Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando off Itaipu

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1961 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VBM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
134
YOM:
1944
Location:
Itaipu
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont for a local training flight. En route, the pilot voluntarily shut down the left engine to simulate a failure. As the crew elected to feather its propeller, the prop went into reverse. The crew decided to return to Santos Dumont Airport but as he was unable to maintain a safe altitude, he decided to ditch the aircraft 50 meters off the Itaipu beach. Both occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando near San Borja: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-687
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Trinidad – San Borja
MSN:
26585
YOM:
1943
Location:
San Borja
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While descending to San Borja Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and did not realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck a hill located near the Maniqui River, about 25 km south of the airfield. A crew member was killed while two other occupants were injured.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near Pha Khao: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
B-136
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
22465
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pha Khao
Bolikhamxai Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On behalf of the CIA, the crew was engaged in a supply dropping mission to the General Vang Pao's Hmong Army. While flying at low height, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn when a wingtip struck the ground, causing the aircraft to crash. All six occupants were killed, among them three CIA employees, David W. Bevan, Darrell A. Eubanks, and John S. Lewis.
Probable cause:
Error of judgement on part of the pilot-in-command while completing a supply dropping mission at low height.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46C Commando at Sarcpa Lake

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1961 at 1402 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HEI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22419
YOM:
1945
Location:
Sarcpa Lake
Nunavut
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Sarcpa Lake, the twin engine aircraft was too low and struck the ground. The undercarriage were sheared off and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. All nine occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
During the final approach, the pilot-in-command allowed the aircraft to strike the ground short of the approach end of the runway and below the runway level.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando near Havana: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T607
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Havana – Nueva Gerona
Location:
Havana
La Habana
Country:
Cuba
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
50
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Five minutes after takeoff from Havana Airport, five hijackers attempted to enter the flight deck. Two guards tried to stop the hijackers and shots were fired. During the struggle the captain was killed as well as one hijackers and a guard. The copilot was able to complete an emergency landing in a sugar cane field. The undercarriage were sheared off and the airplanes came to rest. All other occupants were evacuated safely.
Probable cause:
Hijacking.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando in Buenos Aires: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1961 at 2057 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
LV-FTO
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Salta – Córdoba – Buenos Aires
MSN:
193
YOM:
1945
Location:
Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbery
Buenos Aires City
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Captain / Total flying hours:
6772
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3816
Aircraft flight hours:
8926
Circumstances:
Approaching Buenos Aires Airport, the crew was cleared for a runway 12 instrument approach. At 1300 m short of the runway and 175 m to the right of the extended centerline, the aircraft hit a 8 m high railway signal pole. The outer part of the right wing separated and the Curtiss turned about 45° to the right, striking a group of trees and telegraph lines. The aircraft crashed in flames and was destroyed upon impact. Two crew members and 22 passengers were killed while 11 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to follow the instrument approach chart.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Air Cameroon
Registration:
F-BESN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22377
YOM:
1945
Location:
Bangui
Ombella-M'Poko
Country:
Central African Republic
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bangui Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft suffered and engine failure. The captain elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft belly landed in a prairie and came to rest. All four occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was carrying a load of six tons of meat.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando in Calderon

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-489E
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26778
YOM:
1944
Location:
Calderon
Amazonas
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing at Calderon. All 29 occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

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

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1961 at 1609 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N1308V
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
San Antonio – Mobile
MSN:
22583
YOM:
1945
Location:
Katy
Texas
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
Circumstances:
En route from San Antonio to Mobile at an altitude of 2,500 feet, the crew informed ATC that the left engine caught fire. He elected to divert to the nearest airport but few minutes later, the left wing detached and the airplane crashed in flames in a field located in Katy, about 27 miles west of Houston. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the 8th cylinder on the left engine failed in flight, causing hydraulic leak. The oil spread in the engine nacelle and caught fire while contacting high temperature equipment. As the fire could not be contained, it spread to the left wing which detached shortly later.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46C Commando in São Paulo

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
PP-VCT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
260
YOM:
1945
Location:
São Paulo-Congonhas
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at São Paulo-Congonhas, the airplane encountered difficulties to decelerate properly. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest few dozen yards farther. All three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to follow the published procedure for the landing maneuver and failed to take advantage of all braking systems after landing. A lack of coordination was considered as a contributing factor.
Subscribe to Curtiss C-46 Commando