No fatalities

Southern Air Transport Cargo Aircraft Crash in Miami Mangroves (YV-C-ARE)

Miami, United States of AmericaTakeoff (climb)

On June 3, 1949, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration YV-C-ARE) operated by Ransa - Rutas Aéreas Nacionales was involved in an aviation accident near Miami, United States of America during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure during initial climb. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 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

A cargo aircraft operated by Southern Air Transport crashed into a mangrove shortly after takeoff from Miami due to an engine failure, resulting in serious injuries to all three crew members.

What happened

The incident occurred during the initial climb phase following departure from Miami Airport. The aircraft was conducting a scheduled cargo operation bound for Caracas on behalf of Southern Air Transport. Shortly after liftoff, one of the engines failed. This mechanical issue led to an aerodynamic stall, causing the plane to descend rapidly and impact a mangrove area. The crash resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. All three individuals on board sustained serious injuries but survived the accident.

Findings

The official investigation identified engine failure as the primary cause of the event. This mechanical malfunction during the critical takeoff phase directly precipitated the loss of lift and subsequent ground impact.

Probable cause

Engine failure during initial climb