China | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Enroute, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and lost his orientation. All three occupants decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed while all crewmen were unhurt.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK Dakota IV on Lantau Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KN366

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Hong Kong - Hong Kong

MSN:

15987/32735

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a test flight with a crew of three on board and one officer of the Hong Kong Police. While returning to Kai Tak Airport in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft was passing over the Lantau Island at an altitude of 2,900 feet when it hit the slope of a shrouded mountain. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the crew started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to be at an insufficient altitude to clear the mountains located on Lantau Island. Poor visibility due to clouds was then considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Nankin: 20 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Shanghai – Nankin

Location:

Country:

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Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

On approach to Nankin Airport in poor weather conditions and low visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and was destroyed by impact forces. All 20 occupants were killed, among them Lieutenant-General Dai Li, Chief of the Kuomintang (KMT) Army secret service.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Jinan

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

CA2

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

4781

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Jinan. Occupant fate remains unknown.

Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando in Luojingzhen: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1946 at 1915 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

44-78226

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Tinian - Kiangwan

MSN:

33622

YOM:

1945

Location:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft left Tinian AFB, North Mariana Islands, at 1520LT bound for Kiangwan AFB in Shanghai. On approach, the crew encountered technical problems with the controls and several attempts to land were aborted. Eventually, ground control instructed the crew to fly to the north and to abandon the aircraft but while cruising at 5,000 feet, the Commando went out of control and crashed near Luojingzhen, on the shore of the Yangtze River, about 20 km north of the airbase. All 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert L. Austen,
Sgt Irwin C. Bruser,
Sgt Jessey F. Campbell,
Sgt John H. Eckert,
Sgt Jarvis D. Maddux,
Sgt Peter Naberenzy,
S/Sgt Robert M. Rogers,
T/Sgt Delbert D. Shoeman,
1st Lt Robert E. Tambert,
S/Sgt La Dessie W. Tarver,
Sgt Abraham Yablonsky.

Probable cause:

Failure of the control system.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Wuhan

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

CA5

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

13410

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising in bad weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed near Wuhan. The occupant fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Changchun: 18 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Changchun - Changchun

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

While completing a training sortie at Changchun, the twin engine aircraft collided in unknown circumstances with another Chinese Air Force C-47 carrying also 18 crew members. Both airplanes crashed, killing all 36 occupants.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Changchun: 18 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Changchun - Changchun

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK Dakota IV into the China Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KN363

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

15983/32731

YOM:

1945

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute, the right engine failed, followed few seconds later by the left engine. In such conditions, the captain reduced his altitude and decided to ditch the aircraft into the China Sea. On landing, the aircraft overturned and came to rest upside down. Quickly on the scene, rescuers were able to evacuate six wounded people while three passengers were killed.

Probable cause:

It appears that both engines stopped due to the failure of a fuel pipe that was blocked or leaking, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-11-DK near Canton

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-49118

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

14934/26379

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

While cruising in very bad weather conditions, the crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed into the ground. While it was destroyed, all three crew members were unhurt.