Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando off Oranjestad: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1282
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Oranjestad - Barranquilla
MSN:
33345
YOM:
1945
Location:
Oranjestad
Dutch Antilles
Country:
Dutch Antilles
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Oranjestad-Reina Beatrix Airport, while climbing, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor both crew members was found.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando in Nassau

Date & Time: May 20, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Air Haïti
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Nassau
New Providence
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failure in flight forced the crew to divert to Nassau Airport for an emergency landing. Upon touchdown, the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane came to rest. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU Commando in Managua

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
AN-AOC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22343
YOM:
1945
Location:
Managua-Augusto Cesar Sandino-Las Mercedes
Managua City District
Country:
Nicaragua
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon touchdown, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Trinidad

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-714
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22476
YOM:
1945
Location:
Trinidad-Jorge Heinrich Arauz
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Trinidad-Jorge Heinrich Arauz Airport, while climbing, the crew reported the failure of the right engine and was cleared to return. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in an open field located near the airport. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all three crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine after takeoff for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando off Aguadilla

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1975 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N4873V
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saint Petersburg - Aguadilla
MSN:
22415
YOM:
1945
Location:
Aguadilla-Rafael Hernández
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
22000
Captain / Total hours on type:
11100.00
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a cargo flight from St Petersburg to Aguadilla, carrying two pilots and a load of 9,000 lbs of dynamite. While approaching Aguadilla, both engines lost power and stopped almost simultaneously. The crew elected to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the sea about 800 meters offshore. The airplane sank by 50 feet of water and its wreckage was not recovered. Both pilots, slightly injured, were evacuated.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper in-flight decisions por planning,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Riberalta

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-855
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26948
YOM:
1944
Location:
Riberalta
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown at Riberalta Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane sank on its belly and slid for several meters before coming to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear upon landing for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in San Borja

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Transaéreos Illimani
Registration:
CP-941
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
22446
YOM:
1945
Location:
San Borja-Capitán Germán Quiroga Guardia
Beni
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At liftoff, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed for unknown reasons. All four occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando near Cochabamba: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1063
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
32959
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cochabamba
Cochabamba
Country:
Bolivia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While descending to Cochabamba-Jorge Wilsterman Airport in marginal weather conditions, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Machu Sayari (4,350 meters high) located few km from the city of Cochabamba. The wreckage was found few days later and all four crew members have been killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to low clouds.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to fly below the minimum descent altitude.

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

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1975 at 1846 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N4860V
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Anchorage - Deadhorse
MSN:
30240
YOM:
1944
Location:
Deadhorse
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7403
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Circumstances:
Following an IFR descent to Deadhorse Airport, the crew cancelled the IFR flight plan and continued under VFR mode. During the last segment, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the right main gear struck the ground short of runway threshold and was torn off. Power was increased and decision was taken to make a go-around but the right engine failed to respond properly. The airplane stalled and belly landed, slid for 460 meters and came to rest. While both pilots were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command misjudged distance, speed and altitude on final approach. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Downdrafts,
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Overload failure,
- Weather briefing by company dispatch,
- Wind gusting to 23 knots.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando in Laos

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1975
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
XW-PMF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hong Kong – Vientiane
MSN:
22561
YOM:
1945
Location:
Laos
All Laos
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Laos while completing a cargo flight from Hong Kong to Vientiane. Both crew members were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact circumstances of the mishap remains unclear.
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