What happened
During preparations for a scheduled cargo service to San Juan, an aircraft was undergoing taxi operations at Idlewild Airport. During this phase of the flight, the main landing gear suffered a structural collapse. This mechanical failure caused the airframe to settle directly onto its belly.
Following the impact with the ground, the aircraft caught fire. The resulting blaze continued until the vessel was completely destroyed. Despite the intensity of the flames and the severity of the impact, there were no injuries reported among the three crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations into the incident determined that the primary factor leading to the accident was a failure within the undercarriage while the aircraft was taxiing.