Junkers JU.290 | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While approaching León from the north, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located about 65 km north of León. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Junkers JU.290A-7 off La Coruna: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.290

Operator:

Registration:

9V+FK

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

179

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While returning to its base following a convoy mission, the four engine aircraft was shot down by the pilots of four RAF Mosquito's and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the Spanish coast. All four crew members were killed, among them Oblt Karl-Heinz Schmidt.

Probable cause:

Shot down by RAF fighters.

Crash of a Junkers JU.290-V1 in Pitomnik: 45 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.290

Operator:

Registration:

BD+TX

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Ambulance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

001

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine airplane was engaged in an evacuation mission, carrying 75 wounded soldiers and six crew members. Shortly after takeoff from Pitomnik Airfield, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. Five crew members and 40 passengers were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Walter Hänig, pilot, †
Flg Robert Stiefel, flight engineer +4. †

Probable cause:

It is believed that the loading of the wounded soldiers and their stretchers at Pitomnik Airport was carried out in a hurry due to the intensity of enemy fire near the airfield. It is therefore assumed that the wounded and stretchers were placed in the cabin without being secured and that the pilot was forced to start the takeoff procedure in a relative rush, which resulted in the movement of the wounded and stretchers to the rear of the cabin, thus changing the center of gravity and putting the aircraft in a situation that the pilot was unable to control.