No fatalities

Emergency Landing Following In-Flight Engine Failure (42-3588)

Kunming, ChinaFlight

On March 2, 1944, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 42-3588) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Kunming, China in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by an engine failure during 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

Aircraft made a forced emergency landing after an engine failure en route, resulting in significant damage but no injuries to the crew or passengers.

What happened

During the en route phase of flight, the crew encountered a critical mechanical issue involving the loss of power from one of the engines. This engine failure necessitated an immediate deviation from the planned flight path as the pilots initiated emergency procedures to secure a safe landing site.

The aircraft was unable to maintain normal flight parameters and subsequently executed a crash landing. The impact caused structural damage that rendered the airframe damaged beyond repair. Despite the severity of the ground impact and the resulting destruction of the machine, all individuals on board survived without sustaining injuries.

Findings

Investigations into the incident identified the primary factor leading to the emergency situation. The official determination concluded that the loss of propulsion was the direct result of a mechanical malfunction within the engine system.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an engine failure during flight.