Sichuan | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While approaching Suifu Airport in poor weather conditions, the crew was unable to locate the airport. While flying below minimums, the captain decided to make a go around when the aircraft hit a rocky peak and crashed in a huge explosion less than 50 meters from the top of the mountain. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

According to officials, the accident was not caused by an error on part of the crew but by the fact that the authorities of the Suifu Airport failed to inform the company's operations that the main radio beacon of the airport has been relocated two days prior to the accident. Therefore, the crew continued the approach in reference to a radio beacon's position that was incorrect. Thus, the crew was following a wrong approach pattern. The lack of visibility caused by the poor weather conditions remains a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-294A in Chongqing

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1943 at 1126 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

2148

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Chongqing Airport at 1010LT with 16 passengers and a crew of two on board. About 40 minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the crew encountered bad weather conditions and severe icing conditions. The Australian captain decided to return to Chongqing when the right engine failed and caught fire. As the crew was unable to feather its propeller, it was unable to maintain a safe altitude and eventually ditched the airplane in the Yangtze River. All 18 occupants were able to reach the shore while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Cpt Sidney De Kantzow, pilot +1.

Probable cause:

Failure of the starboard engine that caught fire in flight, maybe after an hydraulic line failed.

Crash of a Tupolev SB 2 in Wenjiang: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41/SB 2)

Operator:

Registration:

1506

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a training flight when the airplane crashed near Wenjiang. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
Xiang Xiao, pilot.

Crash of a Tupolev SB 2 in Jianyang: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-40 (PS-40/PS-41/SB 2)

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a test flight when the airplane caught fire in flight and crashed. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Qingyang Gu,
Yexiong Wu.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-118A in Chengdu

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1936

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1600

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair while all occupants evacuated safely. The captain was Hiram Broiles.