China | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after take off from Kunming, while on a cargo flight, the oil pressure was lost on one engine. The crew decided to return to Kunming but was unable to lower the gear due to a total loss of hydraulic pressure. The aircraft belly landed in a field and skidded for several yards before coming to rest in flames. While both crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Hydraulic failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando in Kunming: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-12422

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

26549

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from Kunming Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft exploded and crashed in a field located 6,5 km northeast of the airport. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Gilbert G. Fincher,
2nd Lt Winfield A. Hird,
Cpl Patrick E. Knipshield,
Pfc Joseph P. Kochie,
Cpl Maurice G. Kosier,
2nd Lt Edward J. Wilson.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando in Kunming: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-12418

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Dibrugarh – Kunming

MSN:

26545

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on approach to Kunming-Wujiaba for unknown reason. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Henry I. Idema,
Cpl John M. Kraus,
2nd Lt George R. Wendler.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando in Chieh-tu

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-24651

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26572

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, an engine failure forced the crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The aircraft dove into the ground, crashed in a prairie and was destroyed. All three crew members were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Yunnan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

41-38597

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Cheng Kung – Sookerating – Tezpur

MSN:

4546

YOM:

1942

Location:

Yunnan

Country:

China

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Disappeared en route while performing a cargo flight from Cheng Kung to Tezpur with an intermediate stop in Sookerating. Maybe crashed in the Yunnan mountains. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (28th TCG):
1st Lt Thomas G. Caldwell,
2nd Lt Robert B. Samuel,
1st Lt Tipton O. Tate Jr.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando in Yunnanyi

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-12431

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26558

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following a double engine failure. The captain completed a belly landing and while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, there were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando in Yunnan

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-12430

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26557

YOM:

1943

Location:

Yunnan

Country:

China

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to bail out. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed. All four crew were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando in Mowting-hsien: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-12428

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

26555

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the aircraft exploded and crashed in a prairie, killing all four crew members. The exact circumstances of the accident remains unknown.
Crew:
Cpl Frank W. Coriell,
F/O Elmer Nelson,
2nd Lt William M. Van Sant,
Cpl Edward C. Walicki.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-5-CU Commando in Kunming

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-12319

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

26446

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on take off following an engine fire. No casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Yunnanyi: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

41-38656

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Kunming – Dibrugarh

MSN:

6039

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route to Dibrugarh-Mohanbary Airbase in Assam, the aircraft crashed in the region of Yunnanyi, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
2nd Lt Julius W. Dunn,
F/O William E. James,
Cpl William B. Malick.
Source:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19430802-3

Probable cause:

The accident was likely caused by the lack of proper direction finding radio equipment facilities at Yunnanyi.