No fatalities

Emergency Belly Landing After Dual Engine Failure (41-12431)

Yunnanyi, ChinaFlight

On September 7, 1943, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 41-12431) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Yunnanyi, China in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by a double engine failure that necessitated an emergency belly landing. 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

Aircraft executed an emergency belly landing following a double engine failure, resulting in significant damage but no injuries or fatalities.

What happened

The flight crew encountered a critical mechanical issue during the operation of the aircraft. The incident was precipitated by a double engine failure, which left the pilots with no thrust to maintain normal flight parameters. Faced with this total loss of power, the crew was compelled to initiate an emergency landing procedure immediately.

Utilizing their training and experience, the captain executed a controlled belly landing. This technique involves bringing the aircraft down on its underside rather than the main landing gear, a maneuver typically reserved for situations where the undercarriage is retracted or inoperable. Despite the severity of the impact and the resulting structural compromise, the safety systems held up effectively. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair due to the hard contact with the ground, but the outcome for the occupants was positive.

Findings

Investigations into the event confirmed that the primary factor leading to the emergency was the simultaneous failure of both engines. While the mechanical failure resulted in the total loss of the airframe, the crew's decision-making and execution of the belly landing technique were pivotal in ensuring safety. There were no casualties reported in connection with this incident, highlighting the effectiveness of the emergency response despite the catastrophic damage to the machine.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by a double engine failure that necessitated an emergency belly landing.