Crash of a Wibault 283.T12 in Kašperské Hory: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1937 at 1729 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AMYD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bucharest – Vienna – Prague – Paris
MSN:
11
YOM:
1934
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft departed Vienna-Schwechat Airport at 1555LT bound for Prague. Approaching the Czech capital city, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was instructed by ATC to return to Vienna. Few minutes later, the crew decided to initiate a descent but did not realize he was off course by 120 km. While descending in low visibility, at an altitude of some 700 metres, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a snowy forest located on the north slope of Mt Hut'ska. The wreckage was found a day later in 60 cm of snow. The aircraft named 'Le Glorieux' was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Frantisek Lehky, pilot,
Pierre Astruc, radio navigator.
Passenger:
Karel Flanderka.
Probable cause:
According to the authorities, the accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Poor weather conditions,
- Low visibility,
- Failure of the direction finding equipment,
- Erroneous tracking calculation on part of the crew,
- Incomplete instructions transmitted by ATC based in Prague.

Crash of a Fokker F9D in Bratislava

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1937 at 0630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OK-AFF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bratislava – Prague
MSN:
15
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Bratislava-Vajnory Airport, one of the engine fired. The crew attempted an emergency landing in a field located past the runway end. While both occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine fire after liftoff.

Crash of a Junkers JU.160D-0 in Chlomek: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-ULUR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Munich – Prague – Breslau
MSN:
4246
YOM:
1936
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While approaching Prague, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located in Chlomek, 20 km south of Prague. The aircraft named 'Schakal' was destroyed by impact forces and both crewmen were killed.
Crew:
Viktor Neubrandt, pilot,
Wilfried Haupt, radio navigator.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-115K in Doornspijk

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1936 at 2010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OK-AIA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Prague – Amsterdam
MSN:
1581
YOM:
1936
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
This was the inaugural flight from Prague to Amsterdam for the Czech Company CLS. On approach to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport, the captain was unable to locate the airfield due to low visibility caused by night and a cloudy sky (clouds down to 50 metres and visibility estimated to 2-4 km). He decided to follow a holding pattern over the area between Lelystad and Zwolle when few minutes later, radio communications were lost because the accumulator failed. Without radio contact, unable to fix his exact position and with low fuel reserve, the captain eventually decided to attempt an emergency landing in a wheat field located in Doornspijk, near Elburg. Upon touchdown, the aircraft rolled for few dozen metres, lost its right engine, nosed down and came to rest. The pilot and the radio operator were injured while all 10 other occupants evacuated safely. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The crew lost his orientation after the radio became out of order because the accumulator failed. The crew was unable to locate the airport due to poor visibility caused by night and low clouds. Eventually, low fuel reserve forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing.

Crash of a Fokker F7b/3m in Domašín

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OK-ABT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Prague – Croydon
MSN:
20
YOM:
1932
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Prague to Croydon, the crew encountered severe icing conditions when all three engines lost power. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a snow covered field. Upon landing, the aircraft lost its undercarriage, engines and both wings before coming to rest against trees. All nine occupants evacuated with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Karel Balík, pilot,
Augustin Korotvička, radio operator.
Probable cause:
Engine malfunction caused by icing.

Crash of an Avia 156 in Polerady: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OK-AVB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Prague - Prague
MSN:
01
YOM:
1934
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a test flight on this new prototype (first model). The single engine airplane departed Prague-Letňany Airport and crew flew northbound. While cruising in the vicinity of Polerady, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field, killing both occupants. Rescue teams arrived on scene 13 hours later.
Crew:
Vaclav Koci, pilot,
Mr. Fiala, engineer.