4 fatalities

Mid-air explosion and crash in prairie terrain (41-12428)

Mowting-hsien, ChinaFlight

On August 18, 1943, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 41-12428) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Mowting-hsien, China in flight. 4 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 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 suffered a catastrophic mid-air failure while en route, resulting in an immediate explosion and crash into open prairie land. All four crew members on board were killed in the incident.

What happened

During the en route phase of flight, the aircraft experienced a sudden and catastrophic structural or mechanical failure. The vehicle exploded in mid-air and subsequently impacted the ground in an open prairie area. There was no opportunity for emergency landing or evacuation due to the immediate nature of the disintegration.

The accident resulted in the death of all four individuals on board, comprising the full flight crew. The specific identities of the personnel are not listed here in accordance with privacy protocols regarding private individuals, but records indicate the crew consisted of a Captain, a First Officer, and two other officers.

Findings

Investigations into this event have not yielded a definitive explanation for the sudden loss of control and subsequent explosion. The exact circumstances leading to the catastrophic failure remain unknown, with no specific contributing factors or mechanical defects identified in available records.