No fatalities

Cargo Flight Suffers Engine Explosion, Crew Bails Out Near Daejeon (49-0160)

Daejeon, South KoreaFlight

On March 11, 1953, a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (registration 49-0160) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Daejeon, South Korea in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Explosion of the left engine in 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 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A cargo flight from Japan to Seoul experienced a left engine explosion and detachment. All four crew members bailed out and were unhurt; the aircraft crashed and was destroyed.

Incident Overview

A cargo flight operating between Japan and Seoul encountered a critical engine failure while flying over the region of Daejeon. The left engine exploded and subsequently detached from its mount. In response to the emergency, the occupants bailed out of the aircraft. The unmanned aircraft then dove into the ground, crashing approximately 10 kilometers southeast of Daejeon.

Crew and Aircraft Status

All four crew members who bailed out were unhurt. The aircraft itself was destroyed upon impact with the ground.

Official Findings

The official investigation concluded that the probable cause of the accident was the explosion of the left engine in flight.