Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 8 August 1943
Aircraft Type: Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 41-12343
Location: Homestead AAF, FL (HST) –
ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 5
Component Affected: Left wheel wellLeft wheel well
Category: Accident
A C-46 aircraft took off from Homestead Airport on a local test flight. Approximately 19:50, the number one engine ignited, leading to a subsequent crash. A fuel leak caused gasoline and fumes to accumulate within the left wheel well, affecting the left center section and left wing.A C-46 aircraft took off from Homestead Airport on a local test flight. Approximately 19:50, the number one engine ignited, leading to a subsequent crash. A fuel leak caused gasoline and fumes to accumulate within the left wheel well, affecting the left center section and left wing.
Description
About 19:50, the C-46 took off from Homestead AAF on a local test flight. Several minutes after takeoff the no. 1 engine caught fire. One of the passengers bailed out as the pilot attempted to return to the airport. An explosion occurred and the airplane crashed. It appeared that a leaking or broken fuel line in or adjacent to the wheel well permitted the accumulation of gasoline and fumes within the left wheel well, left center section and left wing. The fumes were ignited by the engine exhaust.
Primary Cause
Fuel leak and accumulation of gasoline and fumes within the wheel well.Fuel leak and accumulation of gasoline and fumes within the wheel well.Share on:
