Date & Time:
May 15, 1953 at 1655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
51-8235
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Frankfurt - Frankfurt
MSN:
10783
YOM:
1951
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
6
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The C-119 was part of a combined exercise with 17 other similar machines that left Frankfurt-Main Airbase in the afternoon. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the aircraft was hit by a Republic F-84 Thunderjet registered 51-628. His pilot was also taking part to a combined exercise with 11 other Thunderjet. Following the impact, both aircraft went into a dive and hit a second C-119 (registered 51-8241) flying in the same formation and also carrying a crew of six. All three aircraft crashed in a field located in Weinheim. All six crew members on board the C-119 registered 51-8235 were killed while on the second one, two were killed and four were rescued. The pilot of the fighter was able to bail out and landed safely.
