Zone
Berlin

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in Boizenburg: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1953 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 694 Lincoln
Operator:
Registration:
RF531
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Leconfield – Berlin
Location:
Boizenburg
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route, the four engine bomber was shot down by the pilot of a Soviet AF MiG-15 and crashed in Boizenburg, killing all seven crew members. It is understood tha the aircraft had been attacked after staying off course 'whilst on a routine training mission' from RAF Leconfield to the Airport of Berlin-Gatow. However, that may have been a "cover story" for the aircrafts real mission of ELINT (Electronic Intelligence Gathering) over Soviet-occupied East Germany.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a Soviet AF MiG-15.

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

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGNZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Berlin – London
MSN:
1227
YOM:
1946
Location:
Potsdam
Brandenburg
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
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 a Douglas C-54D-1-DC Skymaster near Hohengöhren: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1949 at 0117 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72476
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Celle – Berlin
MSN:
10581
YOM:
1945
Location:
Hohengöhren
Saxony-Anhalt
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On a night cargo flight from Celle AFB to Berlin-Gatow Airport, the crew encountered technical problems with both right engines (number three and four). The pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field located in Hohengöhren. All three crew members of the 317th TCW were killed. The aircraft was carrying a load consisting of ten tons of coal.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian 4 in Berlin

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Avro 691 Lancastrian
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKFH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London – Berlin
MSN:
485422
YOM:
1947
Location:
Berlin-Gatow
Berlin
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft landed hard and bounced several times, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halton C.8 in Schleswig

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halton I
Operator:
Westminster Airways
Registration:
G-AHDL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Berlin - Schleswig
MSN:
1308
YOM:
1945
Location:
Schleswig AFB
Schleswig-Holstein
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed on landing at Schleswig AFB while performing a cargo flight from Gatow Airport in Berlin, taking part to the Berlin airlift. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all three crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK Dakota C.4 in Lübeck: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KJ970
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Berlin – Lübeck
MSN:
14819/26264
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lübeck-Blankensee
Schleswig-Holstein
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the Berlin Airlift and was flying back to his base in Lübeck-Blankensee. During a night approach, after he went through the last cloud layer, the pilot was blinded by the sodium lamps part of the approach light system. He decided to reduce his altitude and then completed a last turn to the left to join the runway when the aircraft hit the ground and crashed 3 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in Berlin: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHFI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Northolt – Berlin
MSN:
1316
YOM:
1946
Location:
Berlin-Gatow
Berlin
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On final approach to Berlin-Gatow Airport, the four engine aircraft rolled to the left and crashed few hundred metres short of runway threshold. The airplane was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. They were performing a cargo flight from Northolt, taking part to the Berlin Airlift.
Crew:
Cpt Cecil Golding, pilot,
Henry Thomas Newman, copilot,
Peter James Edwards, radio operator.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK in Lübeck: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN491
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Berlin – Lübeck
MSN:
16261/33009
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lübeck-Blankensee
Schleswig-Holstein
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
On final approach to Lübeck-Blankensee Airport in low visibility due to the night and poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit tree tops, stalled and crashed 500 meters further in a wooded area. A pilot and seven passengers were killed while 14 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was taking part to the Berlin Airlift and all passengers, most of them women and children, were German citizens evacuating Berlin. The aircraft left Berlin-Gatow Airport earlier that day.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew continued the approach below the minimum descent altitude.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Berlin

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW300
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Berlin – Abingdon
MSN:
SET32
YOM:
1946
Location:
Berlin-Gatow
Berlin
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll completed in strong cross winds, the aircraft lost directional control, veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Berlin

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW238
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Berlin – Northolt
MSN:
MW238
YOM:
1946
Location:
Berlin-Gatow
Berlin
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll completed in strong cross winds, the aircraft lost directional control, veered off runway, lost its tail wheel and came to rest. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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