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

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Transportes Aéreos Littoral - TAL
Registration:
CP-800
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30392
YOM:
1944
Location:
Corani
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

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

Date & Time: Sep 6, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos para el Negocios, Industria y Agricultura (SANIA)
Registration:
CP-834
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26902
YOM:
1944
Location:
Caranavi
La Paz
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. No casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Barcelona: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1969 at 0005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Kimex
Registration:
N1247N
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paramaribo – Georgetown – Willemstad
MSN:
22565
YOM:
1945
Location:
Barcelona
Anzoátegui
Country:
Venezuela
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2670
Captain / Total hours on type:
1820.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Paramaribo to Willemstad, Curaçao, with an intermediate stop in Georgetown, Guyana. During the second leg, while in cruise altitude, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the right engine and obtained the permission to divert to Barcelona for a safe landing. On final approach by night, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field. The copilot was killed while three other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine in flight for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Medford: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1969 at 1247 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Flying West Airways
Registration:
N1243N
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Medford – Allentown
MSN:
22456
YOM:
1945
Location:
Medford
New Jersey
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3137
Circumstances:
Following a premature liftoff, the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Ground swerve during takeoff run,
- Collision with trees during initial climb,
- Improper operations of brakes and/or flight controls,
- Premature liftoff,
- Failure to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Evasive maneuver to avoid collision,
- Premature takeoff to avoid aircraft tiedown area after loss of directional control,
- Tailwheel was in unlocked position.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando in Kinshasa: 45 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1969 at 0810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
WIGMO - Western International Ground Maintenance Organization
Registration:
9T-PLJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kinshasa – Kananga – Mbuji-Mayi
MSN:
26710
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kinshasa
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
45
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Kinshasa-N’Djili Airport, the crew reported technical problems with the hydraulic systems and was cleared to return. To reduce weight, the pilot followed a holding pattern over the region when the airplane entered a dive and crashed into the Congo River. All 45 occupants have been killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident was not determined. However, it is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of a double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando off Nassau: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1969 at 1250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Islands of the Bahamas
Registration:
N3914
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
22445
YOM:
1945
Location:
Nassau
New Providence
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Nassau Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea some 3 km offshore. Few debris were found floating on water and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Fire or explosion in flight for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando in Bogotá

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1969 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-683
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Cali
MSN:
33367
YOM:
1945
Location:
Bogotá-El Dorado
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from runway 30, while climbing to an altitude of 300 feet, the airplane lost height and descended until it crashed 1,6 km past the runway end. All three crew members were injured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of an overloaded aircraft. The total weight was well above the MTOW.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando off Manaus

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1969 at 0120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Carolina Aircraft Corporation
Registration:
N5133B
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Andrés - Ponta Pelada
MSN:
26988
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ponta Pelada AFB, Manaus
Amazonas
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6362
Captain / Total hours on type:
612.00
Circumstances:
While descending to Ponta Pelada AFB in Manaus following a cargo flight from San Andrés Island, Colombia, the crew informed ATC about engine problems and elected to land immediately. Eventually, the crew ditched the aircraft in the Río Negro located few km short of runway. While both pilots were rescued, the airplane sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
The crew was forced to ditch the aircraft due to a fuel exhaustion on final approach to Manaus.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Curtiss C-46 Commando