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China
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Yunnan

Crash of a Boeing 737-3W0 in Kunming

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1994 at 2226 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing 737-300
Operator:
Registration:
B-2540
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
27139
YOM:
1992
Location:
Kunming-Wujiaba
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
140
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Kunming-Wujiaba Airport runway 03 was completed in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. Following a wrong approach configuration, the crew landed at an excessive speed of 170 knots and the aircraft touched down 2,500 feet past the runway threshold. On a wet runway surface, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, struck approach lights and the ILS antenna, lost its nose gear and came to rest. All 148 occupants were rescued, among them 15 passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who completed the approach while too high on the glide. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Poor crew coordination,
- The crew failed to follow the approach and landing checklist,
- The crew failed to check instruments while on approach,
- The aircraft was unstable on approach,
- Poor weather conditions,
- The runway surface was wet and the braking action was reduced,
- The approach and landing speed was excessive (50 knots above standard speed),
- The aircraft landed too far down the runway (2,500 feet past the runway threshold), reducing the landing distance,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-40-DL on Mt Kaolokung: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XY-ACS
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Yangon – Putao
MSN:
9877
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Kaolokung
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a flight from Yangon to Putao, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Kaolokung located in Yunnan, China. The wreckage was spotted few hours later. All 20 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 in Yunnan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hong Kong – Kunming
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area in Yunnan, killing all five crew members. The aircraft was carrying a load of oil barrels.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Yunnan

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
XT-805
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mengzi – Hải Phòng
MSN:
15722/27167
YOM:
1945
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located in the southern Yunnan, near the Vietnamese border. The occupant fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling V in Kunming: 25 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Air Transport - Belgium
Registration:
OO-XAC
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brussels – Paris – Rome – Beyrouth – Karachi – Kunming – Shanghai
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kunming Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located 3 km from the airport. Five passengers were seriously injured while all 25 other occupants were killed. It appears that three of the four engines failed shortly after rotation. All passengers were Belgian missionaries.
Probable cause:
Failure of three engine during initial climb.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman near Chanyi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
44-70484
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
749
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chanyi
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft crashed 50 miles east of Chanyi, killing the pilot David L. Boyce, sole on board.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster near Kunming: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72370
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
10475
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Kunming, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Edwin N. Brissey,
F/O Hugh C. Ferris,
Cpt Lewis H. Magin Jr.,
S/Sgt Elmer Sharpe,
S/Sgt James W. Stooksbury .

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK near Chanyi: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48869
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
MSN:
26130/14685
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chanyi
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 64 km north of Chanyi, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
2nd Lt William Howell Davis Jr.,
2nd Lt Benjamin R. Jablonski,
Pvt Louis J. Merenda Jr.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Chanyi: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16135
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20601
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chanyi
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 10 km from Chanyi Airport, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Sgt Webster J. T. Berry,
2nd Lt James L. Lyle Jr.,
F/O Riley E. Thomas.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in the Yunnan Mountains: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
88
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kunming – Sichang
MSN:
19061
YOM:
1943
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
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 11,000 feet in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and was destroyed. All three crew members were killed.
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