Czech Republic

Region:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Shortly after takeoff from Prague-Ruzyne Airport, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Kladno, northwest of the airport. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Jan Kuhl, pilot,
Josef Hainzel, pilot,
František Papácek, mechanic.

Probable cause:

Without giving any more details, Czech Authorities reported that the accident was caused by a faulty maintenance on part of ground technicians employed by the national company. Following this accident, all crew members followed a strike movement until February 18.

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

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1946 at 1736 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

OK-XDG

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Amsterdam – Prague

MSN:

19535

YOM:

1944

Location:

Prague-Ruzyne

Prague (Hlavní mesto Praha)

Country:

Region:

Landing (descent or approach)

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Prague, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was forced to make a go around. During the next hour, four other attempts to land were aborted. Finally, the captain informed ATC that he was short of fuel and was forced to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Dobrovíz, two km north of the airfield. All 18 occupants were evacuated, two of them (both crew members) were injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The ETA in Prague was 1535LT and the accident occurred at 1736LT. The crew of a Pan Am Constellation who should land in Prague decided to continue to Brussels due to poor weather conditions.
Photo: http://www.planes.cz/lite/fc47.php

Probable cause:

Forced landing due to fuel shortage.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Prague: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

OK-ZDN

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Paris – Strasbourg – Prague

Location:

Prague

Prague (Hlavní mesto Praha)

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Paris via Strasbourg, the crew started the descent to Prague but encountered poor weather conditions. Due to low visibility, the first approach was abandoned and a go around was performed. A second attempt to land was abandoned as well, still for the same reason. During the third attempt, the three engine aircraft was too low and hit the ground short of runway threshold. Eight passengers and two crew members were killed while five other occupants were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the crew continued the third approach at an insufficient altitude, probably in order to establish a visual contact with the ground.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mg4e in Malá Úpa: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

4V+DR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Hradec Králové Region (Královéhradecký kraj)

MSN:

6820

YOM:

1940

Location:

Malá Úpa

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in Malá Úpa, killing all eight crew members.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Skalka: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

G6+EK

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Hradec Králové Region (Královéhradecký kraj)

MSN:

5509

YOM:

1936

Location:

Skalka

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a military cargo flight from the East front to the West, carrying various equipment and materials on behalf the Transport Group n° 4. Apparently following an engine failure, the airplane lost height and crashed in an open field. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Fw Ibs,
Fw Pittrof,
Fw Leisz.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight is suspected.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Dobřany: 7 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1943 at 0210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

R5622

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plzeň Region (Plzeňský kraj)

Schedule:

Wyton - Wyton

Location:

Dobřany

Country:

Region:

Plzeň Region (Plzeňský kraj)

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Wyton at 2129LT on April 16 on an operation to Plzeň. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in Dobřany, 10 km southwest of Plzeň. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Frank Cyril Milton, pilot,
F/Sgt Roy Beaven, flight engineer,
F/O Norman Milton McLellan, navigator,
F/Lt Walter Basil Wells, navigator,
Sgt Alex Podolsky, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Jack Rodgers, air gunner,
Sgt Maurice Kleinhorn, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Plzeň: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

ED651

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bottesford - Bottesford

Location:

Plzeň

Country:

Region:

Plzeň Region (Plzeňský kraj)

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Bottesford at 2125LT on April 16 on an operation to the Škoda factory in Plzeň. It is believed that it was shot down by enemy fire over the target area. Three crew members were killed and four others were injured. One of the survivors died from injuries sustained on April 23.
Crew:
Sgt Bruce Craig Wilson, pilot,
Sgt Ralph Henry Pallender, flight engineer, †
F/O Frederick Gabriel Boswell,
P/O Robert Stitt,
Sgt Harold Frederick Goode, wireless operator, †
Sgt William Watson Bannatyne, air gunner, †
Sgt Robert Dunn, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Plzeň: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

W4848

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Elsham Wolds - Elsham Wolds

Location:

Plzeň

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Elsham Wolds at 2112LT on April 16 on an operation to Plzeň. While approaching the Škoda factory, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed. Five crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
P/O James Owen Beggs Mooney, pilot, †
Sgt Stephen Biggs, flight engineer,
F/O Aaron Henry Gipson, observer, †
F/O Francis James Hudson, wireless operator, †
Sgt Horace Joseph Dennis Rouse,
Sgt Victor John Merefield, air gunner, †
Sgt Robert William Harley, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.58 Weihe in Malé Vrbno: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1942 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Focke-Wulf Fw.58 Weihe

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Olomouc Region (Olomoucký kraj)

MSN:

3314

Location:

Malé Vrbno

Country:

Region: