Commando 41-12363

VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando

USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 41-12363

CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26490

COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU130

FATE: Written off

  May 1943 to September 1943

  41-12363 - USAAF (USA)

4 May 1943

Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.

  September 1943 to March 1944

  41-12363 - WESTERN AIR LINES (USA)

16 September 1943

Leased to Western Air Lines.

20 February 1944

Crashed in the side of Pallet Mountain, CA while descending (4/4 fatalities).

The Commando took off from Wickenburg, AZ at 07:43 on a training flight. The crew were performing an instrument let down into Long Beach, CA when they flew into the side of Pallet Mountain at an altitude of 7,300 feet. For unknown reason, the crew was approaching at too low an altitude. A winter storm was passing through the area at the time. All four occupants were killed.

26 February 1944

Wreckage located some 20 miles southeast of Palmdale, CA.

1 March 1944

Surveyed, condemned for salvage.

Right: 41-12363’s tail still visible in 2009 amidst the pine trees of Pallet Mountain.
Photo credit: G. Pat Macha / www.aircraftwrecks.com