belly-land

American  

[bel-ee-land] / ˈbɛl iˌlænd /

verb (used with object)

1. (of an aviator) to land (an aircraft) directly on the fuselage, as because of defective landing gear.

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verb (used without object)

1. (of an aircraft) to land directly on the fuselage, without using the landing gear.

Etymology

Origin of belly-land

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Returning from his 33rd mission, the mammoth Feb. 3, 1945, air raid on Berlin, Mr. Spiegel managed to belly-land on a frozen potato field in Reczyn, Poland.

From New York Times • Feb. 8, 2024

Losing altitude rapidly, the pilot, Air Vice Marshal Harold John Maguire, spotted a green and empty sports field and prepared to belly-land on it.

From Time Magazine Archive

But there is a chance I can belly-land without that grenade blowing.

From Space Platform by Leinster, Murray