19 fatalities

Mountain Collision Near Zunyi Results in Total Loss (138)

Zunyi, ChinaFlight

On January 25, 1947, a Douglas DC-3 (registration 138) operated by China National Aviation Corporation - CNAC was involved in an aviation accident near Zunyi, China in flight. 19 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Collision with mountainous terrain during enroute flight. 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

An aircraft struck a mountainside while enroute near Zunyi, killing all 19 people on board. The wreckage was located in a remote area two weeks after the incident.

What happened

During an enroute phase of flight, the aircraft collided with the slope of a mountain in the region of Zunyi. The impact resulted in the destruction of the airframe and the loss of all life on board. Due to the remote nature of the crash site, recovery efforts were delayed. Search teams successfully located the wreckage in an isolated area approximately two weeks after the accident occurred.

Findings

The investigation confirmed that the collision with terrain was the direct cause of the disaster. All 19 occupants perished in the event. The delay in locating the debris field was attributed to the difficult and inaccessible terrain surrounding the impact site.

Probable cause

Collision with mountainous terrain during enroute flight.