Crash of a Cessna 551 Citation II/SP off Ventspils: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 2022 at 2044 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OE-FGR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Jerez - Cologne
MSN:
551-0021
YOM:
1979
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Jerez-La Parra Airport at 1456LT on a flight to Cologne-Bonn Airport with four people on board. It continued at an assigned altitude of 36,000 feet until it entered the German Airspace. German ATC was unable to establish a radio contact with the crew so the decision was taken to send a Panavia Tornado of the Luftwaffe that departed Rostock-Laage AFB and intercepted the Cessna at 1815LT. The military pilot did not see any one in the cockpit and evacuated the area five minutes later. The airplane overflew Germany then entered the Swedish Airspace and continued bound to the northeast without significant change in heading, altitude or speed (365 knots). At 2028LT, the airplane started to descent and initiated a turn to the right three minutes later. At 2040LT, it entered an uncontrolled descent to the left and spiraled to the sea before crashing at 2044LT about 37 km northwest of Ventspils. Few debris and oil were found at the point of impact. The accident was not survivable.
Probable cause:
Cabin pressurization issue suspected.

Crash of a Caproni Ca.313 off Ventspils: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
3335
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While overflying the Baltic Sea, the three engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German Messerschmitt Me.109. The pilot ditched the aircraft some 13 km off Ventspils, Latvia. Three crew members were rescued and taken POW while the flight engineer Ingvar Ringström was killed. The Swedish government confirmed the aircraft was shot down over the international waters.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-6 off Ventspils: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
M7+EH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
2369
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Windau (now Ventspils). The pilot was killed and three other crew members were injured.
Crew:
Lt Achim Berger, pilot, †
Lt Heinz Müller, observer,
Gefr Albert Cramer, radio operator,
Ogefr Otto Trinkwitz, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.