Zone
Crash of a Douglas DC-7 in Nuremberg
Date & Time:
Feb 18, 1961 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N745PA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Frankfurt – Stuttgart
MSN:
44887
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Frankfurt to Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport. On final, weather conditions were marginal with low clouds down to 200 meters and a visibility limited to a half mile. As the copilot was unable to locate the runway, he decided to make a go around when the right main gear and the engine number three struck an earth mound located 20 meters short of runway threshold. Upon impact, the engine number three and the right main gear were sheared off. The captain regained control, continued the climb and informed ground he was diverting to Nuremberg Airport for a safe landing. Authorities were informed of the situation and the runway was recovered with foam. After a belly landing, the airplane slid for several yards and came to rest. All three crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the copilot-in-command continued the approach below the glide and executed an improper approach according to procedures, causing the aircraft to be too low on final. A lack of supervision on part of the captain was considered as a contributing factor.
Crash of a Nord 2501D Noratlas on Mt Argentera: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 15, 1960
Operator:
Registration:
GA+249
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nuremberg – Stuttgart – Torino
MSN:
60
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane struck Mt Argentera (3,297 meters high) located in the Italian Alps. The wreckage was found a week later, on March 22 on the west slope of the mountain. The airplane was destroyed and all six crew members have been killed. It is believed the aircraft was off course at the time of the accident, maybe following a navigation error.
Crash of a Lockheed 18 LearStar I in Krumpendorf: 3 killed
Date & Time:
Aug 24, 1957 at 1958 LT
Registration:
D-COCA
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stuttgart – Klagenfurt
MSN:
2606
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was on his way to Klagenfurt with a load of flowers for the celebration of the Velden fest. On approach to Klagenfurt-Annabichl Airport, the twin engine aircraft lost its left wing, dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located in Krumpendorf, about 10 km west of runway 29 threshold. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to the breaking off of the left wing between the engine and the fuselage as a result of overstrain on the assembly, and fuel ignition followed. A stress failure was assumed after examination of the left wing fracture. This assumption was supported by the laboratory examination report of the Vienna Technische Hochschule. The summary of the report given by the Technical Testing and Research Laboratory of the Vienna Technische Hochschule indicates the fol- lowing: "The Aviation Authority submitted two pieces of the wing spar originating from the crashed aircraft D-COCA. The pieces were U-shaped pressed profiles of light metal. The fracture surfaces of the profiles and the neighbouring areas showed large, permanent distortions which pre - ceded the fracture. The fracture, a bending failure, resulted from a single static and jolting overstress. Examinations showed that the fracture surfaces do not reveal any traces of a vibration failure.. ." Since the fuselage and the right wing had been completely demolished, only the control linkage of the left wing could be tested. A limited operation of the aileron was still possible despite the partial distortion of the wing through impact. The left half of the elevator was broken at the attachment flange of the torsion rod. About 60% of the skin on the left half of the stabilizer was torn off on one side, probably due to interior pressure (rivet extraction) and showed traces of burns and soot on the side as well as on the outside.
Final Report:
Crash of a Boeing B-29A-45-BN Superfortress near Owen: 10 killed
Date & Time:
Jun 10, 1955 at 2330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-61780
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Molesworth – Stuttgart
MSN:
11257
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from RAF Molesworth, Cambridgeshire, to Stuttgart. While approaching Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport by night, the crew was contacted by ATC and rerouted to Fürstenfeldbruck Airbase near Munich due to insufficient visibility caused by foggy conditions. Few minutes later, while cruising at low height, the airplane hit the slope of Mt Teckberg located about 1,5 km east of Owen. All ten crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.
Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor near Dijon: 9 killed
Date & Time:
Sep 27, 1944 at 2030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
NA+WN
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stuttgart – Barcelona
MSN:
0021
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
En route from Stuttgart to Barcelona, while cruising over Dijon, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a RAF Bristol Beaufighter and crashed in a pasture. All nine occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a RAF fighter.
Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Stuttgart
Date & Time:
Apr 1, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-55964
MSN:
2401
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off. Crew fate remains unknown.
Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Stuttgart: 4 killed
Date & Time:
Sep 30, 1940
Operator:
Registration:
X2902
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lindholme - Lindholme
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Lindholme at 1859LT on September 29 to attack the Bosch Factory in Stuttgart. Approaching the target, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
S/L John Cornelius Taylor,
Sgt Alan Gordon Hobson,
Sgt Peter Anthony Merrick,
Sgt Kenneth Harrison Watchous.
Crew:
S/L John Cornelius Taylor,
Sgt Alan Gordon Hobson,
Sgt Peter Anthony Merrick,
Sgt Kenneth Harrison Watchous.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
Crash of a Heinkel He.70 in Stuttgart: 2 killed
Date & Time:
May 20, 1937 at 1300 LT
Operator:
Registration:
D-UXUV
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stuttgart – Friedrichshafen
MSN:
916
YOM:
1935
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed. The radio navigator Feude and one passengers were killed while four other occupants were injured, the pilot seriously.
