Johannesburg – Cairo – Rome – Frankfurt – Amsterdam

On March 22, 1952 at 10:50 AM, Johannesburg – Cairo – Rome – Frankfurt – Amsterdam experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-6, operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, with the event recorded near Frankfurt-Main Hesse.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

47 people were known to be on board, 45 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 95.7%.

Crew on board: 10, crew fatalities: 9, passengers on board: 37, passenger fatalities: 36, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The descent to Frankfurt was started in poor weather conditions with light rain, overcast at 1,500 feet and few clouds at 300 feet. The crew informed ATC about his position vertical of Staden beacon at 4,000 feet and few minutes later over Offenbach at an altitude of 2,500 feet. For unknown reason, the four engine aircraft christened 'Koningin Juliana' was too low, hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located about 7 km northeast of the airport. A passenger and a crew member were seriously injured while 45 other occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration PH-TPJ, MSN 43114, year of manufacture 1948.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 50.1362°, 8.5955°.