When I was in VP-26 from 76-81, I heard that they'd apparently taken
a hit in one of the wings causing a wing fire, and as the PPC was
lining up to land (or ditch, I don't recall which), the fire burned
through the mainspar and collapsed the wing. I seem to remember also
that he was making his second attempt to line up on the correct heading
and that if he'd taken the landing opportunity on the first approach
they'd have proably made it.
I can't vouch for the truth of the above story, but that's what I
remember hearing anyway.

Don McIntyre
Clarksville, TN