Commando 42-60943
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-60943
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 26818
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU458
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
February 1944 to October 1945
42-60943 - USAAF (USA)
11 February 1944
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.
10 March 1944
Assigned to ATC Central African Wing.
23 July 1945
Assigned to Morrison Field, FL.
October 1945 to 1953
42-60943 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)
24 October 1945
Transferred to RFC, stored at Bush Field, GA.
1953 to 1958
N68823 - LETOURNEAU TECHNICAL INSTITUTE (USA)
1953
Purchased from RFC and probably used as a ground instruction airframe.
1958 to February 1959
N68823 - SOUTHERN CROSS AIRWAYS (USA)
1958
Leased from International Airports Inc.
18 February 1959
Damaged beyond repair in the Chilean Andes in a forced landing following an engine failure (5/5 fatalities).
The Commando was operating a cargo flight from Arica, Chile to Puerto Suarez, Bolivia, with a 1,000 lbs overload. Enroute, while overflying the Andes Mountains, the right engine lost power. As the crew was unable to maintain a safe altitude, they decided to attempt an emergency landing in a comparatively open, uphill area near Belen, Chile. The plane slid through several meter-high stone walls and burst into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all five occupants were killed. The exact cause of the failure of the right engine failure could not be determined with certainty. However, it was noted that the exhaust valve of the No.10 cylinder failed from its piston beating against the spark plugs and cylinder head. This probably ruptured the intake port, and reduced manifold pressure to atmospheric pressure.