Zone
Hong Kong

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-3 Neptune in Hong Kong

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
122964
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Hong Kong-Kai Tak
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft landed long and was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.1 in Hong Kong: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings
Operator:
Registration:
TG564
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
55
YOM:
1949
Location:
Hong Kong-Kai Tak
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport, the crew encountered winds and downdrafts. On the last segment, the airplane lost height and hit a barrack short of the runway threshold, lost its landing gear and crashed in flames on the runway. Both pilots were rescued while one person on the ground was killed and two others were injured.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was caught by downdrafts and micro-burst on final approach.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-10-DO Skymaster in Bangkok

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
HS-POA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bangkok – Hong Kong
MSN:
18368
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bangkok-Don Mueang
Bangkok City District
Country:
Thailand
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the pilot in command pulled on control column but the aircraft failed to rotate. He decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and started an emergency landing. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the four engine aircraft christened 'Bangkok' overran and came to rest in flames. All occupants were evacuated safely while the airplane was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft was well above the MTOW admissible in the actual circumstances.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 off Hong Kong: 16 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
HS-SAE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bangkok – Hong Kong
Location:
Hong Kong-Kai Tak
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
While descending to Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport, the pilot was unable to locate the runway due to poor visibility caused by night and foggy conditions. The pilot decided to divert to Tainan Airport but was unable to land there so returned to Kai Tak. On final approach to runway 31, while descending by night below the 400 feet ceiling, the aircraft hit the water surface and crashed into the sea off the Aguilar Cape, about 11 km south of runway 31 threshold. All 16 occupants were killed and the aircraft was destroyed. It appears that the left wing tip hit the water surface while the pilot was performing a left turn to join the runway 31 approach path.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 in Yunnan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hong Kong – Kunming
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area in Yunnan, killing all five crew members. The aircraft was carrying a load of oil barrels.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland GR.5 in Singapore: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1949 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
NJ176
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Singapore – Hong Kong
Location:
Singapore-Seletar
Singapore
Country:
Singapore
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The departure from Singapore-Seletar Harbor for Hong Kong was performed in poor weather conditions with high winds, turbulences and thunderstorm activity. It appears the seaplane was overloaded and after takeoff, it encountered problems to gain height and crashed into the sea. Both pilots and three passengers were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-40-DL in Hong Kong

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VR-HDQ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hong Kong – Guangzhou
MSN:
9863
YOM:
1943
Location:
Hong Kong-Kai Tak
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the crew attempted to rotate but the aircraft failed to do so. It overran the runway, went down an embankment and came to rest into the Bay of Kowloon. All 11 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Hong Kong: 23 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1949 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
VR-HDG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Manila – Hong Kong
MSN:
20576
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hong Kong-Kai Tak
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
While approaching Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport from the south, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the visibility was very limited. In such conditions, the captain decided to make a go around when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near the Braemar Reservoir located 3 km southwest of the runway 31 threshold. All 23 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-5-DO Skymaster on Basalt Island: 35 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1948 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
N8342C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Shanghai – Hong Kong
MSN:
18348
YOM:
1944
Location:
Basalt Island
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
35
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport in low visibility due to low clouds. On approach, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located on the Basalt Island, about 15 km east of Kai Tak Airport. All 35 occupants were killed, among them Quentin Roosevelt II, Director of the China National Aviation Corporation.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Hong Kong: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
PI-C12
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Manila – Hong Kong
MSN:
13508
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hong Kong-Kai Tak
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On final approach to Kai Tak Airport, while at an altitude of 1,570 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Parker and crashed, killing all four crew members. The wreckage was found few dozen feet from the summit of the mountain (1,723 feet high).
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