11 fatalities

Aircraft stall and crash near Mukden Airport during heavy snow

Mukden, ChinaTakeoff (climb)

On January 20, 1948, a Curtiss C-46 Commando operated by China National Aviation Corporation - CNAC was involved in an aviation accident near Mukden, China during takeoff. 11 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft stalled during the initial climb because it was overloaded. 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 shortly after takeoff from Mukden Airport while climbing in heavy snow, resulting in eleven fatalities and forty-three injuries among the occupants.

What happened

The incident occurred immediately following departure from Mukden Airport. While the aircraft was in a climb phase, reaching an altitude of approximately 60 feet, it encountered heavy snowfall. During this maneuver, the airframe stalled and subsequently impacted the ground near the runway.

The crash resulted in significant casualties. Eleven passengers lost their lives in the accident, while 43 other occupants sustained injuries. At the time of the flight, the crew was responsible for evacuating individuals fleeing a recently introduced regime in Mukden.

Findings

Official investigations indicated that the loss of lift was likely due to weight and balance issues. It is believed that the aircraft stalled because it was overloaded, which compromised its ability to maintain safe flight parameters during the initial climb in adverse weather conditions.

Probable cause

The aircraft stalled during the initial climb because it was overloaded.