No fatalities

1954-09-20: Curtiss C-46 Commando (44-78035) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — Santa Clarita, United States of America

Santa Clarita, United States of AmericaFlight

On September 20, 1954, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 44-78035) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Santa Clarita, United States of America in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An engine fire occurred while the aircraft was in flight, leading to the abandonment of the plane. 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 1781251817Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed in Santa Clarita after an engine fire prompted all occupants to bail out before the plane struck the ground.

What happened

During a flight in Santa Clarita, an engine failure resulting in a fire occurred while the aircraft was airborne. Following the onset of the fire, the 20 people on board chose to abandon the aircraft via parachute. After the occupants exited, the plane entered a dive and crashed into the ground.

Despite the impact and the total destruction of the aircraft, all 20 individuals were located at the scene without any injuries. The wreckage was found at the crash site in the Santa Clarita area.

Findings

Investigations into the incident determined that the primary factor leading to the emergency was an engine fire during flight.

Probable cause

An engine fire occurred while the aircraft was in flight, leading to the abandonment of the plane.