Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando in Mbuji-Mayi

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
SODEMAC
Registration:
9T-PLK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30483
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mbuji-Mayi
Kasai-Oriental
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing for undetermined reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando in Espiritu

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos Bolivianos - SAB
Registration:
CP-914
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
249
YOM:
1945
Location:
Espiritu
Santa Cruz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Espiritu. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando off Puntarenas: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1970 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AMK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San José - San José
MSN:
254
YOM:
1945
Location:
Puntarenas
Puntarenas (Central and South Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew (four technicians and three pilots) departed San José-Juan Santamaría Airport in the morning on a post maintenance test flight. En route, in unknown circumstances, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the gulf of Nicoya off Puntarenas. The wreckage was found 1,2 km east of San Lucas Island. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Saint Domingo

Date & Time: May 7, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HI-170
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - Caracas
MSN:
22392
YOM:
1945
Location:
Santo Domingo
Distrito Nacional
Country:
Dominican Republic
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abandon the take-off. An emergency braking procedure was initiated but unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. While both crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical problem necessitated a take-off interruption.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando into the Caribbean Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1281
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Santa Marta – Pointe-à-Pitre
MSN:
33275
YOM:
1945
Location:
Caribbean Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The C-46 departed Santa Marta Airport at 1211LT on a cargo flight to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, carrying a load of 5 tons of meat. While cruising at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the crew informed ATC about his ETA in Guadeloupe at 1755LT when contact was lost. The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando near Villavicencio

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-790
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26480
YOM:
1943
Location:
Villavicencio
Meta
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in San Carlos de Guaroba, in the suburb of Villavicencio. The exact date of the mishap remains unknown (somewhere in March 1970). There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando in San Francisco

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos Curtiss
Registration:
TI-1065
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
San Francisco
Potosí
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During initial climb, the left engine lost power. The captain decided to return for a safe landing. While completing a last turn to join the approach path, the left engine exploded and caught fire. As the airplane was losing height, the captain attempted an emergency landing in a field located few km short of runway. Both pilots were quickly evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the left engine exploded and caught fire due to the failure of the carburetor. It is believed that the failure of the left engine and its components may be the consequence of an overloaded aircraft.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando on Mt Vizcacha: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Littoral - TAL
Registration:
CP-825
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
22541
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Vizcacha
Tacna
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the right engine and elected to divert to Tacna or Arica for an emergency landing. The captain increase power on the left engine and realized he was unable to reach the nearest airport so he attempt to land on a plateau located on the Vizcacha Mountains. The airplane lost height and eventually crashed on a rocky area. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the failure of the right engine was the consequence of an inappropriate maintenance.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
LV-GEB
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30325
YOM:
1944
Location:
Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbery
Buenos Aires City
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After liftoff, while climbing to a height of some 300 feet, the left engine stopped. The aircraft stalled but the captain was able to regain control and to perform an emergency landing on a sports field located near the airport. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The failure of the left engine was the consequence of an error on part of the crew who positioned the fuel selector on an empty tank.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando into the Gulf of Mexico

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Albany Industrial Corporation
Registration:
N10416
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
33264
YOM:
1945
Location:
Gulf of Mexico
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Gulf of Mexico somewhere during December 1969 (exact date unknown). Crew fate remains unknown.
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