Swissair

The aircraft departed Zurich-Kloten at 0857LT on a local training flight, carrying one instructor, five student pilots, two engineers and one technician. The airplane followed different circuits at an altitude between 1,000 and 3,000 meters when control was lost over the Constance Lake. The aircraft went into a spin and crashed into the lake about 4 km off Romanshorn. The wreckage sank by a depth of 200 meters and only few debris were found on water and on the bank between Romanshorn and Arbon. All nine occupants have been killed.

The aircraft departed from San Diego, California, at 0407LT on 12 July for Zurich Airport, Switzerland, with two American pilots at the control, on a delivery flight to Swissair. Intermediate stops included New York, Gander and Shannon. Having left New York at 1240 GMT on 14 July 1956, the aircraft landed at Gander at 1659 GMT. After a stop of 57 minutes, it left Gander for Shannon at 1748 GMT carrying the same crew of 4 members. Following an uneventful ocean crossing the aircraft at 0008 hours on 15 July was given initial descent clearance to Shannon and was then cleared into the Shannon Holding Pattern, where four other aircraft were holding. At 0125 hours the aircraft commenced a Ground Controlled Approach to runway 23 and on establishing visual reference to the ground broke off the approach for a left-hand visual circuit to runway 05. During the turn onto final approach to runway 05, the aircraft, while banking steeply was observed to drop. The aircraft was destroyed on impact with the ground at approximately 0135LT and the 4 occupants were killed. There was no fire.

While overflying The Channel by night at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the port engine stopped. The captain feathered its propeller, informed ATC about his position and obtained the permission to divert to Manston Airport. Few minutes later, the right engine failed as well. The crew decided to ditch the aircraft about 12 km off Folkestone. After one hour, four crew members and two passengers were rescued by the crew of a boat while three other passengers drowned. The aircraft later sank and was lost.

The approach to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport was completed in thick fog. The captain told the crew that if the ground was not in sight at a height of 50 meters, he would divert to Brussels. On final approach to runway 23, at a distance of 400 meters from the runway threshold, the four engine aircraft hit the ground in a flat attitude. Upon impact, the undercarriages were sheared off, the airplane crashed and came to rest in flames 300 meters short of runway threshold. All 20 occupants were evacuated safely, except for the stewardess who was seriously injured by fire.
Crew:
O. Schüpbach, pilot,
E. Bill, copilot,
E. Senn, flight engineer,
M. Rüdlinger, radio operator,
M. Hutmacher, stewardess.

While approaching Gander in poor weather conditions, ATC instructed the crew to divert to Sydney, Nova Scotia. On final approach, the aircraft was too low and hit three approach lights. Immediately, the pilot in command increased power but as both left engines were damaged by obstacle impact, they failed to respond properly. As a result, the left wing stalled and the aircraft crashed in flames few dozen yards short of runway. All 31 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin and the crew extinguished the fire. Unfortunately, thirty minutes later, another fire erupted on the left side of the aircraft, partially destroying the airplane. Carrying 2,5 tons of cargo, the aircraft christened 'Zürich' was performing a regular schedule flight from Zurich to New York via Geneva, Shannon and Gander.

The twin engine airplane departed Vienna-Schwechat Airport on a regular schedule service to Zurich (Dübendorf), carrying four passengers and two crew members. While approaching Constance, the left engine failed. The crew reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. During the last turn completed at a height of some 150 feet, the aircraft banked left, stalled and crashed in an open field. The airplane was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Crew:
Walter Ackermann, pilot,
Anton Mannhart, radio navigator.

While descending to Paris-Le Bourget Airport in marginal weather conditions, the crew failed to realize he was flying too low. The twin engine aircraft hit the ground and lost partially its both wings before coming to rest in an open field located in Senlis, some 30 km northeast of Le Bourget Airport. The cabin remained relatively intact while the cockpit was destroyed. Two passengers and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Egon Frei, pilot,
Kurt Walter, radio navigator,
Josie Brooke, stewardess.

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Frankfurt to Basel. At night and in unfavorable weather conditions, the crew overflew Basel without locating the airport and continued to the southeast, in direction to the center of Switzerland. Dozen minutes later, the single engine aircraft impacted the west slope of the Mt Rigi (1,798 metres high) located 4,5 km southeast of Küssnacht. The wreckage was found in a snow covered forest located some 92 km southeast of Basel-Sternenfeld Airport. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Ernst Gerber, pilot,
Arthur Müller, radio navigator.

Just after lift off from Dübendorf Airport, the captain Walter Mittelholzer noted the aircraft was unable to gain sufficient altitude as the speed was too low. He decided to land past the runway but the aircraft hit a fence, lost its left main gear and slid for few dozen metres before colliding with trees and coming to rest in an orchard. The captain, the radio navigator and two passengers were injured while all four other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair as the right wing was partially torn off and the left wing severely crushed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with snow falls and icing that probably reduced the aircraft performances upon takeoff.

The airplane departed Dübendorf Airport on a schedule service to Berlin with intermediate stops in Stuttgart and Leipzig. After passing the border between Switzerland and Germany, while cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The right wing detached and the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent then crashed in a wooded area located in Tuttlingen, some 30 km north of the Swiss/German border. The aircraft was completely demolished by impact forces and all 12 occupants were killed. This was the first accident involving a Swissair's aircraft since its foundation in 1931. Brand new, the aircraft was in service by the Swiss National carrier since March 28, 1934.
Crew:
Armin Mühlematter, pilot,
Hans Daschinger, radio navigator,
Nelly Diener, stewardess. First official stewardess in Europe, she started her carrier by Swissair on May 1st, 1934.