Willair International Airlines

Lockheed L-1649 Starliner

The crew was completing a local training flight at Stockton Airport, California. Following several uneventful circuits, the crew initiated a new approach. On final, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the right main gear struck a blast pad located 102 feet short of the runway threshold and was torn off. The airplane partially belly landed and slid for dozen yards before coming to rest. While all 11 occupants escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.