No fatalities

Aircraft crash following in-flight engine failure with all crew surviving (43-47114)

Yunlong, ChinaFlight

On March 19, 1945, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 43-47114) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Yunlong, 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

An aircraft crashed after an engine failure during flight, forcing the crew to bail out. All four occupants escaped without injury.

What happened

During a flight, the aircraft experienced a critical mechanical issue involving its powerplant. The malfunction rendered the plane uncontrollable or unsafe to continue flying, prompting the flight deck personnel to initiate emergency procedures. Recognizing that they could not maintain control or land safely, the crew decided to abandon the airframe. All four individuals on board ejected from the aircraft using their escape systems. After the occupants had cleared the fuselage, the damaged machine descended rapidly and impacted the terrain.

Findings

The official investigation identified the root cause of the incident as a failure of the engine system. This mechanical breakdown was the primary factor that led to the loss of control and the subsequent crash. Despite the severity of the accident, all four crew members survived the event without sustaining any injuries.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an engine failure during flight.