No fatalities

Aircraft Crash Following Uncontrolled Engine Fire and Wing Detachment (39585)

Palmer, United States of AmericaFlight

On July 10, 1946, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 39585) operated by United States Marine Corps (USMC) was involved in an aviation accident near Palmer, United States of America in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by an uncontrolled engine fire that spread to the wing, leading to its detachment and subsequent crash. 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

Seven crew members bailed out safely after an engine fire spread to the wing, causing the aircraft to detach a wing and crash into a field.

What happened

During the enroute phase of flight, a fire ignited in one of the engines. The flight crew attempted to extinguish the blaze but was unable to control it. Recognizing the severity of the situation, all seven occupants on board decided to abandon the aircraft and bail out. Following their egress, the unmanned plane dove toward the ground and impacted a field, where it was destroyed by the ongoing flames. Remarkably, all seven crew members survived the incident without injury.

Findings

Investigations confirmed that the initial engine fire spread rapidly to the wing structure. This structural failure resulted in the detachment of the wing shortly after the crew had evacuated. The loss of the wing caused the aircraft to lose stability and crash into the terrain.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an uncontrolled engine fire that spread to the wing, leading to its detachment and subsequent crash.