China National Aviation Corporation - CNAC | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The flight was initiated in heavy rain falls. After take off, while climbing, both engines lost power and the aircraft lost height before crashing on Mt Digboi located in the Naga mountain range, few miles from the Dinjan Airport. The wreckage was spotted a day later and all three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Both engines lost power during climb, most probably because the fuel was contaminated by water. The accident occurred in heavy rain showers.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK near Kunming

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

106

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Suifu – Kunming

MSN:

14861/26306

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

While approaching Kunming, the crew was unable to locate the airport because the bearing signals were inaudible. As the weather conditions worsened, the captain decided to turn over the region, awaiting an improvement, but as the fuel reserve was insufficient, the crew decided eventually to bail out and abandoned the aircraft. While the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area, all three crew members were later recovered and evacuated safely.

Probable cause:

It appears the crew did not use the radio receiver properly when he started the approach to Kunming. The Kunming station was transmitting signals to the crew who was unable to localize the airport due a wrong usage of the on board receiving system.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL in Dinjan

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Kunming – Dinjan

MSN:

9761

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

On final approach to Dinjan Airport in foggy conditions, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a paddy field few hundred yards short of runway. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Both engines failed on approach because the fuel selector was positioned on an empty tank.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 near Sadiya: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

101

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Dinjan – Suifu

MSN:

20803

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

Few minutes after take off from Dinjan Airport, the crew encountered heavy rain falls due to stormy weather. The captain decided to return to Dinjan but lost his orientation due to poor visibility. He reduced his altitude, most probably to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area located some 30 km west of Sadiya. All three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

According to investigations, both wings separated in flight and were found few hundred yards from the main wreckage. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was not on the prescribed flight path and encountered severe thunderstorm activity before crashing into a wooded area.

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:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

20253

YOM:

1944

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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-47-DL in Kunming: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

9109

YOM:

1943

Location:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from Kunming Airport, the crew made a turn to the right when the aircraft hit a mountain slope, fell down into a ravine and came to rest in a small lake. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It appears the crew did not follow the appropriate procedures for departure as they followed the wrong track and moreover at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Guilin: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Kunming – Chongqing

MSN:

9013

YOM:

1943

Location:

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Circumstances:

En route to Chongqing, the captain was informed that the destination airport was closed to traffic due to poor weather conditions. He decided to divert to Guilin Airport but this one was closed as well as all others in the region. The crew flew over the mountainous region for several hours to burn fuel. Eventually, when the fuel reserve was low, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing on a mountain slope. He placed the aircraft in a slightly nose up position and hit the mountain at a speed of 80 knots. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. A passenger, a US Marine Officer, was killed, while all 13 other occupants were unhurt.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL near Kunming: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Dinjan - Kunming

MSN:

18902

YOM:

1943

Location:

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Circumstances:

While approaching Kunming-Wujiaba Airport, the aircraft descended from 16,000 to 6,000 feet when it went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in flames few km from the airport. All six occupants were killed.
Source: www.cnac.org

Probable cause:

The jack pad had been removed from the right wing root. This left 4 large holes directly under the fuel tanks and directly in line with the exhaust. When the pilot cut the throttles to descend, the flame only went as far back as the holes. There the flames went up around the fuel tank, igniting the fumes and blew the wing off.

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:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Calcutta - Dinjan

MSN:

9956

YOM:

1943

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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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.