Yunnan | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew left Dinjan on a cargo flight to Kunming. While cruising some 100 miles from his destination, the crew torn off all communication systems so the Japanese forces based in the region were unable to catch any message. One hour later, while flying in poor weather conditions, the crew torn on the communication systems but the aircraft was off course. Crew tried to localize his position but after a flight of 11 hours and 25 minutes, was unable to locate the airport of Kunming so he decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. While the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed, all three crew were rescued.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU near Kunming

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-24680

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

26601

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While on a cargo flight, crew encountered an unknown technical failure and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair while all four occupants escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando in Chengkung

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-24673

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

26594

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

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

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-3588

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26721

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, crew was forced to make an emergency landing following an engine failure. Aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. No casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Lijiang: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Dinjan - Kunming

MSN:

9416

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to reduced his altitude to avoid an icing area. While cruising at low altitude in clouds, aircraft hit a peak with its left wing and crashed downwards on the slope of the mountains. The wreckage and both dead bodies were found seven months later.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-25-CU Commando near Yankai

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-24696

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26617

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed while all four crewmen survived.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-30-CU in Lijiang

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-24752

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26673

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, an engine failed. Captain was unable to maintain a safe altitude so he instructed all crew to bail out. Without pilot, aircraft went out of control and crashed on the slope of Mt Yulong near Lijiang. While the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces, all four occupants were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL in Tsuyung AFB

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-24365

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

10227

YOM:

1943

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 on takeoff at Tsuyung AFB. There were no casualties.

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

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

6034

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a cargo flight to Kunming-Wujiaba Airport. On final approach by night and in poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to localize the airport due to heavy rain falls. In addition to a high workload in the cockpit due to the preceding factors, crew encountered technical problems with the landing gear that could not be deployed properly. The captain decided to abort the landing procedure, increased the engine power and completed a low pass over the airport before attempting a second approach. In a certain confusion, he followed the wrong heading and continued bound to the west. Few minutes later, the aircraft hit a mountain slope near the airport and was destroyed by impact forces. All three crew members were killed.