Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Gibraltar: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FH280
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Gibraltar Airport, while climbing, the aircraft suffered a double engine failure. The captain was able to ditch the aircraft and six occupants were rescued while a passenger died. The aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor on Mt Diablo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1946 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-87062
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Oakland – Los Angeles
MSN:
8321
YOM:
0
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
1188
Captain / Total hours on type:
711.00
Aircraft flight hours:
512
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Oakland Airport, while climbing, the crew was instructed by ATC to maintain a minimum safe altitude of 3,000 feet or at least 500 feet above clouds. Shortly later, due to the deterioration of the weather conditions, the captain informed ground that he elected to return to Oakland Airfield. While completing a last turn to the right at an insufficient altitude, the twin engine aircraft hit tree tops then crashed in a wooded area located on the slope of Mt Diablo located east of Walnut Creek. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and both occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded by clouds and the visibility was poor.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in Shanghai

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
44-76640
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
16224/32972
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff following an engine failure. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL on Mt Hei Cho: 17 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
43-16360
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Chongqing – Yan’an
MSN:
20826
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
While starting the descent to Yan'an, Shaanxi, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Hei Cho located in a mountain range southwest of Yan'an. The aircraft was destroyed and all 17 occupants were killed, among them four high ranking officers, politicians and members of the Chinese Government, like Bo Gu, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, General Ye Ting, Wang Ruofei and Deng Fa.

Crash of Douglas R4D-6 near Albuquerque: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
50771
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Phoenix – Amarillo
MSN:
14881/26326
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While cruising by night, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 21 km southeast of Albuquerque. All 11 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator VIII in Sassano: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
KN834
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from England to South Africa with a crew of four and eight passengers, all South African Army Officers returning home. While cruising by night, both left engines stopped simultaneously. The crew was unable to restart the engine and the captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. Unfortunately, no suitable terrain was available around his position. Flying at low height, the aircraft hit the ground and crashed in flames in a field. Eleven occupants were killed while the captain was the only survivor.
Probable cause:
In flight, the crew proceeded to a fuel transfer from the auxiliary tanks to the main tanks. Apparently following a lack of coordination or a wrong interpretation of the situation, the crew forgot to stop the fuel transfer. As the fuel pump was not switched off, the tanks that were feeding both left engines became empty, causing these engines to fail.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-7 near Touho: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
39100
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Nouméa – Touho
MSN:
16048/32796
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While descending to Touho Airfield in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft crashed onto a hill and was destroyed. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota IV in Goose Bay

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
986
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
15933/32681
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator VIII near Gurgaon: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
EW630
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Enroute, a fire erupted in the front of the cabin and the crew decided to divert to New Delhi-Safdarjung Airport. On approach, the aircraft on fire went out of control and crashed in a field located east of Gurgaon. Four occupants were killed while both pilots were injured.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the in-flight fire could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator VIII in Bago: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1946
Operator:
Registration:
KN760
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine number one failed. The captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing but the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. Four passengers were seriously injured while 17 other occupants were killed. Investigators revealed that the captain who was assigned to this flight failed to show himself to the preflight briefing and it was decided to replace him by another captain aged 24. This second captain accepted the mission that was the last one for him. He was killed in the crash.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine number one shortly after rotation.