No fatalities

1978-02-23: Lockheed P-3 Orion (151381) — United States Navy - USN — Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS, United States of America

Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On February 23, 1978, a Lockheed P-3 Orion (registration 151381) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft completed a belly landing upon returning to the airfield after a patrol flight. 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 1781227004Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft performing a patrol mission completed a belly landing at Jacksonville-Towers Field, resulting in significant damage to the plane but no casualties.

What happened

During a routine patrol mission, an aircraft returned to Jacksonville-Towers Field following a period of flight that had been otherwise unremarkable. Upon arrival at the airfield, the plane performed a belly landing, coming to a stop on the ground after making contact without its landing gear.

Despite the impact, all five crew members were able to exit the aircraft safely. There were no reported injuries following the incident. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.

Findings

The investigation into the event noted that the flight preceding the landing was uneventful. The primary factor in the accident was the landing without landing gear.

Probable cause

The aircraft completed a belly landing upon returning to the airfield after a patrol flight.