Country
code

Brandenburg

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 near Potsdam: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGNZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berlin – London
MSN:
1227
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the rpm on engine number one fluctuated. The pilot-in-command continued the takeoff procedure and after rotation, during the initial climb, he shut down the engine and feathered the propeller. The crew informed ATC about his situation and elected to return to Gatow Airport when the engine number one caught fire. The situation worsened rapidly and the captain eventually decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field located north of Potsdam when the aircraft crashed. A crew member was killed while two others were injured.
Probable cause:
Fire on engine number one.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Wünsdorf

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW145
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wünsdorf – Northolt
MSN:
MW145
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, engines number one and two lost power. The aircraft banked left and the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure so he landed immediately. After touchdown, he realized that the distance available was insufficient so he raised the landing gear. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Simultaneous loss of power on both left engines just after liftoff for undetermined reason.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Wünsdorf AFB

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALBX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wünsdorf - London
MSN:
PC4494
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine number four failed. The crew elected to return but while at an altitude of 550 feet, the engine number three suffered a loss of power. In such conditions, the captain attempted to make an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft crash landed and came to rest few km from the airport. While all three crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Nauen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKAC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hamburg – Berlin
MSN:
1340
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching Berlin on a cargo flight from Hamburg, taking part to the Berlin Airlift, the four engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Nauen, about 26 km northwest of Tegel Airport. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William Richard Donald Lewis, pilot,
Edward Ernest Caroll, navigator,
John Anderson, flight engineer,
Kenneth George Wood, radio operator.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Wünsdorf AFB

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW270
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wünsdorf – Northolt
MSN:
MW270
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, a speed indicator failed. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff maneuver and started an emergency brake procedure. As the distance within the end of the runway was insufficient, he raised the gear. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. While all four crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Wünsdorf AFB

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW245
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wünsdorf – Northolt
MSN:
MW245
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft suffered severe vibrations with the ailerons and the captain decided to abort the takeoff procedure. He realized that it would not be possible to stop the aircraft within the runway end, so he raised the undercarriage and the aircraft sank on its belly. It then slid for several yards, overran and came to rest against an earth mound. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown but it was reported that a maintenance was made on the aircraft shortly before the accident. It is understood that some mechanics failed to follow some maintenance procedures and that certain parts were not original, which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Wünsdorf AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW288
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wünsdorf – Lyneham
MSN:
SET26
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff, while in initial climb, the engine number one failed. The pilot tried to maintain a control of the aircraft in order to avoid buildings ahead but once the altitude of 300 feet was reached, the aircraft banked left, stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine number one caused by the failure of the eight spark plug's cap that were not from origin.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Steinreich: 18 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-ANAJ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berlin – Prague – Vienna – Munich
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft left Berlin-Tempelhof in the evening on a flight to Munich with intermediate stops in Prague and Vienna. While cruising about 60 km south of Berlin, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Soviet fighter and crashed in flames in a field located in Steinreich. Two passengers were seriously injured while 18 other occupants were killed, among them the German filmmaker Hans Steinhoff. This was the last flight for Lufthansa from Berlin before the end of the WWII.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a Soviet fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-75-BO Flying Fortress in Pessin: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1944 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-38060
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9038
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a bombing mission when flying some 50 km west of Berlin, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter. The aircraft christened 'Texas Bluebonnet' dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 2 miles south of Pessin. Eight crew members were killed while the ninth occupant was injured.
Crew (548th BS):
Lucien Courcelle, †
Frank Bullen, †
Hubert Bivins, †
Roy Slaper, †
Delbert Hamilton, †
Roland Leider, †
Jerry Weir, †
Bob Bozine, †
Marvin Wolverton.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II near Liebenberg: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1944 at 1936 LT
Operator:
Registration:
JN899
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Melbourne at 1636LT on a bombing mission over Berlin. Claimed by Oblt Wilhelm Johnen 5/NJG5 - NNW Berlin at 1936LT. Also claimed by 3rd battery of the Railway Flak Department 416. Crashed in a forest near Liebenberg, between Grüneberg and Liebenberg, southeast of Löwenberg. All seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.