Commando 42-96598
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96598
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30260
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU796
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
July 1944 to April 1946
42-96598 - USAAF (USA)
12 July 1944
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.
29 July 1944
Assigned to ATC India-China Division.
22 March 1945
Received major damage in Tingkawk Sakan, Burma in a takeoff accident.
Pilot: Theodore McKinney
Unknown date
Assigned to Karachi, Sindh, India.
April 1946 to 1955 1955 to January 1956
N????? - WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMPORT EXPORT COMPANY (USA)
1955
Purchased and probably ferried from India to Miami, FL.
January 1956 to August 1957
PP-LDY - LOIDE AEREO NACIONAL (BRAZIL)
11 January 1956
Purchased.
23 April 1957
Registered.
August 1957 to September 1957
PP-LDY - WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMPORT EXPORT COMPANY (USA)
August 1957
Purchased. [did something go wrong with the airplane for it to be repurchased by the broker?]
28 November 1957
Registration cancelled.
September 1957 to June 1962
PP-BTE - PARAENSE TRANSPORTES AEREOS (BRAZIL)
10 September 1957
Purchased.
10 March 1958
Registered and christened “Brasilia”.
29 September 1959
Received major damage in Sao Paulo, Brazil in a landing accident (0/3 fatalities).
The Commando was operating a cargo flight from Sao Paulo Congonhas. After departure, the pilot noticed that the undercarriage had only partly retracted and that the hydraulic pressure was low. The flight crew elected to return to Sao Paulo. Upon landing, the right hand main landing gear retracted, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway. It collided with two stationary aircraft. One of these aircraft was a DC-3 registered PP-ANU.
Repaired.
27 June 1962
Damaged beyond repair in Pedro Afonso, Brazil in a landing accident (no fatalities).
After touchdown on Pedro Afonso runway 24, the aircraft veered to the left. The Captain decided to take off again and instructed the copilot to raise the landing immediately after rotation. The copilot apparently misunderstood and raised the landing gear while the aircraft was still rolling on the runway. The Commando sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was determined that an incorrect use of brakes and/or flying controls after touchdown caused the aircraft to deviate from the centerline. Poor crew coordination and a premature retraction of the landing gear were considered as contributing factors.