Serbia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While descending to Belgrade-Surcin Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. On final, ATC informed the pilot his altitude was insufficient and that he was approaching below the glide. In foggy conditions, the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located on the slope of Mt Avala (520 meters high) located about 20 km from the runway 30 threshold. The wreckage was found about 35 meters below the summit and all 33 occupants were killed. Among the victims were Marshall Sergei S. Biryuzov and General Vladimir I. Zhdanov accompanied by 15 WWII Veterans who were flying to Belgrade to take part to the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the offensive of the city of Belgrade by the Soviet Army on 20 October 1944. Following the accident, all celebrations were cancelled.

Probable cause:

The crew continued the approach at an insufficient altitude, maybe due to an altimeter misreading or malfunction. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to fog and the weather conditions were poor due to rain falls and cross winds up to 25 knots.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XI in Šabac

Date & Time: May 31, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

PH824

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Belgrade - Belgrade

Location:

Šabac

Šumadija and Western Serbia

Country:

Serbia

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While performing a training sortie from Belgrade, the aircraft suffered a double engine failure. The crew reduced his altitude and completed a safe belly landing in a field located less than 2 km south from Šabac. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all three crew members were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Velika Ivanča: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

D-AUAW

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Athens – Sofia – Belgrade – Vienna

MSN:

641039

YOM:

1943

Location:

Velika Ivanča

Belgrade City District

Country:

Serbia

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft christened 'Gerhard Amann' was approaching Belgrade Airport at an altitude of some 400 meters when it was shot down by the pilots of three enemy fighters and crashed in a field located in Velika Ivanča, south of Belgrade. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Stara Pazova: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

D-AOCA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

E17

MSN:

640996

Flight number:

Vienna – Belgrade – Sofia – Thessaloniki – Athens

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after its take off from Belgrade-Zemun Airfield, while climbing, the aircraft was attacked by an allied fighter. The three engine aircraft was hit in the rear and the starboard and then caught fire. Out of control, it crashed in a field located in Stara Pazova, some 25 km north of Belgrade. Two crew members were seriously injured while all five other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by allied fighter.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Belgrade: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1944 at 1345 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

D-ADQW

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Thessaloniki – Belgrade

MSN:

640610

YOM:

1943

Location:

Belgrade-Nikola Tesla (ex Surčin)

Belgrade City District

Country:

Serbia

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft christened 'Harry Rother' left Thessaloniki Airport at 1020LT bound for Belgrade. On approach from the east, crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility with a cloud base at 200 meters. Aircraft was too low and hit a hill located 16 km east of the Belgrade-Zemun Airport. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Pilot error.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m near Bukovac: 17 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

D-AYGX

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Budapest – Belgrade

MSN:

7208

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While passing over Novi Sad, bound for Belgrade, the captain encountered marginal weather conditions with low clouds. Some five km east of Bukovac, the three-engine aircraft christened 'Johannes Höroldt' hit the north slope of Mt Fruška Gora (380 meters high). The wreckage was found less than 30 meters from the summit, the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 17 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It appears that weather information transmitted to the crew were erroneous and did not reflect the reality. At the time of the accident, the cloud base was lower than the 600 meter base previously announced.