Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU Commando in Kon Tum: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1966 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CA-1
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
22367
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
At liftoff at Kon Tum Airport, while in initial climb at a speed of 80 knots, the left engine oversped. The pilot-in-command retracted the landing gear and attempted an emergency landing in an open field located past the runway end. The aircraft belly landed, slid for several yards and struck two people before coming to rest. There were no injuries among the occupants while both people on the ground were killed.

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

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N1245N
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Asunción – Montevideo
MSN:
22473
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Asunción-Silvio Pettirossi Airport while on a cargo flight to Montevideo-Carrasco Airport. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-30-CU Commando in Bunia

Date & Time: Mar 6, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
SE-CFG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
26710
YOM:
1943
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
11271
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a humanitarian flight on behalf of the United Nations Organization (UNO). On short final, the airplane was too low and struck a sand pile with its left main gear. The pilot-in-command continued the approach and completed the landing. After the aircraft was stopped, it was checked and eventually decided it was declared as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the crew who continued the final approach at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando in Rioja: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OB-R-606
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Chiclayo – Rioja – Chachapoyas
MSN:
33477
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While descending to Rioja Airport on a cargo flight from Chiclayo to Chachapoyas via Rioja, the airplane struck a mountain side located few km from the airport. All three crew members were killed. The airplane was carrying 5 tons of various goods.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Mexico

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
XA-LOS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
32693
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed somewhere in Mexico. No casualties.

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

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
LV-GFW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rio Grande – Río Gallegos – Río Cuarto – Buenos Aires
MSN:
26961
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The cargo flight Rio Grande - Río Gallegos - Río Cuarto - Buenos Aires, which had to be completed in daylight, ran late due to delays in the loading of 99 sheep. It was dark outside by the time the aircraft left Río Gallegos. The destination had been changed to Villa Reynolds, which had electric lighting instead of kerosene putts at Río Cuarto. Although weather was worsening, the crew didn't change to an IFR flight plan. Various attempts to contact Villa Reynolds failed so the crew decided to divert to Río Cuarto by following a roadway, illuminated from time to time by lightning flashes and headlights of automobile traffic. The crew managed to find the airport and overflew it first. The airport employees meanwhile weren't able to keep the kerosene putts alight due to rain and wind. Four vehicles were dispatched to mark the runway threshold with their headlights. The crew got lost and asked the controller to determine their position relative to the airport by the noise of the engines. While attempting a second run over the field to locate the runway, the aircraft descended into the ground and slid on flat ground for 300 m, broke a wire fence and came to rest in a cornfield 5 km NE of the airport. All four occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
Collision with terrain while trying to land in adverse and unstable conditions due to continuation of the flight at night in known and visible adverse meteorological conditions, aggravated by the lack of an alternate aerodrome or sufficient endurance to effect a diversion.

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

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP-LDQ
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro – Salvador
MSN:
30343
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
49
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Salvador-Dois de Julho Airport, the left engine oil temperature increased and the crew was forced to reduce its power when the airplane stalled on final and crashed in an open field. All 54 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Technical issue on left engine.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando off Panama City: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
LV-HIJ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Panama City – Guayaquil – La Paz – Buenos Aires
MSN:
22346
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Panama City-Tocumen Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea some 40 km offshore. The aircraft was destroyed and all 7 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando near Urrao: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1965 at 0515 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1210W
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
33595
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight to Ecuador, carrying a load of cigarettes. While flying by night in heavy rain falls, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain in the region of Urrao. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found on the slope of Mt Cerro Pelado, between the cities of Urrao and Frontino, on January 10, 1966. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed. Operated by Vicair, the aircraft was leased from Atlantic Aircraft Corporation who subleased from Associated Aviation Industries.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a control flight into terrain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Pouso Alegre

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1965 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N75296
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
32699
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Pouso Alegre Airport, the airplane was too low and struck a dirt bank located short of runway threshold. The aircraft crash landed, veered off runway and collided with several vehicles before coming to rest in flames. While both pilots were slightly injured, the airplane was destroyed by fire.
Final Report: