Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route from Wiesbaden-Erbenheim to Berlin-Tempelhof, taking part to the Berlin Airlift, an engine caught fire. The captain ordered his crew and both passengers to bail out. After these four people evacuated the cabin, he reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing in a field. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed in flames in a field located in Heroldishausen, northwest of Bad Langensalza. The aircraft was destroyed and the captain was killed. The four other occupants were uninjured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that an hydraulic line failed in flight, causing the fluid to flow into the engine and to catch fire while contacting high temperature parts of the engine.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK in Wiesbaden AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

44-76491

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Northolt – Wiesbaden

MSN:

16075/32823

YOM:

1945

Location:

Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB

Hesse

Country:

Germany

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while approaching Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Ravolzhausen: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1948 at 0731 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-16036

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Berlin - Wiesbaden

MSN:

20502

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Berlin-Tempelhof to the airbase of Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, taking part to the Berlin Airlift. While cruising in a reduced visibility due to foggy conditions, the aircraft collided with a USAF Douglas C-47A-80-DL registered 43-15116 and carrying also a crew of two and conducting the same operation from Berlin to Wiesbaden. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground. The first crashed about 100 yards south of the city of Ravolzhausen while the second crashed about one km northwest of the same city. All four crew members on both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Ravolzhausen: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1948 at 0731 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-15116

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Berlin - Wiesbaden

MSN:

19582

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Berlin-Tempelhof to the airbase of Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, taking part to the Berlin Airlift. While cruising in a reduced visibility due to foggy conditions, the aircraft collided with a USAF Douglas C-47A-90-DL registered 43-16036 and carrying also a crew of two and conducting the same operation from Berlin to Wiesbaden. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground. The first crashed about 100 yards south of the city of Ravolzhausen while the second crashed about one km northwest of the same city. All four crew members on both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Berlin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1948 at 0100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-49534

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Wiesbaden – Berlin

MSN:

15350/26795

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Berlin-Tempelhof Airport, taking part to the Berlin Airlift, the twin engine aircraft hit the roof of a building and crashed in flames in the adjacent street located in the suburb of Friedenau. Both crewmen were killed while three people on the ground were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Königstein im Taunus: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1948 at 2330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-48256

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Wiesbaden – Berlin

MSN:

14072/25517

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB, while climbing by night, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Steinkopf located near Königstein im Taunus, about 16 km northeast of Wiesbaden Airport. All three crew members were killed. They were involved in the Berlin Airlift.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Wiesbaden

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1948 at 2359 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-15096

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Berlin – Wiesbaden

MSN:

19562

YOM:

1944

Location:

Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB

Hesse

Country:

Germany

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to Wiesbaden-Erbenheim AFB was completed by night and poor weather conditions. On final, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located 1,6 km short of runway 25 threshold. Both pilots were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.