Country
China

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner into the China Sea: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
59126
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
59126
Location:
China Sea
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While conducting a maritime patrol flight, the seaplane was shot down by Japanese fire and crashed into the China Sea, killing all 10 crew members.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fire.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando in China: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47211
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hanchung – Liangshan
MSN:
282
YOM:
1944
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in an isolated area somewhere in China. The wreckage was never found.
Crew:
T/Sgt Francis P. Bufkin Jr.,
F/O Robert M. Fiske,
T/Sgt Bert N. Wright.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in the Huhuang Valley: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
97
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
20253
YOM:
1944
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While flying in the Huhuang Valley, both engines lost power. The captain elected to divert to Shimbuwang Airport but realized it was not possible to do it. He snap the autopilot and ordered the crew to bail out. He abandoned the aircraft but both other crew members failed to bail and opened their parachute into the cabin. While the copilot was caught outside and hit the stabilizer, the radio navigator fall in the rear of the cabin. Out of control, the aircraft crashed and was destroyed by fire. The captain was found alive few days later while both other crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Power loss on both engines.

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 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-87-CF Liberator Express in China: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
Operator:
Registration:
42-107262
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Jorhat - Yangkai
MSN:
14
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Jorhat, India, to the US Airbase of Yangkai located some 33 miles northeast of Kunming, Yunnan, China. En route, pilots encountered poor weather conditions and in an unclear situation, a crew member was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a mountainous region located in the northwest part of China. Three crew were killed while the fourth was rescued.
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