Quonset Point, Rhode Island – April 9, 1952
On April 9, 1952, a Grumman AF-2S Guardian, (Bu. No. 124848), with three men aboard was returning to Quonset Point Naval Air Station after a two-hour rocket and bombing training mission. As the pilot was making preparations to land he lowered the landing gear, but noticed that the indicator for the left side landing gear wasn’t showing that the wheels were down and locked. The pilot asked the bombardier to make a visual check of the landing gear, which was done in two ways; once by looking through a window in the left escape hatch, and by using a centrally located periscope that extended out of the bottom of the aircraft. While these observations were being made the pilot rocked the aircraft to see if there would be any movement in the landing gear, and none was observed. The bombardier advised the pilot that the landing gear appeared to be in the full down position.
After receiving clearance, the aircraft landed on the runway, and the left landing gear collapsed causing damage to the aircraft as it skidded to a stop. None of the men aboard were injured.
The aircraft was assigned to VS-24 at Quonset Point.
Source:
U.S. Navy crash report dated April 9, 1952
