4 fatalities

Mountain collision in Arunachal Pradesh during poor weather (41-24724)

Mangnung, IndiaFlight

On February 20, 1944, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 41-24724) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Mangnung, India in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of pilot orientation due to poor weather conditions leading to a controlled flight into terrain. 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 struck a mountain slope in Arunachal Pradesh while cruising at 8,000 feet due to loss of orientation caused by heavy rain, resulting in the deaths of all four occupants.

What happened

The aircraft was operating at a cruising altitude of 8,000 feet over the mountainous terrain of Arunachal Pradesh when the crew reported significant difficulties maintaining situational awareness. Due to deteriorating weather conditions characterized by heavy rainfall, the pilot lost orientation and was unable to determine the aircraft's position. The captain attempted to verify visibility with air traffic control by asking if they could see the aircraft's navigation lights, but received a negative response. Approximately thirty seconds after this communication, the aircraft impacted a mountain slope. The collision resulted in the destruction of the airframe and the fatalities of all four occupants on board.

Findings

The accident occurred during the cruise phase of flight. The primary contributing factor was the loss of pilot orientation caused by poor visibility from heavy rain. The crew's inability to locate their position despite contacting ground control led directly to the controlled flight into terrain.

Probable cause

Loss of pilot orientation due to poor weather conditions leading to a controlled flight into terrain.