Shanghai – Qingdao – Beijing
Flight / Schedule
Shanghai – Qingdao – Beijing
Aircraft
Curtiss C-46 CommandoRegistration
XT-T51
Date
January 5, 1947 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Qingdao Shandong
Region
Asia • China
Coordinates
36.3655°, 120.6846°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On January 5, 1947 at 12:00 AM, Shanghai – Qingdao – Beijing experienced a crash involving Curtiss C-46 Commando, operated by China National Aviation Corporation - CNAC, with the event recorded near Qingdao Shandong.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.
43 people were known to be on board, 43 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 38, passenger fatalities: 38, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. 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.
Aircraft reference details include registration XT-T51.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 36.3655°, 120.6846°.
Fatalities
Total
43
Crew
5
Passengers
38
Other
0
Crash Summary
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.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
5
Passengers On Board
38
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 43
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Shanghai – Qingdao – Beijing
Flight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Asia • China
Aircraft Details
Aircraft
Curtiss C-46 CommandoRegistration
XT-T51
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