Region
Asia

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-221 in Changyi: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
39
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chongqing – Kunming
MSN:
1568
YOM:
1937
Location:
Changyi
Guizhou
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
En route, the crew spotted a group of Japanese fighters and decided to divert quickly to the small airport of Changyi. After landing, the twin engine aircraft named 'Chungking' was attacked by the Japanese fighters and the left wing caught fire and exploded. The captain, the stewardess and seven passengers were killed while all other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Attacked by Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mte in Kunming: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
XXV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
6014
YOM:
1938
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on a connection flight within China, the three engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. The crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane named 'Heinrich Mathy' crashed near Kunming. Both pilots were killed while both passengers were injured.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.86 in Fanling

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1940 at 1547 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.86
Operator:
Registration:
M-213
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Taipei - Guangzhou
Location:
Fenling
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Tahoku (Taipei) to Canton (Guangzhou), while cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft collided with trees and crashed on the Kwanti racecourse located in Fanling, north of Hon Kong. All three occupants were injured, one seriously.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I off Hong Kong: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Supermarine Walrus
Operator:
Registration:
L2258
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from the Tytam Bay in Hong Kong, the pilot-in-command initiated a turn to the right when the float plane descended and crashed into the water. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O David Henry Bryan-Gower,
Sgt Jack Ogden.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Weining: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
XXIII
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chongqing – Kunming
MSN:
4074
YOM:
1935
Location:
Weining
Guizhou
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising in bad weather conditions, the three engine aircraft named 'Chiao T'ung 1' impacted the slope of a mountain located near Weining. Both crew members were injured and all four passengers were killed.

Ground accident of a Lockheed 14-WG3 Super Electra in Qingdao

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
J-BDOB
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Qingdao – Beijing – Tokyo
Location:
Qingdao
Shandong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft named 'Ishikari' suffered a ground accident at Tsing Tao (Qingdao) Airport while taxiing and came to rest upside down. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-221 in Wangmoon: 14 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
32
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hong Kong – Chongqing
MSN:
1568
YOM:
1937
Location:
Wangmoon
Guangdong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The aircraft named 'Kweilin' departed Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport at 0800LT then continued bound to the north. While reaching the altitude of 6,000 feet, the captain sighted eight Japanese fighters. He decided to return and changed his route near Macao when he was attacked by five Nakajima fighters. The captain decided to make a steep descent to escape the attack and attempted an emergency landing on a river bank. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed and came to rest upside down. Fourteen occupants were killed while four others survived, among them two crew members. It seems most of the passengers were killed by bullets and not by the accident itself.
Crew:
Hugh Woods, captain,
Lieu Chung-chuan, copilot,
Joe Loh, radio operator,
Wu Ching-hua, steward.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Wuhan

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
XXI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5087
YOM:
1936
Location:
Wuhan
Hubei
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach and landing at Wuhan Airport were completed in strong crosswind conditions. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after landing due to strong crosswinds.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I off Hong Kong

Date & Time: May 3, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Supermarine Walrus
Operator:
Registration:
L2189
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The float plane hit swell while trying to takeoff from the harbor from Hong Kong. It sank and was lost. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Sikorsky S-43W into the Daya Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Sikorsky S-43
Operator:
Registration:
NC16930
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Guangzhou– Hong Kong – Shanghai
MSN:
4321
YOM:
1936
Location:
Daya Bay
Guangdong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
After departure from Hong Kong, while overflying the Bias Bay (Daya Bay), the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to ditch the aircraft offshore. Upon landing, the float plane named 'Chekiang' hit waves and lost its both wings before coming to rest. Seven passengers found refuge on a wing and were later rescued by the crew of the British destroyed 'HMS Thracian'. Unfortunately, three crew members, among them the copilot George Ohrnberger, were killed. The captain survived and the aircraft was lost.
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