Zone
Sichuan

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 Commando in China: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
XT-520
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Guangzhou – Chongqing
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances about 320 km north of its intended destination of Chongqing. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Paiyang

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Lutheran Mission
Registration:
XT-T72
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chongqing – Guiyang
Location:
Paiyang
Guizhou
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a paddy field and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

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 Hangzhou: 26 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Shanghai – Hangzhou – Chongqing
Location:
Hangzhou
Zhejiang
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
About 30 minutes after its departure from Hangzhou Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. 25 occupants were killed while a passenger was seriously injured and evacuated to a local hospital. The only survivor died from his injuries few hours later. Several foreign citizens were among the victims. As this accident was the eighth in China since last December 15, 1946, the State Secretary of Transport decided to suspend the operations of all Chinese operators for few days.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 near Zunyi: 19 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
138
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Guangzhou - Chongqing
Location:
Zunyi
Guizhou
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
Enroute, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and crashed in the region of Zunyi. The wreckage was found in an isolated area two weeks later. All 19 occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46 in Shanghai: 31 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1946 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
115
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chongqing – Shanghai
Location:
Shanghai-Longhua
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
The descent to Shanghai-Longhua Airport was performed in poor visibility due to thick fog. A CNAC DC-3 already crashed in similar conditions two hours earlier. Apparently in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground, the crew reduced his altitude when the aircraft crashed in a prairie located few km short of runway. A crew member and thirty passengers were killed while five other occupants were seriously injured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Kiangwan: 19 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1946 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
B-140
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chongqing – Kiangwan
Location:
Kiangwan AFB
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
The crew started the approach to Kiangwan Airport in poor visibility due to thick fog. Apparently in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground, the crew reduced his altitude when the aircraft hit the slope of a hill few km short of runway threshold. Both pilots and 17 passengers were killed while 11 other people were injured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Kiangwan: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
48
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Chongqing – Kiangwan
MSN:
16238/32986
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kiangwan AFB
Shanghai
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The descent was started in poor visibility due to thick fog. Apparently in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground, the crew decided to reduce his altitude when the aircraft hit the roof of a house and crashed 3 km short of runway threshold. All 11 occupants of the airplane were killed as well as one person into the house.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Yunnan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
93
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Chongqing – Kunming
MSN:
19621
YOM:
1944
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane was performing a cargo flight from Chongqing to Kunming, carrying a load of silk. En route, it appears that the crew lost his orientation and continued to the east part of Yunnan. Eventually, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain and crashed some 160 km east of Kunming. All three crew members were killed.

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:
71
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kunming – Chongqing
MSN:
9013
YOM:
1943
Location:
Guilin
Guangxi
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
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.
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