The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

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.

  1949 to September 1949

  N51436 - SUN CHEMICAL CORPORATION (USA)


1949

Purchased from RFC.

  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.