Country
Germany

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m near Le Grand-Bornand: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1936 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-ASIH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Lisbon – Burgos – Geneva – Munich
MSN:
5078
YOM:
1935
Location:
Le Grand-Bornand
Haute-Savoie
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While cruising over the Alps in poor weather conditions and strong winds, the three engine aircraft named 'Rudolf Windisch' impacted the slope of a mountain and crashed near Le Grand-Bornand, some 20 km east of Annecy. All six occupants were killed. Inside the cabin were stored boxes containing leaflets of the Franco regime.
Probable cause:
Strong winds caused the aircraft to fly out of track. Poor visibility was a contributing factor.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Hanover

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1936 at 1822 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-ATAK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
London – Berlin
MSN:
5169
YOM:
1935
Location:
Hanover
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Croydon to Berlin, the crew encountered severe icing conditions. The captain decided to divert to Hanover for a safe landing but on approach, he was forced to attempt and emergency landing. The three engine airplane named 'Marschall von Bieberstein' crash landed in an open field and came to rest, bursting into flames. All 15 occupants evacuated, among them seven were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
Icing.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge near Nuremberg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1936 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-ASUI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Leipzig – Nuremberg
MSN:
5498
YOM:
1936
Location:
Nuremberg
Bavaria
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While descending to Nuremberg Airport in foggy conditions, the three engine aircraft deviated from the approach path and was too low when it collided with trees and crashed in a wooded area located on Mt Moritzberg (603 metres high), some 15 km east of Nuremberg Airport. The Captain and three passenger were killed while 12 other occupants were injured. The aircraft named 'Hans Berr' was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Captain Hochmuth.
Probable cause:
Too low approach in low visibility caused by poor weather conditions: fog and snow falls.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Madrid

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
22-74
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Madrid
Madrid
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed near Madrid after being shot down by the pilot of a Soviet Polikarpov I-15 fighter. Occupant fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Tabarz: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1936 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-APOO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Frankfurt – Erfurt
MSN:
5506
YOM:
1936
Location:
Tabarz
Thuringia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While approaching Erfurt from the west, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to fog. The three engine aircraft was flying too low when its impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Tabarz, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found about 38 km southwest of Erfurt. Four passengers were injured and 11 other occupants were killed. The aircraft named 'Heinrich Kroll' was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the pilot lost his bearings while flying in heavy fog, resulting in either a controlled flight into terrain or an uncontrolled descent into the ground.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mce in Frankfurt

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-AJUX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4028
YOM:
1933
Location:
Frankfurt-Main
Hesse
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane named 'Hermann Göring' crashed in unknown circumstances near Frankfurt Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52 in Oberhof: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1936 at 2330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Erfurt - Erfurt
Location:
Oberhof
Thuringia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Erfurt on a night training flight. He was supposed to simulate night attacks of Erfurt from various directions. Coming from the south, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Oberhof. The pilot and the observer were killed while the radio operator and the mechanic were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Viktor Matthieu, pilot, †
Lt Kurt Kirsch, observer, †
Sgt Friedl Delvo, radio operator,
Cpl Frey, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge on Mt Lyhesten: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1936 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
LN-DAE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bergen – Tromsø
MSN:
4077
YOM:
1935
Location:
Hyllestad
Sogn og Fjordane
Country:
Norway
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The three engine float plane named 'Havørn' departed Bergen harbor at 0630LT on a flight to Tromsø. At 0654LT, the crew reported his position at an altitude estimated between 3,000 and 5,000 feet. Six minutes later, while cruising in clouds, the airplane impacted the south face of Mt Lyhesten located 4 km west of Hyllestad. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Ditlef Pentz Smith, pilot,
Erik Storm, copilot,
Per Ruth Paasche, pilot,
Per Erling Hegle, radio operator.
Passengers:
Harald Wigum,
Sven Løgit,
Wilhelm Dall.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the airplane deviated from the prescribed route by 15-20 km in marginal weather conditions.

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

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1936 at 0115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-ASOR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Finsterwalde - Gresthofen-Gablingen
MSN:
5044
YOM:
1935
Location:
Orvin
Bern
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft departed Finsterwalde AFB (north of Dresden) on a special flight to Gersthofen-Gablingen AFB located in Augsburg, Bavaria, carrying two passengers and three crew members on behalf of the German Air Force. Approaching Augsburg, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to snow falls. At night, the crew lost his bearings and continued over Augsburg until Switzerland. Despite the crew was in contact with Stuttgart an Munich Control, he got lost and continued to the south. At night and poor visibility, the airplane passed over the Jura until it impacted the slope of a mountain located near the village of Orvin, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found an hour later, about 300 km southwest from the destination airport. Two crewmen were rescued while three other occupants were killed. It is believed that the crew became totally disoriented due to low visibility (night and snow falls), and despite the assistance provided by ATC located in Munich and Stuttgart via all Direction Finding Equipment, it was not possible to help the crew to find his route. At the time of the accident, the cabin was equipped with military materials while the aircraft was believed to be a civilian version.
Crew:
Mr. Greis, †
Mr. Schönfeld, †
Mr. Beyer, †
Mr. Brecht,
Mr. Bender.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following a navigational error on part of the crew caused by poor weather conditions and disordered Direction Finding Equipment.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Saualpe

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1936
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
OE-LAL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Vienna – Graz – Klagenfurt – Venice – Rome
MSN:
5289
YOM:
1935
Location:
Saualpe
Carinthia
Country:
Austria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
393
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Vienna-Aspern Airport on a regular schedule service to Rome with intermediate stops in Graz, Klagenfurt and Venice. On board were two passengers and a crew of three. On the leg from Graz to Klagenfurt, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with blizzard. While cruising at an altitude of 2,000 metres, the captain attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed on the slope of a mountain located in Saualpe, about 33 km northeast of Klagenfurt Airport. All five occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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