9 fatalities

Fatal Crash at Kiangwan Air Force Base During Final Approach (XT-538)

Kiangwan AFB, ChinaLanding (descent or approach)

On December 5, 1948, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration XT-538) operated by Civil Air Transport was involved in an aviation accident near Kiangwan AFB, China during landing or approach. 9 people were killed. 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 while on final approach to Kiangwan Air Force Base in Shanghai, resulting in the deaths of all nine people on board, including two pilots and seven passengers.

What happened

The incident occurred during the final approach phase of flight at Kiangwan AFB, located in Shanghai. The aircraft impacted the ground, leading to a fatal accident. There were no survivors among those on board.

A total of nine individuals lost their lives in the crash. This group consisted of two members of the flight crew and seven passengers. The specific registration number of the aircraft was not provided in the available source material, nor was the specific make or model identified in this brief account. Consequently, details regarding the exact sequence of mechanical failures or pilot actions leading up to the impact are not documented in the provided text.

Findings

The source material does not contain information regarding an official investigation report, contributing factors, or a determined probable cause. Therefore, no conclusions can be drawn from this specific excerpt regarding why the aircraft failed to complete its landing safely.