Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando in the Orteguaza River

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-388
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Medellín - Barranquilla
MSN:
26796
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Medellín-Enrique Olaya Herrera Airport on a cargo flight to Barranquilla-Soledad, carrying six passengers and three crew members. En route, the aircraft was hijacked by four people who wanted to be flown on a remote airstrip located in the Guajira Peninsula. Four to five tons of weapons were loaded on board the airplane that departed and flew to the region of Florencia. The crew was forced to land in the Orteguaza River, about 7 km east of Florencia. The airplane came to rest in shallow waters, all weapons were offloaded and the aircraft was abandoned. The crew were released by the hijackers on November 10, 1981.
Probable cause:
Forced landing in water after being hijacked.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Cochrane: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1981 at 1039 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
CC-CAT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cochrane - Villa O'Higgins
MSN:
33236
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a cargo flight from Cochrane to Villa O'Higgins, carrying six tons of various goods. After takeoff from Cochrane Airport, while initial climb, the airplane rolled to the right, lost height and crashed on a small hill located 3 km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine after rotation for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando off Norman’s Cay

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N355BY
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Norman’s Cay - Norman’s Cay
MSN:
30243
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft had been flown to Norman's Cay Airport, Bahamas. The pilot was performing touch-and-goes at the airport when the aircraft touched down short. He execute a go-around, but clipped an earthen berm, tearing the left landing gear loose from its housing. The no.1 propeller blades contacted the runway. The aircraft banked left and gained little altitude. It cleared the runway and came down in shallow water. The wreck is still present off Norman's Cay.
The complete story on:
https://www.outislandlifebahamas.com/2017/03/the-plane-wreck-of-normans-cay/

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

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
CP-1267
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
30679
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from La Paz-El Alto Airport for unknown reasons. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact date of the accident remains unknown, somewhere in October 1980.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando off Riohacha

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HI-197
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - Riohacha
MSN:
26716
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Riohacha-Almirante Padilla Airport, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea few hundred meters off shore. All six occupants were rescued while the airplane was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that the flight was illegal as the airplane and its crew were involved in a contraband mission.

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

Date & Time: May 16, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YN-BVL
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
30374
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Bonanza-San Pedro Airfield, the airplane was too low and struck a wooden pile located near the runway threshold. The airplane crash landed and came to rest on the runway. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando near La Paz: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CP-777
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
33479
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching La Paz-El Alto Airport, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 15 km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. For unknown reasons, the crew was completing the approach at an insufficient altitude.

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

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GYHT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
22375
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Churchill Airport, the crew encountered engine problems. The oil pressure dropped on the left engine while the oil temperature increased. The crew elected to return but was eventually forced to attempt an emergency landing in a rocky area located about one km short of runway 15. The aircraft came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while both occupants escaped with minor injuries. It was later reported that the total weight of the aircraft was well above the max gross weight at takeoff.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando off San Andros

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N10624
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
30271
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While in cruising flight, the crew encountered engine problems and decided to reduce his altitude and to ditch the aircraft off San Andros. Both crew members were rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-6'-CK Commando off Cockburn Town

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1979 at 0615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7768B
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami - Cockburn Town - Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
467
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9023
Captain / Total hours on type:
6044.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cockburn Town Airport runway 11, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing and ditched the aircraft in a lagoon, about 1,6 km from the runway end. The airplane came to rest in shallow water and was damaged beyond repair. All three occupants escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for unknown reasons.
Final Report: