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

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1973 at 0958 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N1312V
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Anchorage - Beluga
MSN:
22575
YOM:
1945
Location:
Beluga
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
12500
Captain / Total hours on type:
1100.00
Circumstances:
On short final, the airplane was too low and the main gear struck a bank located 152 feet short of runway and about 18 inches below the runway level. The pilot tried to go around but the left engine failed. The airplane crash landed on the runway and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
The crew misjudged distance and altitude on short final. The following factors were reported:
- Poorly planned approach,
- Downdrafts, updrafts,
- Overload failure,
- Accident occurred in below VMC.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando at Ellington AFB

Date & Time: May 10, 1973 at 1509 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Joel Guinn
Registration:
N446M
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ellington - Miami
MSN:
133
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ellington AFB (Houston)
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:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Ellington AFB, while climbing, the crew informed ATC about technical problems with the right engine and elected to return for an emergency landing. The captain realized this was not possible and attempted an emergency landing along the I-45 highway. The airplane belly landed and slid for several yards before coming to rest. While both pilots escaped uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The right propeller oversped, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The following factors were reported:
- Powerplant propeller and accessories,
- Foreign materials affecting normal operations,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Intentional wheels-up landing,
- Suspected or known aircraft damage,
- Right propeller oversped, metal chips, feathered,
- Overweight by 1,129 pounds,
- Unlower gear normal system,
- Hit wires.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Lineas Aéreas Orientales (LAOS Colombia)
Registration:
HK-791
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26805
YOM:
1944
Location:
Leticia-Alfredo Vásquez Cobo
Amazonas
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, a tyre burst. The airplane veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after a tyre burst upon landing.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando off Santo Domingo

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Aeromar
Registration:
HI-201
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - Christiansted
Location:
Santo Domingo-Las Américas
Santo Domingo
Country:
Dominican Republic
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Saint-Domingue-Las Américas Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The crew decided to ditch the airplane in the Bay of Boca Chica located 5 km east of the airfield. The aircraft came to rest few hundred meters offshore and all four crew members were quickly rescued. The aircraft was on its way to Christiansted, US Virgin Islands, carrying a load of 6,4 tons of fruits.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine shortly after takeoff.

Crash of aCurtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando on Mt Picon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Air Bolivia
Registration:
CP-969
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
26513
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mt Picon
Santa Cruz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Picon. The wreckage was found few hours later and all three crew members have been killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando in Barrancabermeja: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Joanne Fashions
Registration:
N10427
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Barranquilla - Pereira
MSN:
30532
YOM:
1944
Location:
Barrancabermeja-Yariguíes
Santander
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Barranquilla to Pereira on a cargo flight, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and was cleared to divert to Barrancabermeja-Yariguíes Airport for an emergency landing. On approach, while completing a last turn to the side of the dead engine, the crew lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a field located 3 km from the runway 03 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine caused by a hydraulic leak. The loss of control was caused by an aerodynamic stall consecutive to an insufficient speed while making a sharp turn to the side of the dead engine at a relative low height and with a heavily loaded aircraft.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando in Sachs Harbour

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Reindeer Air Service
Registration:
CF-HQI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30466
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sachs Harbour
Northwest Territories
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing on a snow covered runway, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-1-HI Commando in Reyes

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Servicios Aéreos Bolivianos - SAB
Registration:
CP-749
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
HI-2
YOM:
1945
Location:
Reyes
La Paz
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near Randall Lake

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CF-IHV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
22551
YOM:
1945
Location:
Randall Lake
Quebec
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed under unknown circumstances near Randall Lake. There were no casualties.
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