Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL near Kunming: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
85
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dinjan - Kunming
MSN:
18902
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While approaching Kunming-Wujiaba Airport, the aircraft descended from 16,000 to 6,000 feet when it went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in flames few km from the airport. All six occupants were killed.
Source: www.cnac.org
Probable cause:
The jack pad had been removed from the right wing root. This left 4 large holes directly under the fuel tanks and directly in line with the exhaust. When the pilot cut the throttles to descend, the flame only went as far back as the holes. There the flames went up around the fuel tank, igniting the fumes and blew the wing off.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-65-CO Liberator near Honghe: 11 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-100040
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
3189
Location:
Honghe
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a reconnaissance mission over the Hainan Island when it crashed in a mountainous region located some 50 miles south of Honghe. All eleven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-45-DL in The Himalayas: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
82
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Calcutta - Dinjan
MSN:
9956
YOM:
1943
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with tail wind, low visibility, turbulence ans static so the pilots were unable to obtain any contact with the different radio stations. While flying at an altitude of 22,000 feet, the aircraft hit a mountain in the Himalayas and was destroyed on impact. All twelve occupants, among them 10 technicians of the national career, were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in China: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
90
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dinjan - Kunming
MSN:
19314
YOM:
1943
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:
While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet in poor weather conditions, the aircraft encountered turbulence, lost at least 1,000 feet, hit a mountain slope and was wrecked. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the aircraft lost 1,000 feet while cruising in turbulence and poor weather conditions, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). The pilot was completing this flight for the first time as a captain.

Crash of Douglas C-47-DL in Lanping: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-19468
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kunming – Dibrugarh
MSN:
6111
Location:
Lanping
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous region located north of Nujiang. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando in Kunming

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24688
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26609
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the aircraft belly landed and was damaged beyond repair. All four crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 near Kunming

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
51
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dinjan - Kunming
MSN:
4879
YOM:
1942
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left Dinjan on a cargo flight to Kunming. While cruising some 100 miles from his destination, the crew torn off all communication systems so the Japanese forces based in the region were unable to catch any message. One hour later, while flying in poor weather conditions, the crew torn on the communication systems but the aircraft was off course. Crew tried to localize his position but after a flight of 11 hours and 25 minutes, was unable to locate the airport of Kunming so he decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. While the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed, all three crew were rescued.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-25-CU Commando in China

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24722
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26643
YOM:
1943
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, a unknown technical failure forced the crew to abandon the aircraft. All four crew bailed out and survived while the aircraft crashed.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87CF Liberator Express near Loshan: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
Operator:
Registration:
43-30575
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
55
Location:
Loshan
Heilongjiang
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances some 48 km west of Loshan. All seven occupants were killed.
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