2 fatalities

Aircraft Incident Near Pyongyang-Sunan Airport (44-34600)

Pyongyang-Sunan, North KoreaFlight

On January 13, 1952, a Douglas A-26 Invader (registration 44-34600) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Pyongyang-Sunan, North Korea in flight. 2 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

At 2350LT, an aircraft cruising at 4,000 feet northwest of Pyongyang-Sunan Airport experienced a critical failure. The pilot ordered the crew to bail out. Two crew members were recovered, while two others were killed in action as the plane crashed.

Incident Overview

At 2350 local time, an aircraft was operating at a cruising altitude of 4,000 feet. The incident occurred approximately 16 kilometers northwest of Pyongyang-Sunan Airport. During this phase of flight, the pilot issued an order for the crew to abandon the aircraft.

Crew Status and Outcome

The evacuation resulted in mixed outcomes for the four-person crew. Two individuals were successfully recovered after bailing out. However, two other crew members were killed in action as the airplane subsequently crashed. The specific circumstances leading to the crash remain unknown based on the available records.

Personnel Involved

The following personnel were part of the crew during this incident:

  • Pfc Reynold G. Campbell (Killed in Action)
  • 2nd Lt Harold W. Downes Jr. (Killed in Action)
  • 1st Lt Kenneth I. Enoch
  • 1st Lt John S. Quinn