Zone
Shanghai

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 DC-3 in Shanghai: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
B-141
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Location:
Shanghai-Longhua
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Shanghai-Longhua Airport, while in initial climb, an engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in an industrial area located near the airport. While both pilots were seriously injured, three people on the ground were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 in Shanghai: 31 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1946 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
115
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chongqing – Shanghai
Location:
Shanghai-Longhua
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
The descent to Shanghai-Longhua Airport was performed in poor visibility due to thick fog. A CNAC DC-3 already crashed in similar conditions two hours earlier. Apparently in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground, the crew reduced his altitude when the aircraft crashed in a prairie located few km short of runway. A crew member and thirty passengers were killed while five other occupants were seriously injured.
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