No fatalities

Mid-air collision involving two USAAF C-46 transport aircraft (42-96553)

Hsinching (Xinjin), ChinaFlight

On October 10, 1944, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 42-96553) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Hsinching (Xinjin), China in flight. No fatalities were reported. 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

Two United States Army Air Forces C-46 Commando transports collided in mid-air, resulting in the destruction of both aircraft. The fate of the crews remains unknown.

What happened

A mid-air collision occurred between two military transport aircraft operating under the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). One of the involved aircraft was a C-46 Commando with the registration 42-96699. The second aircraft was also identified as a USAAF C-46, though its specific registration is not provided in the available records.

Upon impact, both aircraft sustained catastrophic damage. Consequently, both planes crashed and were completely destroyed. There are no confirmed reports regarding the survival of personnel on board either aircraft. As of the current record, the fate of the crews remains unknown.