Incident Overview
Date: Friday 24 November 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47B-10-DK (DC-3)
Owner/operator: China National Aviation Corporation – CNAC
Registration Number: 106
Location: near Kunming –
ÿ China
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Aircraft Navigation and Communication SystemsAircraft Navigation and Communication Systems
Category: Accident
A flight experienced severe headwinds, preventing the aircraft from reaching its destination. The pilots attempted a diversion to Kunming but were unable to land due to an air raid. The aircraft ran out of gas and was lost. The pilots reported a bearing to Kunming and received a reciprocal heading, but did not realize the error. They all safely evacuated.A flight experienced severe headwinds, preventing the aircraft from reaching its destination. The pilots attempted a diversion to Kunming but were unable to land due to an air raid. The aircraft ran out of gas and was lost. The pilots reported a bearing to Kunming and received a reciprocal heading, but did not realize the error. They all safely evacuated.
Description
The crew could not reach their destination due to head winds. They tried to divert to Kunming, but were not able to land since an air raid was in progress so all radio beams were turned off. The pilot flew past Kunming and ran low on gas and was lost. He asked for a bearing from the Kunming station. They gave him the reciprocal of the heading he was supposed to fly to get back to Kunming. He didn’t realize the mistake until he was out of gas. They all bailed out safely.
Primary Cause
Severe head windsSevere head windsShare on:
