13 fatalities

Aircraft crash shortly after takeoff kills 13 and injures 36

Jinan, ChinaTakeoff (climb)

On July 13, 1946, a Curtiss C-46 Commando operated by Central Air Transport - China was involved in an aviation accident near Jinan, China during takeoff. 13 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An engine failure occurred immediately after liftoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into a field less than two kilometers from the airfield during initial climb, resulting in 13 fatalities and 36 injuries. The probable cause was identified as an engine failure immediately after liftoff.

What happened

The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft departed the runway. While executing the initial climb, the plane experienced a stall and subsequently crashed into a field situated less than two kilometers from the airfield. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe.

Tragedy struck all on board, with 13 people killed in the accident. This toll included both members of the flight crew and eleven passengers. Additionally, 36 other occupants sustained injuries during the crash sequence.

Findings

Investigations into the event pointed to a mechanical issue as the primary trigger for the disaster. Official findings indicate that it appears one of the engines failed just after liftoff. This loss of power likely contributed to the aircraft stalling at low altitude, preventing the crew from recovering control before impact.

Probable cause

An engine failure occurred immediately after liftoff.