9 fatalities

Aircraft crash in desert north of Khartoum kills nine crew members (42-96541)

Sudan, SudanFlight

On February 23, 1945, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 42-96541) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Sudan, Sudan in flight. 9 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure. 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 desert area approximately 185 km north of Wadi Seidna AFB after the pilot lost control following an engine failure. All nine crew members on board were killed in the accident.

What happened

During flight, the pilot experienced an engine failure that led to a loss of control over the aircraft. Unable to recover, the plane crashed into a desert region situated roughly 185 kilometers north of Wadi Seidna AFB, which is located in the suburb of Khartoum. The impact resulted in the deaths of all nine crew members on board.

Findings

The official investigation identified the mechanical malfunction as the primary factor leading to the disaster. Specifically, the loss of power from the engine caused the pilot to lose command of the aircraft, resulting in the fatal crash.

Probable cause

Engine failure