Narrative:
En route at 14000 feet the right engine failed with a loss of fuel pressure. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and could not feather the propeller.
They were now unable to maintain altitude and ten passengers were ordered to bail out. The left engine then overheated. The pilot could no long maintain altitude over the mountainous terrain. The C-46 was flying just below 8000 feet in an area with mountains rising to 9000 feet. The remaining crew members bailed out as well, but one of them was killed in the attempt when his parachute failed to open. The airplane continued on autopilot and made a successful belly landing in a valley field.
» Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research (AAIR)
| Status: | |
| Date: | Tuesday 28 September 1943 |
| Time: | 22:45 |
| Type: |  Curtiss C-46 Commando |
| Operator: | United States Army Air Force - USAAF |
| Registration: | 41-5170 |
| MSN: | 26372 |
| First flight: | 1942 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 10 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 15 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | near Lovelock, NV ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Salt Lake City Municipal Airport, UT (SLC/KSLC), United States of America |
| Reno AAB, NV, United States of America |
En route at 14000 feet the right engine failed with a loss of fuel pressure. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and could not feather the propeller.
They were now unable to maintain altitude and ten passengers were ordered to bail out. The left engine then overheated. The pilot could no long maintain altitude over the mountainous terrain. The C-46 was flying just below 8000 feet in an area with mountains rising to 9000 feet. The remaining crew members bailed out as well, but one of them was killed in the attempt when his parachute failed to open. The airplane continued on autopilot and made a successful belly landing in a valley field.
Sources:
» Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945, Vol. 2: July 1943-July 1944 / Anthony J. Mireles» Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research (AAIR)
Photos
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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