Zone
Yunnan

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson in Kunming: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Crashed while approaching Kunming Airport. All 20 occupants were killed. No further details on this mishap.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Yunnanyi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18547
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Yunnanyi – Kunming
MSN:
4672
Location:
Yunnanyi
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Few minutes after take off from Yunnanyi, Airport, while climbing, the right engine caught fire. The crew was able to feather the propeller but could not extinguish the fire. The captain decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed 24 km from Yunnanyi Airport and was damaged beyond repair. A passenger was killed in the accident.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL in Dinjan

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
80
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kunming – Dinjan
MSN:
9761
YOM:
1943
Location:
Dinjan
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Dinjan Airport in foggy conditions, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a paddy field few hundred yards short of runway. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Both engines failed on approach because the fuel selector was positioned on an empty tank.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando in Kunming

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-3675
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26808
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off for unknown reason. All four crew members were rescued. Aircraft written off.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando near Kunming

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-3595
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26728
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failed en route, forcing the crew to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing near Kunming. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair in the accident, all four crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Kunming: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18546
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kunming – Chengdu
MSN:
4671
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Few minutes after take off from Kunming-Wujiaba Airport, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Lüliang: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-96537
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lüliang – Kunming
MSN:
30199
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lüliang
Shanxi
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On take off from Lüliang Airport, the aircraft banked and crashed on the runway edge. Three crew members were killed while the fourth occupant was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
According to the USAAF, the loss of control on take off was caused by an engine failure on rotation.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Kunming: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
73
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9109
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Kunming Airport, the crew made a turn to the right when the aircraft hit a mountain slope, fell down into a ravine and came to rest in a small lake. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It appears the crew did not follow the appropriate procedures for departure as they followed the wrong track and moreover at an insufficient altitude.
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