China National Aviation Corporation - CNAC

Douglas DC-3

Shortly after takeoff from Shanghai-Longhua Airport, while in initial climb, an engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in an industrial area located near the airport. While both pilots were seriously injured, three people on the ground were killed.

Douglas DC-3

Enroute, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and crashed in the region of Zunyi. The wreckage was found in an isolated area two weeks later. All 19 occupants have been killed.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

The descent to Qingdao Airport was performed in poor weather conditions with low clouds and low visibility. On final approach, while too low, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and crashed, killing all 43 occupants. According to the US Authorities, the cloud base was very low and the weather conditions at the time of the accident were below minima published by the US Navy. Due to low visibility, the crew was unable to distinguish the mountain and was completing the approach at a too low altitude without any visual contact with the ground.

Curtiss C-46 Commando

The descent to Shanghai-Longhua Airport was performed in poor visibility due to thick fog. A CNAC DC-3 already crashed in similar conditions two hours earlier. Apparently in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground, the crew reduced his altitude when the aircraft crashed in a prairie located few km short of runway. A crew member and thirty passengers were killed while five other occupants were seriously injured.

Douglas DC-3

The crew started the approach to Kiangwan Airport in poor visibility due to thick fog. Apparently in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground, the crew reduced his altitude when the aircraft hit the slope of a hill few km short of runway threshold. Both pilots and 17 passengers were killed while 11 other people were injured.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The captain put the plane on autopilot. In order to change the radio frequency, he went back to the radio operator's station. While there, the right engine lost power, which caused the plane to spin in that direction. The spinning aircraft caused so much centrifugal force that the captain could not get back to the cockpit. The plane crashed and burned. Source: www.cnac.org

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Chongqing to Kunming with a load of silk. En route, it appears he lost his orientation and continued to the east part of Yunnan. Eventually, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and crashed some 160 km east of Kunming. All three crew members were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The crew was performing a supply mission to Chinese soldiers based at the boundary post number 37, near the border between Burma and China. After a low pass to drop food, the pilot attempted to gain height but was unable to retract the gear. During steep climb, the undercarriage hit tree tops, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion about 2 km from the Chinese border. Four crew members were killed while two others were injured.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

While overflying the Dali Lake, an engine failed. The aircraft lost height, hit obstacles and eventually crashed on a cemetery overhanging the city of Dali. All three crew members were killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

It is believed that the aircraft crashed in the Patkai Mountains, north of Burma, while performing a cargo flight from North India to China. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.