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.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando near Cachimbo: 15 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
PP-AKF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cuiabá – Manaus
MSN:
295
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cachimbo
Pará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
En route, the right engine failed and the crew was forced to jettison some of the cargo to maintain a safe altitude. Eventually, the aircraft stalled and crashed on a hilly and wooded terrain located in the region of Cachimbo. The wreckage was found few hours later in the jungle and all 15 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
In-flight failure of the right engine for unknown reason.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near Phônsavan: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
B-130
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
22379
YOM:
1945
Location:
Phônsavan
Xieng Khouang Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew encountered elevator control problems and elected to make an emergency landing in the Plain of Jars when the airplane went out of control and crashed near Phônsavan. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was injured.

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

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
TI-1024C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
268
YOM:
1945
Location:
Palma Sur
Puntarenas (Central and South Pacific)
Country:
Costa Rica
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Palma Sur Airport, the crew noted that a private Piper registered TI-281 just turned onto the runway. To avoid any collision, the crew veered off runway to the right when the airplane collided with trees and came to rest. Both pilots were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Toledo: 22 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1960 at 2202 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Arctic Pacific Airlines
Registration:
N1244N
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Toledo – Kansas City – Albuquerque – Santa Maria – Oakland
MSN:
22458
YOM:
1945
Location:
Toledo-Express
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Captain / Total flying hours:
6364
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3200
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1300
Circumstances:
The aircraft was chartered to transport the California State Polytechnic College football team from Santa Maria, California to Toledo, Ohio and return. The aircraft took off from Toledo Express Airport on the return flight to San Luis Obispo, California, weighing approximately 2,000 lb more than its maximum certificated gross weight of 47,100 lb. During initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames a field 1,1 mile past the runway end. Both pilots and 20 passengers, among them 16 members of the football team, were killed while 26 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to loss of control during a premature lift-off. Contributing factors were the overweight aircraft, weather conditions, and partial loss of power in the left engine.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N1300N
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rapid City - Ogden-Hill
MSN:
22481
YOM:
1945
Location:
Plain City
Utah
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:
On approach to Ogden-Hill AFB, at an altitude of 6,500 feet, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Plain City, about 10 miles from the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Fatigue of the right wing lower attach angle bolts resulting in an in-flight wing failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Belém: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BTF
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Belém – São Luis
MSN:
26944
YOM:
1944
Location:
Belém-Val de Cans-Júlio Cezar Ribeiro
Pará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Belém-Val-de-Cans Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all six occupants were killed. The crew was completing a cargo flight to São Luis with a load of four tons of various goods on board.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Rio Jarí: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
PP-BTJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Porto Velho – São Paulo
MSN:
27021
YOM:
1944
Location:
Rio Jarí
Rondônia
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route, the airplane went out of control and crashed in the Rio Jarí, killing all three crew members.

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

Date & Time: May 19, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-LBG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
262
YOM:
1945
Location:
David
Chiriquí
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew encountered an unexpected situation en route and was forced to divert to David Airport for an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near El Sosneado: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1960 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Transamerican Air Transport
Registration:
LV-GGJ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – Santiago de Chile – Lima
MSN:
22554
YOM:
1945
Location:
El Sosneado
Mendoza
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Buenos Aires-Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini Airport at 1104LT with a crew of four, five passengers and seven race horses that should be delivered in Lima, Peru. An intermediate stop was scheduled at Santiago de Chile. The crew continued the flight under VFR at 3,000 meters in good weather conditions but while approaching the region of San Luis, weather deteriorated with turbulences and poor conditions. While cruising at an altitude of 4,500 meters, the airplane disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed on the slope of a mountain located near El Sosneado. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was spotted on 21 November 1961 in an isolated area.
Crew:
Pedro Lafuente, pilot,
Fermín Gómez, copilot,
Domingo Vacarelli, mechanic,
Oscar Carballo, navigator.
Paasengers:
Sergio Etcheverry,
Carlos Luján,
Pedro Puccineri,
Omar Silva,
Raúl Díaz.
Probable cause:
The aircraft flew into extremely violent turbulence, was subjected to stresses greater than those for which it was designed, and in-flight structural failure resulted. Contributing causes were:
- Insufficient flight preparation,
- Failure of the pilote to familiarize himself with the prevailing weather conditions,
- The horses were improperly secured.
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