Zone
Yunnan

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU near Dali

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24687
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26608
YOM:
1943
Location:
Dali
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an engine failure in flight and crashed 10 km southeast of Erhai Lake (Tali Lake), near Dali. Crew fate remains unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando near Dali

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-107304
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
26991
YOM:
1944
Location:
Dali
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on a mountain slope near Dali following an engine failure. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Dali: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
102
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kunming – Dinjan
MSN:
20805
YOM:
1944
Location:
Dali
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While overflying the Dali Lake, the airplane suffered an engine failure. It lost height, hit obstacles and eventually crashed in a cemetery overhanging the city of Dali. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL near Dali: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1944 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100613
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chanyi – Dinjan
MSN:
19076
YOM:
1943
Location:
Dali
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Dali. No trace of the aircraft nor the four crew members was found. The last radio contact was heard at 1750LT while the aircraft was about 20 miles north of Dali Lake.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Dali: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
60
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kunming – Dinjan
MSN:
4681
YOM:
1942
Location:
Dali
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
A load of ammunition and fuel drums was dropped in Kunming. On the return flight to Dinjan, Assam, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and disappeared. SAR operations did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the crew. Eventually, the wreckage was found in 2011 on the slope of a 13,400 feet high mountain located 15 km northwest of Dali.
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