Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Suifu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
83
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Dinjan - Suifu
MSN:
10159
YOM:
1943
Location:
Suifu
Sichuan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Suifu Airport in poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to locate the airport. While flying below minimums, the captain decided to make a go around when the aircraft hit a rocky peak and crashed in a huge explosion less than 50 meters from the top of the mountain. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to officials, the accident was not caused by an error on part of the crew but by the fact that the authorities of the Suifu Airport failed to inform the company's operations that the main radio beacon of the airport has been relocated two days prior to the accident. Therefore, the crew continued the approach in reference to a radio beacon's position that was incorrect. Thus, the crew was following a wrong approach pattern. The lack of visibility caused by the poor weather conditions remains a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL in Tsuyung AFB

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-24365
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10227
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tsuyung AFB (Chuxiong)
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff at Tsuyung AFB. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Kunming: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
63
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
6034
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:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight to Kunming-Wujiaba Airport. On final approach by night and in poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to localize the airport due to heavy rain falls. In addition to a high workload in the cockpit due to the preceding factors, crew encountered technical problems with the landing gear that could not be deployed properly. The captain decided to abort the landing procedure, increased the engine power and completed a low pass over the airport before attempting a second approach. In a certain confusion, he followed the wrong heading and continued bound to the west. Few minutes later, the aircraft hit a mountain slope near the airport and was destroyed by impact forces. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Kunming: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
59
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7406
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:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight with a load of bank notes. On final approach to Kunming, the visibility was low due to heavy rain falls and a cloud layer at 100 feet. The aircraft hit the ground hundreds yards short of runway, broke into several pieces and burned. The copilot was injured while both other occupants were killed. Thousands of bank notes were found on a large area.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando in Kunming: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24663
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26584
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances shortly after take off from Kunming Airfield, in the Chenggong District. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/Sgt John S. Sybo, pilot,
1st Lt John Alexander Vick, pilot.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-5-CU in Nanning

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1943 at 0915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-12327
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chabua – Kunming
MSN:
26454
YOM:
1943
Location:
Nanning
Guangxi
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 crew overflew Kunming Airport and continued his route to the southeast. Dozen minutes later, due to fuel exhaustion, the captain ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft and all four crew members bailed out. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All four occupants were uninjured.
Probable cause:
According to US Air Command, the crew decided to bail out due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando in Yunnan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24648
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
26569
YOM:
1943
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Disappeared while performing a cargo flight between China and India. Probably crashed in a mountainous area of the Yunnan Province and no trace was ever found.
Crew:
1st Lt Allen J. Peterson,
F/O Raymond M. Sexton.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando in Yunnan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24667
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26588
YOM:
1943
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight between Kunming and an airfield somewhere in Assam State, India. En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground, crashed and was destroyed. Three crew members were unhurt while the fourth occupant, Pfc Frank J. Shebeskie, was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DL in Kunming

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
84
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10158
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, while in initial climb, the right engine caught fire. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft stalled and crashed. While the aircraft was destroyed, both pilots were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.
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