1 fatality

Aircraft Crash During Takeoff Results in Crew Fatality (42-107281)

Asmara, EritreaTakeoff (climb)

On September 13, 1944, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 42-107281) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Asmara, Eritrea during takeoff. One person was killed. 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 during the takeoff phase under unknown circumstances, resulting in the death of at least one member of the flight crew.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was in the takeoff phase of flight. The specific sequence of events leading to the crash is not detailed in the available records, as the circumstances are currently listed as unknown. During this critical stage of departure from the ground, the aircraft lost control or encountered a failure that resulted in a crash.

The immediate consequence of the accident was fatal for the personnel on board. At least one crew member was killed in the event. No further details regarding injuries to other individuals or the specific location of the impact are provided in the source material.

Findings

Due to the limited information available, no definitive contributing factors or conclusions have been established. The circumstances surrounding the crash remain unexplained in this record, and no specific mechanical failures, pilot errors, or environmental conditions have been identified as causes.