Region
Europe

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Soest: 20 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1938 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels – Düsseldorf – Berlin
MSN:
4
YOM:
1936
Location:
Soest
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
On the leg from Düsseldorf to Berlin, while cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet in fog and rain, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. All 20 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Joseph Vanden Eynde, pilot,
André Edmond Moulin, copilot,
Josef Baus, radio operator,
Charles Deleusse, engineer.
Passengers:
Friedrich Luther,
Ernst Maurach,
Walter Kappes,
Mrs. Walter Kappes and three children,
Paul Ullmann +8.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. There was speculation that a propeller may have broken, tearing loose an engine, or that the pilot may have attempted a sudden pullout from a rapid descent, the manoeuvre over stressing a wing and causing its failure.

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

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-AMOK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Frankfurt - Frankfurt
Location:
Frankfurt-Main
Hesse
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On final approach to Frankfurt-Main Airport, the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane impacted the ground and crashed short of runway. A crew member was killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
Maj Willy Kanstein,
Uffz Offermann, †
Uffz Ahlburg,
Fw Schlereth.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Junkers W.34 in Berlin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1938 at 1655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers W.34
Operator:
Registration:
D-OQAT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Berlin - Berlin
Location:
Berlin-Gatow
Berlin
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Berlin-Gatow to perform a local training flight on behalf of the Luftkriegsschule (LKS). On final approach, the airplane collided with a private Gotha Go.145 registered D-ININ and carrying one pilot. Both aircraft entered a dive and crashed near the airport, killing all three occupants.
Crew:
Uffz Bernard,
Uffz Marienhagen.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the private pilot on board the Gotha initiated a non standard approach, cutting the trajectory of the Junkers and causing the collision.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73 in Oberkirch: 17 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1938 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
OK-BAG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Prague – Strasbourg – Paris
MSN:
30040
YOM:
1937
Location:
Oberkirch
Baden-Württemberg
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The approach to Strasbourg Airport was completed in low visibility due to foggy conditions. While descending, the three engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Oberkirch, some 22 km east of Strasbourg. The stewardess was seriously injured while all 16 other occupants were killed. The following day, the only survivor died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Karel Brabenec, pilot,
Bedřich Soukup, copilot,
Alois Krahulec, navigator,
M. Krautnerová, stewardess.
Probable cause:
Too low approach in fog.

Crash of a Heinkel He.116V2 in Langeoog: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Heinkel He.116
Operator:
Registration:
D-ATIO
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
546
Location:
Langeoog
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on Langeoog Island, killing all three crew members who were completing a test flight.

Crash of a Junkers JU.90V1 near Dessau: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.90
Operator:
Registration:
D-AALU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dessau - Dessau
MSN:
4913
YOM:
1937
Location:
Dessau
Saxony-Anhalt
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a test flight on this four engine aircraft named 'Der grosse Dessauer'. While in an overspeed test configuration, the aircraft suffered a structural failure and went out of control. Two crew members were able to bail out while the third occupant was killed when the aircraft crashed in an open field.
Crew:
Karl-Heinz B. Kindermann, test pilot,
Erich Gast, engineer,
Mr. Hahnemann, engineer, †.
Probable cause:
Rudder part broke off in flight during a high speed test.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mte in Frankfurt: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1938 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-ABUR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Milan – Frankfurt
MSN:
5777
YOM:
1937
Location:
Frankfurt-Main
Hesse
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
On approach in snow falls and icing conditions, the three engine aircraft named 'Charles Haar' went out of control and crashed. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Icing.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Roggentin: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt (DVL)
Registration:
D-AFYN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Roggentin - Roggentin
MSN:
5352
YOM:
1935
Location:
Roggentin
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight on behalf of the German Research Institute for Aviation, testing a new IFR landing system. On approach to Roggentin in poor visibility due to fog, the three engine airplane impacted ground and crashed. Two crew members were seriously injured and five others were killed.
Crew:
FF Otto von Medem, †
FBF Schröder, †
Uffz Henry Kötke, †
Cpt Friedrich Kurth, †
Cpt Walter Merten, †
FBF Friedrich Bülte,
BO Rackow.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

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:
Schriesheim
Baden-Württemberg
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
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.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Tutow

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
S2+P10
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tutow - Tutow
MSN:
5151
YOM:
1934
Location:
Tutow
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane departed Tutow on a local exercice. While cruising in the vicinity of the airfield, the aircraft collided with a second Deutsche Luftwaffe Junkers JU.52/3mge registered S2+P09 and carrying a crew of seven. Both aircraft crashed and were destroyed. All seven crew members on board S2+P09 were killed while the fate of the crew in the second aircraft remains unclear.
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