US Army Air Force

Destroyed one of the last C-46

U.S Air Force

Bad news for the fans of the “old time” transport planes: one of the last Curtiss C-46 Commando still in flight conditions was destroyed on an accident in Bolivia, 21 April 2012, at Santa Cruz-Viru Viru International Airport. The aircraft were the Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando, operator Sky Team, civil registration CP-1319, c/n-msn 22428, first flight 1945. According to first report of Aviation Safety Network/Flight Safety Foundation the accident happened when the pilot departed, 08:15LT (12:00 UTC), from Santa Cruz-Viru Viru for a domestic flight to Cobija-E. Beltram Airport, executed a go around during a return to departure airport shortly after takeoff. The plane crashed about 200 m from the northern end of runway (16/34). Three crew members were killed, one survived. Weather reported at 12:00 UTC: wind 190 degrees at 18 knots; visibility 3000m in rain; Scattered clouds at 500 feet; Broken clouds at 1700 feet; few cumulonimbus clouds at 3000 feet; overcast at 7000 feet; temperature 21 deg C; dew point 20 deg C; QNH 1016 mb. In the photo Curtiss C-46 s/n 41-5159 in flight together the Curtiss P-40F s/n 41-13997. Victor Sierra