Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando off Cartagena

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1973 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1383
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Barranquilla – San Andrés
MSN:
22522
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cartagena
Bolívar
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After it departed Barranquilla Airport, while cruising over the Caribbean Sea at an altitude of 10,000 feet, the left engine caught fire. The crew activated the fire extinguishing system but the was unable to feather the propeller due to a technical issue. Due increase speed and avoid any stall, the captain plunged and the passenger jettisoned the cargo. Eventually, the crew was forced to ditch the airplane into the Caribbean Sea about 34 km off Cartagena. The aircraft sank within four minutes and was lost while all three occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Powerplant fire and failure of the feathering system which led to critical flight conditions when the prop began windmilling. The following factors were reported:
- The aircraft was overloaded by 1,167 kilos,
- The crew was not aware of the load prior to departure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando off Manaus

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1969 at 0120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Carolina Aircraft Corporation
Registration:
N5133B
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Andrés - Ponta Pelada
MSN:
26988
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ponta Pelada AFB, Manaus
Amazonas
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6362
Captain / Total hours on type:
612.00
Circumstances:
While descending to Ponta Pelada AFB in Manaus following a cargo flight from San Andrés Island, Colombia, the crew informed ATC about engine problems and elected to land immediately. Eventually, the crew ditched the aircraft in the Río Negro located few km short of runway. While both pilots were rescued, the airplane sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
The crew was forced to ditch the aircraft due to a fuel exhaustion on final approach to Manaus.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando on San Andrés Island

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-682
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
33226
YOM:
1945
Location:
San Andrés-Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
San Andrés, Providencia & Santa Catalina
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an accident on San Andrés Island in 1968 (exact date unknown). No casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CS Commando near Planeta Rica: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1960 at 1610 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-516
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Andrés – Medellín
MSN:
00384
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
MM901
Location:
Planeta Rica
Córdoba
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Aircraft flight hours:
15876
Circumstances:
En route from San Andrés Island to Medellín, while cruising in bad weather conditions, the pilot informed ATC about technical problems on the left engine and elected to divert to Planeta Rica. On approach, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Los Mellos located about 11 km from the airfield. Three crew members and 22 passengers were killed while 21 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to an error of judgement in that the pilot decided to land at an airport which was closed and where no radio aid was available at the time when he was in visual flight at an adequate altitude and close to several airports offering good characteristics and suitable weather conditions. In addition, the pilot underestimated the malfunction that at the time had developed in the left engine. The following contributing factors intervened:
- Malfunction in the carburetor of the left engine resulting in intermittent overspeeding and slight coughing,
- Adverse weather conditions (namely thick mist, rain, hail and electric storm) which prevailed in the area and in the vicinity of Planeta Rica Airport at the time of the accident,
- The lack of communications which prevented the pilot from being briefed on the weather conditions at Planeta Rica Airport and from being informed of the absence of tower or radio facility services owing to the time-table in force at the airport.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 in Panama: 46 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Andrés - Cartagena
Location:
Panama
All Panama
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
42
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
46
Circumstances:
On a flight from San Andrés Island to Cartagena, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and lost his route. The aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the San Blas Province, Panama. All 46 occupants were killed.
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