41 fatalities

C-47 Crash in Cumulonimbus Clouds After Takeoff from Hmwabi Airbase (KN593)

Nyaung Gone, MyanmarTakeoff (climb)

On September 8, 1945, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration KN593) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Nyaung Gone, Myanmar during takeoff. 41 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control due to flying through cumulonimbus clouds during the climb phase 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)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A military transport aircraft crashed into a field shortly after takeoff from Hmwabi Airbase while climbing through cumulonimbus clouds, resulting in the deaths of all 41 occupants on board.

What happened

The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft departed Hmwabi Airbase. During the initial climb phase of the flight, the machine encountered a cumulonimbus cloud formation. Upon entering this weather system, the aircraft lost aerodynamic control and subsequently crashed into an adjacent field. The impact was fatal for everyone on board. There were 41 occupants in total at the time of the accident. Among them were 37 wounded soldiers who had been transferred home following their release by Japanese forces. The remaining personnel comprised the flight crew, identified as members of 117 Squadron, and other military staff.

Findings

The primary contributing factor to the loss of control was the aircraft's entry into severe convective weather while still in the climb phase. The source material does not provide a formal investigation report or specific mechanical failure details, but the sequence indicates that the interaction with the cumulonimbus cloud directly led to the uncontrollable descent and subsequent impact.

Probable cause

Loss of control due to flying through cumulonimbus clouds during the climb phase after takeoff.