Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Ravolzhausen: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1948 at 0731 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-15116
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Berlin - Wiesbaden
MSN:
19582
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Berlin-Tempelhof to the airbase of Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, taking part to the Berlin Airlift. While cruising in a reduced visibility due to foggy conditions, the aircraft collided with a USAF Douglas C-47A-90-DL registered 43-16036 and carrying also a crew of two and conducting the same operation from Berlin to Wiesbaden. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground. The first crashed about 100 yards south of the city of Ravolzhausen while the second crashed about one km northwest of the same city. All four crew members on both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54G-1-DO Skymaster in Berlin

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-0514
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
35967
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown on runway 27R at Tempelhof Airport, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, hit a wooded fence and came to rest in flames. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire. The crew was taking part to the Berlin Airlift.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Berlin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1948 at 0100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-49534
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Wiesbaden – Berlin
MSN:
15350/26795
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Berlin-Tempelhof Airport, taking part to the Berlin Airlift, the twin engine aircraft hit the roof of a building and crashed in flames in the adjacent street located in the suburb of Friedenau. Both crewmen were killed while three people on the ground were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK Dakota C.4 in Fassberg AFB

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
KN252
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berlin – Fassberg
MSN:
15733/27178
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Fassberg AFB, an engine caught fire. On landing, an undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in flames. While all three crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Failure of a hydraulic line, causing the fluid to spill into the engine and to ignite in contact with element who temperature was high.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Königstein im Taunus: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1948 at 2330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-48256
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Wiesbaden – Berlin
MSN:
14072/25517
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB, while climbing by night, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Steinkopf located near Königstein im Taunus, about 16 km northeast of Wiesbaden Airport. All three crew members were killed. They were involved in the Berlin Airlift.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Wiesbaden

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1948 at 2359 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-15096
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berlin – Wiesbaden
MSN:
19562
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB was completed by night and poor weather conditions. On final, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 1,6 km short of runway 25 threshold. Both pilots were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-115E in Berlin

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-ABOW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berlin - Riga
MSN:
1365
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Berlin-Tempelhof Airport, a fuel leak occurred and the captain decided to return to his departure point. The crew completed a low pass over the airport, at a height of some 80 meters, and then attempted a steep turn to join the runway when the aircraft stalled and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed while all occupants survived.
Probable cause:
Fuel leakage.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111 in Rastenburg: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1942 at 0940 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kętrzyn - Berlin
MSN:
2108
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rastenburg (now Kętrzyn) Airport, the pilot elected to return for unknown reasons. The airplane went out of control and crashed 500 metres from the airfield. All five occupants were killed, among them General Major Fritz Todt, Reich Minister for Armaments and Ammunition. He was flying back to Berlin following a meeting in Rastenburg with Adolf Hitler.
Crew:
Lt Albert Hotz, pilot,
Uffz August-Kurt Hauptmann, radio operator,
Ofw Karl Bäuerle, mechanic.
Passengers:
Gen Maj Dr. Fritz Todt,
Mr. Hellford, Todt's secretary.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-6 in Wrocław: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Chaplinka - Berlin
MSN:
4513
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was on his way from Chaplinka, in the region of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, to Berlin, to attend the funeral of the German aviator and aircraft engineer and manufacturer Ernst Udet who passed away (committed suicide) on November 17. En route, the left engine failed and the pilot decided to divert to Wrocław (Breslau) Airport. On approach, the right engine failed as well. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. Two crew members were rescued while three others were killed, among them Colonel Werner Mölders and Lieutenant Georg Kolbe.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Junkers W.34 in Paris: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Berlin
MSN:
1487
YOM:
1928
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Paris-Le Bourget on a flight to Berlin, carrying one passenger, three crew members and some military mail. Shortly after takeoff, it went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. All three crew members were injured and the passenger was killed. Recently appointed as Vice Admiral for the Southeast in the Mediterranean, the passenger was en route to Berlin to take over his duties.
Crew:
Uffz Bernhard Schneegold, pilot,
Gefr Bernhard Cleber, radio operator,
Uffz Herbert Bahr, navigator.
Passenger:
Vice Admiral Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière. †