Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

B-148

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

22510

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in bad weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near Pak Tha. All six occupants were killed. It was reported the crew was flying under VFR in IMC conditions at the time of the accident and his altitude was very low, apparently to maintain a visual contact with the ground.

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

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1963

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PP-NBP

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

226

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing for unknown reason. No casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando at Thun Field AFB

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1963 at 1826 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N616Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ogden-Hill – Malmstrom – McChord – Portland – Ogden-Hill

MSN:

22590

YOM:

1942

Flight number:

VK060

Location:

Thun Field AFB

Washington

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7003

Captain / Total hours on type:

1133.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2133

Copilot / Total hours on type:

300

Aircraft flight hours:

17683

Circumstances:

Zantop Air Transport, Inc., LOGAIR Flight 60-16 (VK060), a Curtiss C-40F, N616Z, crashed following an attempt to land on runway 17 at Thun Field, near Puyallup, Washington, at 1826 P.s.t., February 16, 1963. Both crew members survived the crash but were severely injured. There were no other occupants. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and post-impact fire. An engine malfunction seven minutes after takeoff from McChord AFB, Washington, was followed by an unsuccessful attempt to feather the propeller and by intermittent overspeeding. During an attempted go-around from the landing approach the pilot lost control of the aircraft and crashed in a pasture approximately one-half tile northeast of Thun Field.

Probable cause:

The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the improper handling of an emergency situation, precipitated by a mechanical malfunction, which resulted in an unsuccessful single engine go-around. A contributing factor was the failure of Radar Approach Control to provide complete, accurate airfield data to the pilot.

Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando off Cape Lisburne: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1963

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Skyvan Airways

Registration:

N67933

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Kotzebue – Cape Lisburne

MSN:

22380

YOM:

1945

Location:

Cape Lisburne

Alaska

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The wind direction shifted from east to south while the crew were preparing to land at runway 08. The captain decided to initiate a landing on runway 26. The sink rate during the approach became unsatisfactory and a go around was attempted. The aircraft was in a right turn at 150 feet when the plane settled and crashed in the Chuckchi Sea, some 300 yards from the runway. Both pilots survived the impact, but one of them drowned in the 27° F water. Downdrafts in the area north of the runway probably caused the plane to settle. Downdrafts were known to exist when the wind is southerly. The phenomena is caused by high terrain surrounding the strip on all sides except the north.

Probable cause:

An uncontrollable loss of altitude caused by adverse wind conditions during an attempted go around.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A Commando near Kingston: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1962 at 0350 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

HK-354X

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Fairbanks – Miami – Kingston – Bogotá

Location:

Kingston

Kingston City District

Country:

Jamaica

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The Curtiss C-46 operated on a ferry flight from Fairbanks to Bogotá via Miami and Kingston, carrying four spare engines and spare parts. The plane arrived at Kingston on November 25, 17:01 GMT. Following refueling of the aircraft, fuel was observed venting from the right front tank. This caused a delay in departure. At 08:47 GMT the next day, the C-46 lifted off from runway 29 after a long takeoff run and was cleared to climb ahead to 1500 feet. The plane started to turn left on crossing the coastline. Three minutes after takeoff, while still in a shallow climbing left-hand turn, the aircraft flew onto the southern face of Port Henderson Hills at a height of 700 feet. After scraping along rough ground over the brow of the hill, the aircraft fell down a steep precipice and caught fire.

Probable cause:

The aircraft was turned during the climb after takeoff at a height insufficient to clear rising ground. The ability of the pilot to avoid the hill may have been affected by some mechanical or other failure, although the occurrence of such a failure was not established. A contributing factor was that the carriage of one pilot was inadequate for the safe operation of an aircraft of this type.

Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F Commando in Carora

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

YV-C-LBH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Miami – Carora

MSN:

441

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Miami, carrying twelve pedigree bulls. Upon landing, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. While both pilots were able to evacuate the cabin and were uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire and all 12 animals were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in San Pedro Sula

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N67937

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

San Pedro Sula – San Juan

MSN:

22386

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at San Pedro Sula-Barandillas Airport, the airplane suffered a loss of power on one engine. It went out of control, veered off runway and eventually collided with a wooden house. Both crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Loss of engine power on takeoff.

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

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PP-BTE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

30260

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After touchdown on runway 24, the aircraft deviated from the centerline to the left. The captain decided to takeoff and instructed the copilot to raise the landing immediately after rotation. In a certain confusion, the copilot raised the landing gear while the aircraft was still rolling on the runway. It sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that an incorrect use of brakes and/or flying controls after touchdown caused the aircraft to deviate from the centerline. Poor crew coordination and a premature retraction of the landing gear were considered as contributing factors.

Crash of a Curtiss CW-20T Commando in Albertville

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

SE-CFB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Humanitarian

Survivors:

Site: