Finding visuals...
  • The Locator
  • Airframes Database

    Social media...
    Follow AV on facebook
    Follow AV on Twitter @aerial_visuals
    Follow the AV YouTube Channel

    Site navigation...
  • Home
  • Desktop Calendar
  • The Racers
  • FAQs
  • About Aerial Visuals
  • Comment on this Dossier

  • Search For Airframes Now
    Search - Index - Gallery - Reports - Lists - AV Needs You!

    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Curtiss C-46 Commando
    Latest Model:C-46F-1-CU Commando
    Last Military Serial:44-78771 USAAF
    Construction Number:22594
    Last Civil Registration:N3971B
    Compressed ID:Curtiss C-46F-1-CU sn 44-78771 USAA...
    Latest Owner or Location:Aaxico Airlines

    EDIT THE HISTORY HERE
    If you can add to the history or would like to submit a correction please use the editor to do so.

    UPLOAD A PHOTO
    If you have a photo of this airframe to share then use the photo upload tool.

    The Airframes Database depends on user contributions to stay current.
    If you have any news about this airframe or photos which you would like to share please do so
    by using the links above.
    The more you and others share the better the database becomes!

    Dates

    Event

    1945

    Constructed as a C-46F-1-CU by Curtiss at Buffalo, NY, USA.

    September 1945

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-78771.

    1950

    To Economy Airlines with new c/r N3971B.


    Photographer: William T Larkins

    10 July 1956

    To Aaxico Airlines Inc, Miami, FL keeping c/r N3971B.

    By 20 November 1964

    To Aaxico Airlines keeping c/r N3971B.
    Operated for Zantop Air Transport.

    20 November 1964

    Crashed.
    Summary: The airframe was written off. There were 25,018 hours on the airframe at the time. The cargo flight departed Detroit-Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, MI (DTW/KDTW), United States of America. The accident occurred at Detroit-Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, MI (DTW) (United States of America) while taking off. Narrative: The Curtiss C-46 was loaded to about 20 pounds under the maximum allowable gross weight of 48000 pounds for the cargo flight to Wilmington. Weather was 2300 feet overcast, visibility 10 miles in light snow, temperature 26deg F...
    For a complete description of the event read the Aviation Safety Network Report.

    29 June 1970

    Civil registration, N3971B, cancelled.


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Internet Sources
    Aviation Safety Network
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America

    Individual Contributors
    Terry Fletcher

    Tell Others About this Airframe Dossier
    Forum Link: [URL=https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=167214][IMG]/home/users/web/b1393/nf.aerialvisuals/public_html/AV/Support/Logo_20x20.jpg[/IMG]Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando, s/n 44-78771 USAAF, c/n 22594, c/r N3971B[/URL]
    Direct Link: https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=167214

    Copyright 1993-2025 ww.AerialVisuals.ca
    The Aerial Visuals pages are best viewed with a screen at least 800 pixels wide.
    In case you are wondering Aerial Visuals is a huge fan Google Chrome. If you do not have Chrome installed why not?
    Aerial Visuals requires cookies and Javascript to function correctly. Please ensure these features are enabled in your browser.
    Aerial Visuals is powered by Netfirms.