4 fatalities

Disappearance of aircraft following loss of radio contact (44-34317)

North Korea, North KoreaFlight

On December 26, 1952, a Douglas A-26 Invader (registration 44-34317) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near North Korea, North Korea in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The cause remains undetermined following the loss of communication and subsequent disappearance of the aircraft. 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft vanished after failing to maintain radio communication with ground control during its final flight phase.

What happened

At approximately 1835 local time, the aircraft ceased all radio transmissions. Following this period of silence, the plane disappeared without any further trace or evidence of its location.

There were four individuals on board during the flight, consisting of the pilot, a co-pilot, and two crew members. No information regarding the specific aircraft registration, model, or the exact geographical location of the disappearance was provided in the available records.

Findings

The investigation into the incident is centered on the fact that the loss of radio contact immediately preceded the total disappearance of the flight.

Probable cause

The cause remains undetermined following the loss of communication and subsequent disappearance of the aircraft.