Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mte in Vienna

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1938 at 2356 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-ANOY
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Berlin – Vienna – Athens – Baghdad
MSN:
5663
YOM:
1937
Location:
Vienna-Schwechat
Lower Austria
Country:
Austria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Vienna-Schwechat Airport at night, the aircraft impacted the ground, lost its undercarriage and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest, bursting into flames. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the flying crew who continued the approach at a too low altitude.

Crash of a Wibault 283.T12 in Kašperské Hory: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1937 at 1729 LT
Type of aircraft:
Wibault 282/283
Operator:
Registration:
F-AMYD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bucharest – Vienna – Prague – Paris
MSN:
11
YOM:
1934
Location:
Kašperské Hory
Plzeň Region (Plzeňský kraj)
Country:
Czech Republic
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft departed Vienna-Schwechat Airport at 1555LT bound for Prague. Approaching the Czech capital city, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was instructed by ATC to return to Vienna. Few minutes later, the crew decided to initiate a descent but did not realize he was off course by 120 km. While descending in low visibility, at an altitude of some 700 metres, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a snowy forest located on the north slope of Mt Hut'ska. The wreckage was found a day later in 60 cm of snow. The aircraft named 'Le Glorieux' was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Frantisek Lehky, pilot,
Pierre Astruc, radio navigator.
Passenger:
Karel Flanderka.
Probable cause:
According to the authorities, the accident was caused by the combination of the following factors:
- Poor weather conditions,
- Low visibility,
- Failure of the direction finding equipment,
- Erroneous tracking calculation on part of the crew,
- Incomplete instructions transmitted by ATC based in Prague.

Crash of a Caudron C.81 in Törökbálint

Date & Time: May 24, 1928 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Caudron C.81
Operator:
Registration:
F-AGGF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris – Strasbourg – Prague – Vienna – Budapest
MSN:
5553.5
YOM:
1924
Location:
Törökbálint
Pest
Country:
Hungary
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to Budapest Airport on a leg from Vienna, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. From a height of about 10 metres, the airplane stalled and crashed in an open field located in Törökbálint, some 25 km west of Budapest Airport. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
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