Burbank – Mexico City – Panama City

On April 23, 1948 at 12:00 AM, Burbank – Mexico City – Panama City experienced a crash involving Curtiss C-46 Commando, operated by Israeli Air Force - Heyl Ha'avir, with the event recorded near Mexico City Federal District of Mexico City.

The flight was categorized as delivery and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Shortly after lift off, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames. The copilot was killed while the captain was seriously injured. He died from his injuries few hours later. The crew was on its way from Burbank to Israel to deliver the aircraft to the Israel Air Force. Four other similar aircraft were performing the same trip at the same time. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was still under the Panamanian register by LAPSA - Lineas Aéreas de Panama. Crew: William Guy Gerson, pilot, Ernest Glen King, copilot.

Aircraft reference details include registration RX-138.