35 fatalities

Four-engine aircraft crash into Basalt Island during low-visibility approach (N8342C)

Basalt Island, ChinaLanding (descent or approach)

On December 21, 1948, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration N8342C) operated by China National Aviation Corporation - CNAC was involved in an aviation accident near Basalt Island, China during landing or approach. 35 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft struck a mountainside on Basalt Island while descending to Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport in low visibility, resulting in the deaths of all 35 people on board.

What happened

The flight was proceeding with a descent toward Hong Kong-Kai Tak Airport under challenging meteorological conditions. Low cloud cover significantly reduced visibility for the crew during this phase of the operation. As the aircraft continued its approach, it deviated from the safe flight path and impacted the slope of a mountain situated on Basalt Island. This location is approximately 15 kilometers east of the destination airport. The collision resulted in the immediate loss of the aircraft. All 35 occupants aboard were killed in the accident.

Findings

The incident occurred during the final approach phase when visual references were limited by low clouds. The specific contributing factors leading to the terrain impact are not detailed in the provided source material, but the event is characterized by the loss of control or navigation error while operating in reduced visibility conditions near the coast.