Commando 43-47365
Aircraft Identification
VARIANT: Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando
USAF SERIAL NUMBER (S/N): 43-47365
CURTISS CONSTRUCTION NUMBER (C/N): 436
COMMANDO LINE NUMBER (L/N): CK413
FATE: Written off
Operational Record
May 1945 to October 1945
43-47365 - USAAF (USA)
31 May 1945
Delivered from the Curtiss-Wright factory in Saint Louis, MO.
Assigned to the 1st Operational Training Unit (1 OTU) based at Rosecrans Field, MO.
Remained within the Continental USA.
October 1945 to December 1947
43-47365 - RFC (RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION) (USA)
27 October 1945
Transferred to RFC and stored at Walnut Ridge AAF, AR.
December 1947 to March 1948
N67918 - CHARLES E. MATHEWS & CO. (USA)
10 December 1947
Purchased from RFC.
March 1948 to October 1948
PP-XBX - COMPANHIA ITAU DE TRANSPORTES AEREOS (BRAZIL)
16 March 1948
Purchased and assigned a temporary import registration.
October 1948 to October 1955
PP-ITC - COMPANHIA ITAU DE TRANSPORTES AEREOS (BRAZIL)
7 October 1948
Assigned a permanent registration.
October 1955 to August 1956
PP-ITC - TAN (TRANSPORTES AEREOS NACIONAL) (BRAZIL)
October 1955
Transferred as Itau was taken over by TAN.
August 1956 to August 1961
PP-ITC - REAL TRANSPORTES AEREOS (BRAZIL)
August 1956
Transferred as TAN was taken over by REAL.
Probably continued operating in TAN colors.
4 January 1961
Damaged at an unknown location in a landing accident.
The left main gear collapsed on landing after hitting an obstacle.
August 1961 to February 1969
PP-ITC - VARIG (BRAZIL)
August 1961
Transferred as REAL was taken over by Varig.
6 February 1969
Registration cancelled.
February 1969 to July 1969
N157K - CAROLINA AIRCRAFT CORPORATION (USA)
4 February 1969
Purchased.
11 February 1969
Registered.
Right: N157K with barely whited-out Varig titles, unknown date & location.
Photo credit: unknown
July 1969 to April 1972
N157K - GENERAL FLYING SERVICE (USA)
20 July 1969
Purchased.
Left: N157K seen at Fort Lauderdale, FL on 2 April 1972, only a couple days before purchase by Aviation Contractors.
Photo credit: Ralph M. Pettersen / Airliners.net
June 1972 to May 1974
N157K - PRIVATE (USA)
10 June 1972
Purchased by Andrew Weisz of Hollywood, FL.
May 1974 to December 1975
N157K - VACATION INC. (USA)
31 May 1974
Lease-purchased.
Right: N157K still wearing the Varig livery at Fort Lauderdale, FL on 23 July 1974.
Photo credit: Steve Williams / Airliners.net
December 1975 to October 1976
N157K - INTERNATIONAL AIRMOTIVE CORPORATION (USA)
2 December 1975
Purchased.
Left: N157K seemingly receiving some maintenance at Fort Lauderdale, FL on 27 May 1976.
Photo credit: Vito Cedrini / Airliners.net
October 1976 to March 1978
N157K - PRIVATE (USA)
30 October 1976
Purchased by Richard A. Sayre of Miami, FL.
Early 1977
Repainted.
Right: N157K showing its new paint scheme at Fort Lauderdale, FL on 18 October 1977.
Photo credit: Roger Syratt / AirHistory.net
May 1978 to July 1978
N157K - DR & M INC. (USA)
19 May 1978
Purchased.
22 July 1978
Damaged beyond repair near Opa Locka, FL after ditching in the ocean (0/3 fatalities). 
NTSB Report
The Commando was operating a training flight from Opa Locka, FL with only two pilots and an instructor onboard. During approach, both engines failed for unknown reasons and the crew had to ditch the airplane. All occupants survived but the Commando sank in the water. Interestingly, the instructor was not found at the scene and was never identified.
Left: N157K parked in the grass at Opa Locka, FL on 20 June 1978.
Photo credit: Mick Bajcar / Airliners.net
Last edited: 27/08/2023