No fatalities

Aircraft crash on Mount Yulong slope after in-flight engine failure (41-24752)

Lijiang, ChinaFlight

On January 1, 1944, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 41-24752) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Lijiang, China in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure during the en route phase prevented the maintenance of safe altitude, leading to an emergency ejection and uncontrolled crash. 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 crashed into the slopes of Mount Yulong near Lijiang following an engine failure during cruise. The pilot and three other occupants ejected safely, resulting in no injuries despite the total loss of the airframe.

What happened

During the en route phase of flight, the aircraft experienced a critical mechanical issue when one of its engines failed. The pilot determined that it was impossible to maintain a safe altitude under these conditions. To ensure the safety of everyone on board, the pilot instructed all crew members to evacuate the aircraft immediately. Following the ejection of the occupants, the unmanned airframe lost control and descended rapidly. It ultimately impacted the steep terrain on the slope of Mt Yulong, located near Lijiang. The force of the collision completely destroyed the structure of the plane. Remarkably, despite the severity of the impact and the total loss of the aircraft, all four individuals who ejected from the craft emerged without any injuries.

Findings

The official investigation identified the primary factor leading to the accident as the engine failure that occurred while the aircraft was in cruise. This mechanical malfunction rendered the pilot unable to sustain a safe flight path, necessitating the emergency evacuation and subsequent uncontrolled descent.

Probable cause

Engine failure during the en route phase prevented the maintenance of safe altitude, leading to an emergency ejection and uncontrolled crash.