No fatalities

Aircraft crash in prairie following engine failure (42-3641)

Clarence, United States of AmericaFlight

On January 9, 1944, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 42-3641) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Clarence, United States of America in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by an engine failure that occurred while the aircraft was en route. 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 a prairie after an engine failure occurred during the en route phase. The crew successfully ejected, resulting in no injuries.

What happened

During the en route phase of flight, the aircraft experienced a mechanical malfunction when one of its engines failed. Faced with this critical situation, the crew made the decision to abandon the airframe. They executed an emergency ejection procedure, leaving the aircraft under their control.

The unmanned machine subsequently impacted the ground in a prairie area. The force of the collision resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. Despite the severity of the crash and the complete loss of the vehicle, all members of the crew survived the incident without sustaining any injuries.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an engine failure that occurred while the aircraft was en route.