Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 2 August 2003
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-54G-10-DO (DC-4)
Owner/operator: Buffalo Airways
Registration Number: C-GBSK
Location: Ulu mine strip, NT –
ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: Aircraft Landing GearAircraft Landing Gear
Category: Accident
A Douglas C-54 C-GBSK aircraft was landing at the Ulu mine strip with 45 drums of diesel fuel. Due to a rapid descent, the crew reduced power and increased power as flaps were selected. Upon settling, the aircraft descended further, and the flare initiated, causing it to land short of the runway threshold, resulting in a landing gear collapse and fuselage separation. The wings separated, and the fuselage veered off the runway.A Douglas C-54 C-GBSK aircraft was landing at the Ulu mine strip with 45 drums of diesel fuel. Due to a rapid descent, the crew reduced power and increased power as flaps were selected. Upon settling, the aircraft descended further, and the flare initiated, causing it to land short of the runway threshold, resulting in a landing gear collapse and fuselage separation. The wings separated, and the fuselage veered off the runway.
Description
Douglas C-54 C-GBSK was landing at the Ulu mine strip with 45 drums of diesel fuel. On short final, the crew noticed that they were too fast, and reduced power as the flaps were selected to full. As the aircraft began to settle, power was increased, but the aircraft continued to descend. When the captain initiated the flare, the aircraft landed short of the runway threshold, collapsing the landing gear. The wings separated from the fuselage and caught fire, and the fuselage veered off the right hand side of the runway. Ulu airstrip has a crushed rock runway 3800 feet long by 90 feet wide, with a 500 foot overrun area. Elevation is about 1600 feet, with a hill at about mid-way along its length.
Primary Cause
Rapid descent and subsequent loss of control during landing.Rapid descent and subsequent loss of control during landing.Share on:
