Commando 42-96781
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 42-96781
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 30443
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CU979
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
September 1944 to October 1945
42-96781 - USAAF (USA)
6 September 1944
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Buffalo, NY.
Assigned to 1st Operational Training Unit (1 OTU) based at Rosecrans Field, MO.
October 1945 to 1949
42-96781 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)
27 October 1945
Transferred to RFC and stored at Walnut Ridge AAF, AR.
September 1949 to March 1950
PP-XCO - LOIDE AEREO NACIONAL (BRAZIL)
16 September 1949
Purchased. [by TCA (Transporte Carga Aerea) according to AB, but the company had changed its name to Loide on 24 August 1949]
Given a temporary import registration (“pasavante”). [PP-XCN according to AB]
March 1950 to April 1951
PP-LDC - LOIDE AEREO NACIONAL (BRAZIL)
3 March 1950
Reregistered.
15 April 1951
Damaged beyond repair at Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont, Brazil in a landing accident (0/38 fatalities).
The Commando was operating a scheduled revenue flight to Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont with 4 crew and 34 passengers. A first approach was abandoned due to poor weather conditions. A second attempt to land was made with a tailwind. After touchdown, the airplane skidded on the wet runway and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and plunged into Guanabara Bay. All 38 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was lost.