Yunnan | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While approaching Kunming, the crew was unable to locate the airport because the bearing signals were inaudible. As the weather conditions worsened, the captain decided to turn over the region, awaiting an improvement, but as the fuel reserve was insufficient, the crew decided eventually to bail out and abandoned the aircraft. While the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area, all three crew members were later recovered and evacuated safely.

Probable cause:

It appears the crew did not use the radio receiver properly when he started the approach to Kunming. The Kunming station was transmitting signals to the crew who was unable to localize the airport due a wrong usage of the on board receiving system.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Kunming

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-61009

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

26884

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on take off. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Chanyi

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-61032

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

26907

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crash landed for unknown reason. No casualties.

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:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Yunnanyi – Kunming

MSN:

4672

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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 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:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on take off for unknown reason. All four crew members were rescued. Aircraft written off.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando near Tsuyung: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-96639

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

30301

YOM:

1944

Location:

Tsuyung AFB (Chuxiong)

Yunnan

Country:

China

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances 20 miles north of Tsuyung while on a cargo flight. All four crew members were killed. It appears the control was lost following an in flight fire.

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 Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26728

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.