fatalities

Emergency Belly Landing Near Austin (44-23028)

Austin-Bergstrom, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On May 11, 1947, a Fairchild C-82 Packet (registration 44-23028) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Austin-Bergstrom, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft made an emergency belly landing southeast of Bergstrom Air Force Base near Austin. The incident resulted in no injuries, though the airframe sustained irreparable damage.

What happened

The flight crew encountered a situation that necessitated an immediate emergency procedure. Unable to continue normal operations or execute a standard gear-down landing, they directed the aircraft toward a suitable area southeast of Bergstrom Air Force Base, located near Austin.

Upon reaching the designated spot, the crew executed a belly landing, bringing the aircraft to rest on its underside rather than its wheels. This maneuver was performed to minimize risk to those on board given the circumstances.

Findings

The emergency landing was successful in preserving human life, as there were no casualties reported among the occupants. However, the impact and subsequent friction caused significant structural harm to the airframe. Assessments confirmed that the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, rendering it unserviceable.