Narrative:
CNAC's Douglas C-53 "53" departed Kunming for a supply run over the Himalayas together with three other aircraft. It was snowing and there was a solid overcast at 10,500 feet which had violent turbulence and severe icing. Because of those dangerous conditions, the pilots stayed underneath the clouds and flew the passes. As they went through the lowest pass, a sudden down-draft forced the pilots to apply full power and for maximum climb. For #53, it was too late. The plane's propellers started cutting the tops of the trees and the plane crashed just short of the border with Burma.
| Status: | |
| Date: | Thursday 11 March 1943 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-53-DO (DC-3) |
| Operator: | China National Aviation Corporation - CNAC |
| Registration: | 53 |
| MSN: | 4904 |
| First flight: | 1942 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | near Luishui ( China)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Kunming-Wujiaba Airfield (KMG/ZPPP), China |
| Assam, India |
CNAC's Douglas C-53 "53" departed Kunming for a supply run over the Himalayas together with three other aircraft. It was snowing and there was a solid overcast at 10,500 feet which had violent turbulence and severe icing. Because of those dangerous conditions, the pilots stayed underneath the clouds and flew the passes. As they went through the lowest pass, a sudden down-draft forced the pilots to apply full power and for maximum climb. For #53, it was too late. The plane's propellers started cutting the tops of the trees and the plane crashed just short of the border with Burma.
Sources:
» CNAC.orgPhotos
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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