Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas R5D-1 in Hong Kong: 24 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
Pacific Overseas Airlines - POA
Registration:
HS-POS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hong Kong – Bangkok
MSN:
10396
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from runway 13 at Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft christened 'City of Ayudhya' hit the slope of a mountain located between Mt Butler and Mt Parker, on the Hong Kong Island. All 24 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were marginal and the visibility was poor due to low clouds. For unknown reason, the aircraft was climbing at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK Dakota C.4 into the China Sea: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN240
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Singapore – Hong Kong – Saigon
MSN:
15664/27109
YOM:
1945
Location:
China Sea
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
En route from Singapore to Hong Kong, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and lost control of the aircraft that crashed into the China Sea. A crew member was rescued while nine other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU in Haikou: 17 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
XT-814
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chengdu – Haikou
MSN:
22347
YOM:
1945
Location:
Haikou
Hainan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Crashed on final approach to Haikou Airport. Ten people were unhurt, 23 were wounded and 17 were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU in Lanzhou: 38 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
XT-820
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lanzhou – Hong Kong
MSN:
22354
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lanzhou
Gansu
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
38
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Lanzhou Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All 38 occupants were killed.

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 Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Yunnan

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XT-805
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mengzi – Hải Phòng
MSN:
15722/27167
YOM:
1945
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located in the southern Yunnan, near the Vietnamese border. The occupant fate remains unknown.

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 Curtiss C-46 Commando in China: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
XT-520
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Guangzhou – Chongqing
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances about 320 km north of its intended destination of Chongqing. All three crew members were killed.

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 DC-3 in Paiyang

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Lutheran Mission
Registration:
XT-T72
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chongqing – Guiyang
Location:
Paiyang
Guizhou
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a paddy field and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
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