board (some sources say 29 dead); this aircraft was one of three that crashed on this night. 5 January 1947: A China National Aviation Corporation C-46 (XT-T51 / 121) struck a mountain west of Qingdao, China, killing all 43 on board. All Chinese commercial aircraft were grounded for a week pending investigation of this crash as well as the three crashes a week earlier. 28 January 1947: A China National Aviation Corporation C-46 (XT-T45 / 145) crashed 30 minutes after takeoff from Hankou, killing 25 of 26 on board. 14 February 1947: A Slick Airways C-46E (NC59486) crashed at Denver due to a loss of control, killing both pilots. 21 August 1947: A Slick Airways C-46E (NC59488) crashed at Hanksville, Utah after entering a thunderstorm, killing all three on board; the aircraft struck a mountain while flying too low. 20 January 1948: A China National Aviation Corporation C-46 crashed on takeoff from Mukden, China, killing 11 of 54 on board. 16 May 1948: A Slick Airways C-46E (NC56489) crashed near Port Columbus International Airport due to a loss of control following structural failure of the tail, killing both pilots. 23 May 1948: Still bearing the registration of Panamanian airline LAPSA, Israeli Air Force C-46 RX-136 crashed on a slope near Latrun in poor visibility; the navigator died when the fuselage of an Avia S-199 the aircraft was carrying broke loose and slid forward into the cockpit. 29 July 1948: A Civil Air Transport C-46D (XT-822) crashed at Qingdao Airport after entering a spin after takeoff, killing all 19 on board. 24 October 1948: A Transandina Ecuador C-46 (HC-SIA) crashed in a lagoon near Cozumel, Mexico while attempting to land, killing all eight on board. 5 December 1948: A Central Air Transport C-46 (XT-538) crashed at Kiangwan, killing nine of 40 on board. 5 March 1949: USAF C-46D 44-77335 crashed shortly after takeoff from Naha AFB, killing six of 22 on board. 27 May 1949: A Trans-Air Hawaii C-46F (N5615V) crashed and burned at Maui, Hawaii due to wing separation caused by an engine fire, killing both pilots; the fire was caused by a number eight cylinder failure on the number two engine. 2 June 1949: A Central Air Transport C-46 (XT-520) crashed 200 mi N of Chongqing, killing the three crew. 7 June 1949: A Strato-Freight C-46D (NC92857) crashed on climbout from Isla Grande Airport following a loss of power