No fatalities

Landing Gear Collapse Causes Runway Excursion (ZS-ASW)

Johannesburg, South AfricaLanding (descent or approach)

On January 5, 1948, a Lockheed 18 LodeStar (registration ZS-ASW) operated by South African Airways -SAA - Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens - SAL was involved in an aviation accident near Johannesburg, South Africa during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by the collapse of the landing gear during the landing phase, which led to a loss of control and a runway excursion. 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
Aircraft registered ZS-ASW
Aircraft registered ZS-ASW. Photo: Bob Adams from George, South Africa / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An aircraft suffered a landing gear collapse upon touchdown, resulting in a loss of control and an excursion into a drainage ditch. All fifteen occupants escaped injury, though the airframe was destroyed.

What happened

During the final approach and landing phase, the landing gear failed structurally while the aircraft was on the runway surface. This mechanical failure caused the machine to lose directional stability immediately after touchdown. The pilot attempted to maintain control, but the aircraft veered off the paved runway area and came to rest in a nearby drainage ditch.

The impact resulted in significant structural damage to the airframe, rendering it damaged beyond repair. Despite the severity of the crash and the subsequent excursion, all 15 occupants on board survived without sustaining any injuries. Emergency services responded to the scene to secure the area and assist with the recovery of the wreckage.

Findings

The official investigation concluded that the primary factor leading to the accident was the structural failure of the undercarriage during the landing roll. This collapse directly resulted in the loss of control and the subsequent deviation from the runway.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the collapse of the landing gear during the landing phase, which led to a loss of control and a runway excursion.