Zone
Shanghai

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU in Kiangwan AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
XT-538
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chengdu – Shanghai
Location:
Kiangwan AFB
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Crashed on final approach to Kiangwan AFB, in Shanghai. Both pilots and seven passengers were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Kiangwan: 19 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1946 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
B-140
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chongqing – Kiangwan
Location:
Kiangwan AFB
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
The crew started the approach to Kiangwan Airport in poor visibility due to thick fog. Apparently in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground, the crew reduced his altitude when the aircraft hit the slope of a hill few km short of runway threshold. Both pilots and 17 passengers were killed while 11 other people were injured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Kiangwan: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
48
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chongqing – Kiangwan
MSN:
16238/32986
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kiangwan AFB
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The descent was started in poor visibility due to thick fog. Apparently in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground, the crew decided to reduce his altitude when the aircraft hit the roof of a house and crashed 3 km short of runway threshold. All 11 occupants of the airplane were killed as well as one person into the house.

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

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-76640
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16224/32972
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kiangwan AFB
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
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.

Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando in Luojingzhen: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1946 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-78226
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Tinian - Kiangwan
MSN:
33622
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kiangwan AFB
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Tinian AFB, North Mariana Islands, at 1520LT bound for Kiangwan AFB in Shanghai. On approach, the crew encountered technical problems with the controls and several attempts to land were aborted. Eventually, ground control instructed the crew to fly to the north and to abandon the aircraft but while cruising at 5,000 feet, the Commando went out of control and crashed near Luojingzhen, on the shore of the Yangtze River, about 20 km north of the airbase. All 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert L. Austen,
Sgt Irwin C. Bruser,
Sgt Jessey F. Campbell,
Sgt John H. Eckert,
Sgt Jarvis D. Maddux,
Sgt Peter Naberenzy,
S/Sgt Robert M. Rogers,
T/Sgt Delbert D. Shoeman,
1st Lt Robert E. Tambert,
S/Sgt La Dessie W. Tarver,
Sgt Abraham Yablonsky.
Probable cause:
Failure of the control system.
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