Curtiss C-46 Commando | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Few minutes after take off from Accra Airport, while climbing, the C-46 collided with an unidentified aircraft and crashed 6 miles southeast of the airfield. At least one crew member was killed on board the Commando.
Crew:
1st Lt Arthur Gartenberg.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando near Kunming

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-3595

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26728

YOM:

1943

Location:

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Circumstances:

An engine failed en route, forcing the crew to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing near Kunming. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair in the accident, all four crew members were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Lüliang: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-96537

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Lüliang – Kunming

MSN:

30199

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

On take off from Lüliang Airport, the aircraft banked and crashed on the runway edge. Three crew members were killed while the fourth occupant was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

According to the USAAF, the loss of control on take off was caused by an engine failure on rotation.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Sookerating

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-96551

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

30213

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

En route, an unexpected situation forced the crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. While all five crewmen were uninjured, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando in Iahqal

Date & Time: Sep 25, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-3666

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

MSN:

26799

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances near a city called Iahqal. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando off Bahrain: 34 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1944 at 1850 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-107360

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Habbaniyya – Bahrain – Karachi

MSN:

27047

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a fuel stop in Bahrain on a flight from Habbaniyya to Karachi. After take off, while climbing to a height of some 800 feet, the aircraft banked left and dove into the sea. All 34 occupants were killed.