No fatalities

Cargo aircraft ditched in sea near Campeche due to fuel exhaustion (N1664M)

Campeche, MexicoFlight

On March 26, 1949, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration N1664M) operated by Freight Air was involved in an aviation accident near Campeche, Mexico in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Fuel exhaustion forced the crew to ditch the aircraft into the sea near Campeche. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A cargo plane diverted from Guatemala City to Campeche encountered poor weather and ultimately ran out of fuel, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft into the ocean where it sank.

What happened

The incident involved a cargo flight originating in Belize that was approaching Guatemala City. Upon arrival at the destination airport, the crew faced adverse weather conditions that prevented a safe landing. Consequently, they entered a holding pattern over the airfield to wait for meteorological improvements. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to land, the flight crew made the decision to divert to Campeche, located approximately 575 kilometers to the northeast of their current position.

During the cruise phase along the Mexican coastline, the aircraft experienced a critical loss of fuel reserves. This fuel exhaustion forced the crew to abandon the airframe and ditch it into the sea. The wreckage came to rest in the waters near Campeche before sinking completely. Emergency responders quickly located and rescued all members of the crew from the water.

Findings

The official investigation identified the depletion of fuel reserves as the primary factor leading to the loss of control and subsequent ditching of the aircraft.

Probable cause

Fuel exhaustion forced the crew to ditch the aircraft into the sea near Campeche.