Technical failure | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Fifteen minutes after takeoff from Montreal-Dorval Airport, while climbing, the engine number three caught fire. The captain decided to return to Dorval but realized it would not be possible. So he attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in flames in a field located in Saint-Simon-de-Bagot, about 50 km east of Montreal. Two passengers were killed. On the ground, Mr. R. Plouffe was killed while trying to get to the burning aircraft. Electricity wires brought down by the aircraft caused his death.
Crew:
G. I. Voorhees, pilot,
David J. Mitchell, copilot,
F/Lt M. S. Ferguson, navigator,
Leonard William Smith, flight engineer,
E. A. Hunt, radio operator.
Passengers:
L. A. Ready,
A. E. Colato,
F/O Joseph Hall, †
C/O Douglas C Morrison. †

Probable cause:

Engine fire.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK near Ledo

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

43-47115

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

186

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute, an unknown technical failure forced the crew to abandon the aircraft. After both crew members bailed out, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near Ledo. The aircraft was destroyed while both occupants were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Unknown technical failure.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland V into the Atlantic Ocean: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

PP140

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute, an engine caught fire, forcing the pilot to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The aircraft hit the water surface, overturned, exploded and sank some 100 miles northwest of Feroe Islands. All 12 crew members were killed.
Crew (330th Squadron):
Lt Olav Benum, pilot,
Cpt Fenrik Harald Morten Wiese Aarstad, pilot,
Sgt Olav Thorsen, copilot,
Sgt Vingsjt Magne Hovda, navigator,
Sgt Kaare Egil Lea, flight engineer,
Sgt Bjarne Hjalmar Christensen, flight engineer,
Sgt Jorgen Ryhl Bineau, radio operator,
Sgt Ole Edvardt Johansen, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Adolf Herman Ffrantzen, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Kaare Arctander Johansen, air gunner,
Sgt Hans Mikkelsen, air gunner,
Sgt Bror Wilfred SJödgren, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK near Chabua AFB

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

43-47165

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

236

YOM:

1945

Location:

Chabua AFB (Dibrugarh)

Assam

Country:

India

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, a technical failure occurred on one engine. The crew decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed 24 km southeast of Chabua AFB. While the aircraft was destroyed, both pilots were uninjured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando near Yunnanyi

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-61005

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26880

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute, the crew encountered an unexpected situation (maybe an engine failure) and was forced to abandon the aircraft that crashed in a mountainous area. All crew members survived but the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Prestwick

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

FK221

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The undercarriage collapsed on landing. The aircraft skidded for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The undercarriage were not properly down and locked on touchdown and partially retracted. It is possible this was caused by a failure of the undercarriage extension system.

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

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-3629

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26762

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to abandon the aircraft that crashed in a mountainous region located near the Pangseng Pass. The aircraft was destroyed while all crew members survived.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota IV in Chandina

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KN255

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

27183/15738

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

A tyre burst during the takeoff roll, the aircraft skidded, went out of control and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Tyre burst on takeoff.