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    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-46A-20-CU Commando
    Last Military Serial:41-24650 USAAF
    Construction Number:26571
    Last Civil Registration:N609Z
    Compressed ID:Curtiss C-46A-20-CU sn 41-24650 USA...
    Latest Owner or Location:Zantop Air Transport Inc, Inkster, MI

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a C-46A-20-CU by Curtiss at Buffalo, NY, USA.
    CURTISS WRIGHT C-46A 26571

    24 July 1943

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 41-24650.

    1 January 1945

    Withdrawn from use.
    Stored at Ontario, California.

    May 1954

    To Benn Widtfeldt with new c/r N69095.

    June 1954

    Operated by Zantop Air Transport.

    August 1954


    Photographer: William T Larkins
    Notes: Surplus aircraft still carrying it is wartime colors and Air Transport Command insignia. At Hayward, CA, in August 1954.

    12 November 1957

    To Zantop Air Transport Inc, Inkster, MI with new c/r N609Z.

    7 December 1963

    Crashed.
    Summary: The airframe was written off. There were three fatalities. There were 11,694 hours on the airframe at the time. The cargo flight departed Aurora-Lowry AFB, CO, United States of America and was destined for Ogden-Hill AFB, UT (HIF/KHIF), United States of America. The accident occurred at 16 km (10 mls) NW of Nederland, CO (United States of America) while en route. Narrative: The Curtiss departed Lowry AFB for a flight to Hill AFB at 18:59MST, but failed to arrive at the destination. The wreckage was found on July 8, 1964...
    For a complete description of the event read the Aviation Safety Network Report.

    29 June 1970

    Civil registration, N609Z, 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...
    Print Sources
     Turbo Prop Airlines Production List by J. Roach and A.B. Eastwood
    Internet Sources
     Aviation Safety Network
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    Individual Contributors
     Terry Fletcher
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