No fatalities

Aircraft crash near Erhai Lake due to engine failure (41-24687)

Dali, ChinaFlight

On February 27, 1945, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 41-24687) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Dali, China in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by an engine failure in flight. 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 an engine failure during flight and crashed approximately 10 km southeast of Erhai Lake near Dali. The fate of the crew remains unknown.

What happened

The incident occurred when the aircraft experienced a mechanical malfunction while airborne. Specifically, the plane suffered an engine failure in flight. Following this loss of power, the aircraft was unable to maintain controlled flight and subsequently crashed. The impact site was located approximately 10 kilometers southeast of Erhai Lake, also known as Tali Lake, in the vicinity of Dali.

Findings

Official investigations identified the primary cause of the accident as the engine failure that occurred during the flight phase. As of the latest available records, the status and fate of the crew members have not been confirmed.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an engine failure in flight.