Zone
Yunnan

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 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 Douglas C-47 in Chongqing: 21 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1947 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Kunming – Chongqing
Location:
Chongqing-Baishiyi
Sichuan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
On final approach to Chongqing-Baishiyi Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames few hundred yards short of runway threshold. All 21 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to Chinese Authorities, the loss of control was caused by an excessive accumulation of ice on all aircraft surfaces.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 near Xichang: 31 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Xichang – Kunming
Location:
Xichang
Sichuan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
28
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
Few minutes after its takeoff from Xichang Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 15,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Lochi, killing all 31 occupants. The registration and the exact type of aircraft (C-47 or C-46) remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK near Huaihua

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
CA6
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Shanghai – Kunming
MSN:
13236
YOM:
1944
Location:
Huaihua
Hunan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and lost his orientation. All three occupants decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed while all crewmen were unhurt.

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 Curtiss C-46A-55-CK in Kunming

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47149
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
220
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed at Kunming-Wujiaba Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-30-CU Commando near Shin Bway Yang

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24746
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chabua - Kunming
MSN:
26667
YOM:
1943
Location:
Shin Bway Yang
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reason 30 miles southwest of Shin Bway Yang. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota IV on Hailing Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KJ921
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kunming - Kunming
MSN:
26090/14645
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hailing Island
Guangdong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a supply mission when the aircraft hit the slope of a 1,200 feet hill located on the Hailing Island. The wreckage was found 50 feet below the summit and all four crew members were killed.
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