22 fatalities

Aircraft disintegration during initial climb in thunderstorm (KN585)

Yangon, MyanmarTakeoff (climb)

On July 25, 1946, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration KN585) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Yangon, Myanmar during takeoff. 22 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Turbulence from thunderstorm activity induced excessive structural stress that caused the left wing to fail shortly after takeoff. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into a field shortly after takeoff when severe turbulence from a thunderstorm caused structural failure of the left wing, resulting in the deaths of all 22 people on board.

What happened

The incident occurred immediately after departure while the aircraft was in the initial climb phase. During this period, the flight path intersected with a thunderstorm cell that generated severe turbulence. The aerodynamic forces exerted by the turbulent air exceeded the structural limits of the airframe, leading to the catastrophic failure of the left wing near the engine section. Following this structural disintegration, the aircraft lost control and impacted the ground in a nearby field. All 22 occupants were killed in the crash.

Findings

Investigations determined that the primary factor was the interaction between the aircraft and the weather conditions. The turbulence associated with the thunderstorm activity placed excessive stress on the left wing structure. This stress resulted in the wing breaking off shortly after takeoff, which directly led to the loss of the aircraft.

Probable cause

Turbulence from thunderstorm activity induced excessive structural stress that caused the left wing to fail shortly after takeoff.