Mannheim | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crash of a Dornier DO328-110 in Mannheim

Date & Time: Mar 19, 2008 at 1745 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO328

Operator:

Registration:

D-CTOB

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Berlin - Mannheim

MSN:

3107

YOM:

1999

Flight number:

RUS1567

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5000

Captain / Total hours on type:

1700.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

320

Copilot / Total hours on type:

130

Aircraft flight hours:

13029

Aircraft flight cycles:

13185

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Berlin-Tempelhof Airport, the crew started a LOC/DME approach to runway 27 at Mannheim Airport. The copilot was the pilot-in-command and reported to the captain he has difficulties to land in Mannheim. On approach, the aircraft descended below the prescribed altitude of 5,000 feet. At an altitude of 3,800 feet, some 100 feet below the Minimum Sector Altitude (MSA), the captain instructed the copilot to arrest the descent and climb back to 5,000 feet. After he was established on the localizer, the crew continued the approach. Shortly before landing, the aircraft floated over the runway and the touchdown zone and landed too far down the runway, about 530 metres past the runway threshold. After touchdown, the aircraft encountered difficulties to decelerate and was unable to stop within the remaining distance of 480 metres. It overran at a speed of 50 knots, lost its left main gear and came to rest against an embankment. All 27 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The following findings were identified:
- The throttle, after placement by the PIC (PF), could not be moved into 'ground idle' or reverse,
- The landing was not aborted after the plane had flown over the touchdown zone,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure,
- During the flare for landing, the engine throttles were not selected to 'flight idle', which was not noted by both pilots,
- The flight crew flew the approach not in accordance with SOPs, and thereby pushing and even exceeding the limits.
The following factors contributed to the accident:
- Many non-precision approaches and landings at Mannheim City were not performed according to air carriers OMs,
- The TRs and FOIs of the aircraft manufacturer were not incorporated into the OM/B and D of the air carrier,
- The practical training of the flight crew by the air carrier was inadequate in terms of preventing an erroneous operation of the throttle control on the basis of the manufacturer of the Do 328-100 issued instructions,
- The flight crew conducted a non-precision approach, which did not meet the procedural requirements of the OM of the air carrier and the AIP,
- The design of the power lever was not forgiving enough,
- The risks of existing problems in the operation of the power levers were not correctly identified and eliminated by by the relevant authorities and the relevant type certificate holder, in spite of several relevant events and various safety recommendations,
- The touchdown zone in Mannheim was not marked,
- The size and design of the safety area at the end of runway 27 was not sufficient to guarantee the operation of the flight within the safety levels set by ICAO and the legislator.

Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 303 TCrusader near Dossenheim: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 2000 at 0900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 303 Crusader

Operator:

Registration:

N9645C

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Regensburg - Mannheim

MSN:

303-00197

YOM:

1982

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

875

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Regensburg-Oberhub Airport in the morning on a flight to Mannheim City. About 15 minutes prior to arrival, the pilot cancelled his IFR flight plan and started the descent under VFR mode. On approach, at an altitude of 1,700 feet and at a speed of 110 knots, the aircraft struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain located east of Dossenheim, about 15 km southeast of Mannheim Airport, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured. He died from his injuries two weeks later.

Probable cause:

The decision of the pilot to continue the approach under VFR mode in IMC conditions. The limited visibility caused by low clouds was considered as a contributing factor. At the time of the accident, the hilly terrain was shrouded in clouds. For unknown reasons, the approach speed was relatively low (110 knots).

Final Report:

Crash d'un Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III in Heidelberg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1994 at 1645 LT

Type of aircraft:

Cessna 421C Golden Eagle III

Operator:

Registration:

D-IACH

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Vienna - Mannheim

MSN:

421C-0672

YOM:

1979

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft was approaching Mannheim Airport following an uneventful flight from Vienna-Schwechat. The pilot encountered poor visibility due to fog and failed to realize his altitude was too low when the aircraft struck a tall tree, stalled and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found on the slope of Mt Königstuhl, east of Heidelberg, about 17 km southeast of Mannheim Airport. A passenger was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed. Two weeks later, on December 7, the only survivor died from his injuries. On board were two pilots aged 34 and 29, and two passengers, Otto Rüdiger and Klaus O. Fleck, both head corporate of the Südzucker Group.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II near Mannheim

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 406 Wellington II

Operator:

Registration:

W5552

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Binbrook - Binbrook

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Binbrook on an operation to Nuremberg. It was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Mannheim. All six crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Norman Cass,
Sgt Kenneth Allan Cometti,
Sgt Charles Bernard Elsdon,
Sgt Douglas Clair Jackson,
Sgt Clifford Westley Lewis,
Sgt Frederick Gordon Pett.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II near Mannheim: 6 killed

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 406 Wellington II

Operator:

Registration:

W5485

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Driffield - Driffield

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Driffield at 2234LT on August 5 on an operation to Karlsruhe. It was shot down over Mannheim and crashed in Neckarau, south of the city. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Benedict Warren Melvill Jones, pilot,
Sgt Warren Steen Denby, pilot,
P/O Harry Brant, observer,
F/Sgt Richard Neilson Barcroft, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Raymond John David, wireless operator,
Sgt Granville Fallows Lister, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near Mannheim

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

L4053

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Scampton – Scampton

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Scampton on a bombing mission over Ludwigshafen. Cruising at night, it crashed in unknown circumstances near Mannheim. All four crew members became PoW.
Crew:
P/O Ian Menzies Muir, pilot,
Sgt Walter Barber,
Sgt John Leakey,
AC2 Francis Arthur Stone.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Mannheim: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

6461

YOM:

1939

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed for unknown reasons shortly after takeoff from Mannheim Airport. A crew member was killed and three others were injured.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111 near Schriesheim: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1937 at 1657 LT

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

D-AXAV

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Berlin – Mannheim

MSN:

1830

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Mannheim Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. On final approach, the airplane was off course when, at an altitude of 1,500 feet and at a speed of 430 km/h, it impacted the east slope of Mt Weisser Stein located near Schriesheim, some 15 km east of Mannheim Airport. Two passengers were seriously injured and 10 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Friedrich Günther, pilot, †
Jakob Thaler, radio operator. †
Passengers:
Gustav Adolf Stoltze, †
Adolf Hörner, †
Eugen Wallenstädter, †
Mr. Steegen, †
Max Kornbaum, †
Alois Bender, †
Wolfgang Ullmann, †
Vinzens Wagner, †
Walter Egeli,
H. Duisberger.

Probable cause:

No mechanical anomalies were found on the aircraft, engines and instruments. At the time of the accident, the airplane was not following the proper approach path for Mannheim Airport, probably following a navigational error favored by the foggy conditions.