4 fatalities

Aircraft crash at Bolling Air Force Base (39492)

Bolling AFB, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On March 24, 1943, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 39492) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Bolling AFB, United States of America during landing or approach. 4 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 into an explosion short of the runway during final approach to Bolling AFB, resulting in the deaths of all four occupants on board.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was executing a final approach to land at Bolling Air Force Base. The plane originated from Anacostia Naval Air Station. During the descent phase, the aircraft experienced a stall and subsequently impacted the ground before reaching the runway threshold. The collision resulted in a significant explosion that destroyed the airframe.

All four individuals on board were killed in the accident. There were no survivors reported from this event. The crash occurred short of the active runway, indicating the failure happened during the critical landing phase rather than on the paved surface itself.