Yunnan | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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 Yunnanyi

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-96548

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

30210

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered technical problems and the captain ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. While the aircraft dove into the ground, crashed and was destroyed, all four crew members were found alive.

Probable cause:

Unknown technical failure.

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

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-3609

Flight Type:

Military

MSN:

26742

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown as well.

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:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

9109

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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.

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

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-60997

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

26872

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For undetermined reason, the aircraft belly landed and was damaged beyond repair. No casualties.

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

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-3601

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

26734

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Chanyi: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-61039

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

26914

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances 24 km from Chanyi, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL near Kunming: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Dinjan - Kunming

MSN:

18902

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Kunming-Wujiaba Airport, the aircraft descended from 16,000 to 6,000 feet when it went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in flames few km from the airport. All six occupants were killed.
Source: www.cnac.org

Probable cause:

The jack pad had been removed from the right wing root. This left 4 large holes directly under the fuel tanks and directly in line with the exhaust. When the pilot cut the throttles to descend, the flame only went as far back as the holes. There the flames went up around the fuel tank, igniting the fumes and blew the wing off.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-65-CO Liberator near Honghe: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

42-100040

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

3189

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was involved in a reconnaissance mission over the Hainan Island when it crashed in a mountainous region located some 50 miles south of Honghe. All eleven crew members were killed.