1 fatality

Aircraft crash on Tarawa Island kills at least one crew member (41-18530)

Tarawa Island, KiribatiFlight

On April 24, 1946, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration 41-18530) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Tarawa Island, Kiribati in flight. One person was 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-08-25Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed on Tarawa Island under unknown circumstances, resulting in the death of at least one member of the flight crew.

What happened

The incident occurred when an aircraft made an uncontrolled descent and impacted the ground on Tarawa Island. The crash resulted in significant damage to the airframe. According to available reports, at least one crew member was killed in the event. Specific details regarding the flight path, altitude at impact, or the exact sequence of mechanical failures leading to the crash have not been disclosed in the initial records.

Findings

The circumstances surrounding the accident remain unknown. No specific contributing factors, such as mechanical failure, pilot error, or weather conditions, have been identified or stated in the source material. Consequently, no definitive conclusions regarding the cause of the crash can be drawn from the current information.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 24 Apr 1946 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident near Tarawa Island, Kiribati?

An aircraft crashed on Tarawa Island under unknown circumstances, resulting in the death of at least one member of the flight crew.

Were there any fatalities in the 24 Apr 1946 Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 24 Apr 1946 involved a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), registration 41-18530, operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947), at Tarawa Island, Kiribati.