Berlin-Tempelhof | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route from Berlin to Görlitz, the airplane suffered a structural failure on the fuselage. The captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field located in Rietschen. Eight occupants were injured, four seriously, while the pilot Schirmer and the flight engineer Bischof were killed.

Probable cause:

In-flight structural failure.

Crash of a Messerschmitt M.20b in Dresden: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1930 at 0900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Messerschmitt M.20

Operator:

Registration:

D-1930

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Berlin – Dresden – Prague - Vienna

MSN:

443

YOM:

1930

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Circumstances:

On final approach to Dresden-Heller Airport, at a height of 600 feet, the aircraft stalled, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a wooded area located near the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were good.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of an engine failure.

Crash of an Udet U12a Flamingo in Berlin: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1930

Type of aircraft:

Udet U12 Flamingo

Operator:

Registration:

D-1760

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Berlin – Braunschweig

MSN:

437

YOM:

1928

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Berlin on a training flight to Braunschweig. Shortly after takeoff from Tempelhof Airport, while climbing to a height of 100 metres, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field. The pilot Richard Rödel was killed and the pilot Gerhard Kurz was seriously injured.

Crash of a Fokker-Grulich F.IIb in Jüterbog

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1930 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker-Grulich F2

Operator:

Registration:

D-758

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Chemnitz – Berlin

MSN:

1586

YOM:

1925

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En route from Chemnitz to Berlin, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in an open field located in Jüterbog and came to rest, bursting into flames. The passenger was slightly injured and the pilot was unhurt. The aircraft named 'Trave' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Focke-Wulf A.16c in Berlin

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1930 at 1613 LT

Type of aircraft:

Focke-Wulf A.16

Operator:

Registration:

D-467

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Berlin - Berlin

MSN:

YOM:

1924

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged in a local joyride out from Berlin-Tempelhof Airport, carrying three passengers and one pilot. At 1555LT, during the takeoff roll, after a course of 450 metres, the pilot realized he could not liftoff so he returned to the hangar, thinking that the engine was not producing sufficient power due to sparking plugs issue. Following verification, he decided to attempt a second takeoff at 1613LT. After a course of 350 metres, the aircraft lifted off then climbed to a height of about 10 metres when it stalled, rolled to the right and crashed. All four occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Despite his experience on this type of aircraft (116 flights), the pilot Walter Kuhlmay failed to realize that the airplane was too heavy at takeoff.

Crash of an Udet U12a Flamingo in Berlin

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1930 at 0900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Udet U12 Flamingo

Operator:

Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt (DVL)

Registration:

D-1437

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Berlin - Berlin

MSN:

391

YOM:

1928

Location:

Berlin

Country:

Germany

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Berlin-Tempelhof Airport on a local test flight. En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft collided with telephone wires and crashed in the district of Rudow. Both crew members were injured, one seriously, and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Junkers W.33d in Limpsfield: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1930

Type of aircraft:

Junkers W.33

Operator:

Registration:

D-1649

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Berlin – Croydon

MSN:

2544

YOM:

1929

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While descending to Croydon on a night cargo flight from Berlin, the airplane went of control and crashed on a hill located in Limpsfield, bursting into flames. The aircraft named 'Baikal' was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Karl Wesell, pilot,
Gustav Ferdinand Connert, mechanic.

Crash of an Arado V1 in Neuruppin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1929 at 0630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Arado V1

Operator:

Registration:

D-1594

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Las Palmas – Seville – Marseille – Berlin

MSN:

YOM:

1929

Location:

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Circumstances:

While approaching Berlin-Tempelhof Airport, the crew encountered foggy conditions and was unable to locate the airport. The pilot lost his orientation and continued to the north. In poor visibility, the single engine aircraft crashed in an open field located in Neuruppin, some 60 km northwest of Berlin. Both pilots Albrecht and Eichentopf were killed and the flight engineer Joachim Von Schröder was seriously injured.

Crash of a Fokker-Grulich F2 in Schlüchtern: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Fokker-Grulich F2

Operator:

Registration:

D-757

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Frankfurt – Berlin

MSN:

1571

YOM:

1925

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

After passing Schlüchtern, Hesse, pilot followed the railway to the northeast when he encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Between the villages of Elm and Hutten, the airplane hit a hilly terrain and crashed. The pilot and three passengers were killed while a fourth passenger (Mrs. Rücker) was seriously injured.
Crew:
Alfred Bauer, pilot.
Passengers:
Josef Groß,
Mrs. Thekla Neubauer (Lufthansa secretary),
Mr. & Mrs. Georg Rücker.

Crash of a Fokker-Grulich F2 in Berlin: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1929 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker-Grulich F2

Operator:

Registration:

D-780

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1572

YOM:

1925

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Berlin-Tempelhof, while climbing, the engine failed. The pilot Hans Loeb lost control of the aircraft that crashed near the runway. The pilot was killed and the aircraft named 'Havel' was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The engine failure was caused by a crankshaft crack.