No fatalities

Aircraft fire following landing gear collapse (127724)

Luqa, MaltaLanding (descent or approach)

On October 8, 1952, a Lockheed P-2 Neptune (registration 127724) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Luqa, Malta during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The collapse of the undercarriage during touchdown led to the subsequent slide and 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft caught fire after its undercarriage failed during touchdown, resulting in the total loss of the airframe but no injuries.

What happened

During the landing phase of the flight, the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure when the undercarriage collapsed upon contact with the runway. This structural failure caused the plane to lose stability and slide across the ground for a distance of several yards.

Following the slide, a fire ignited within the wreckage. Despite the intensity of the flames, all crew members successfully managed to evacuate the cabin before the situation became critical. While the occupants escaped without any reported injuries, the fire resulted in the complete destruction of the aircraft.

Findings

Official investigations concluded that the primary factor in the accident was the failure of the landing gear at the moment of touchdown.

Probable cause

The collapse of the undercarriage during touchdown led to the subsequent slide and fire.