Berlin - Zurich

On 24 November 2001 at 20:01 UTC the aircraft AVRO 146 RJ 100, registered as HB-IXM of the Crossair airline company took off in darkness from runway 26L at Berlin-Tegel airport as scheduled flight CRX3597 to Zurich. At 20:58:50 UTC, after an uneventful flight, the aircraft received the clearance for a standard VOR/DME approach 28 at Zurich airport.Ahead of the aircraft involved in the accident, an Embraer EMB 145, flight CRX3891, landed on runway 28 at Zurich airport. The crew informed the control tower that the weather was close to the minimum for this runway. At 21:05:21 UTC flight CRX3597 reported on the aerodrome control frequency. When the aircraft reached the minimum descent altitude (MDA) of 2,390 feet QNH at 21:06:10, the commander mentioned to the copilot that he had certain visual ground contact and continued the descent. At 21:06:36 UTC the aircraft collided with treetops and subsequently crashed into the ground. The aircraft caught fire on impact. Twenty-one passengers and three crew members died from their injuries at the site of the accident; seven passengers and two crew members survived the accident. The wreckage was found in the Geissbühl forest, 4,050 metres short of runway 28.
Berlin - Zurich — crash photo

Flight / Schedule

Berlin - Zurich

Aircraft

Avro RJ100

Registration

HB-IXM

MSN

E3291

Year of Manufacture

1996

Operator

Crossair

Date

November 24, 2001 at 10:07 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Zurich-Kloten Zurich

Region

Europe • Switzerland

Coordinates

47.4439°, 8.5715°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On November 24, 2001 at 10:07 PM, Berlin - Zurich experienced a crash involving Avro RJ100, operated by Crossair, with the event recorded near Zurich-Kloten Zurich.

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.

33 people were known to be on board, 24 fatalities were recorded, 9 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 72.7%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 28, passenger fatalities: 21, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. On 24 November 2001 at 20:01 UTC the aircraft AVRO 146 RJ 100, registered as HB-IXM of the Crossair airline company took off in darkness from runway 26L at Berlin-Tegel airport as scheduled flight CRX3597 to Zurich. At 20:58:50 UTC, after an uneventful flight, the aircraft received the clearance for a standard VOR/DME approach 28 at Zurich airport.Ahead of the aircraft involved in the accident, an Embraer EMB 145, flight CRX3891, landed on runway 28 at Zurich airport. The crew informed the control tower that the weather was close to the minimum for this runway. At 21:05:21 UTC flight CRX3597 reported on the aerodrome control frequency. When the aircraft reached the minimum descent altitude (MDA) of 2,390 feet QNH at 21:06:10, the commander mentioned to the copilot that he had certain visual ground contact and continued the descent. At 21:06:36 UTC the aircraft collided with treetops and subsequently crashed into the ground. The aircraft caught fire on impact. Twenty-one passengers and three crew members died from their injuries at the site of the accident; seven passengers and two crew members survived the accident. The wreckage was found in the Geissbühl forest, 4,050 metres short of runway 28.

Aircraft reference details include registration HB-IXM, MSN E3291, year of manufacture 1996.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 47.4439°, 8.5715°.

Fatalities

Total

24

Crew

3

Passengers

21

Other

0

Crash Summary

On 24 November 2001 at 20:01 UTC the aircraft AVRO 146 RJ 100, registered as HB-IXM of the Crossair airline company took off in darkness from runway 26L at Berlin-Tegel airport as scheduled flight CRX3597 to Zurich. At 20:58:50 UTC, after an uneventful flight, the aircraft received the clearance for a standard VOR/DME approach 28 at Zurich airport.Ahead of the aircraft involved in the accident, an Embraer EMB 145, flight CRX3891, landed on runway 28 at Zurich airport. The crew informed the control tower that the weather was close to the minimum for this runway. At 21:05:21 UTC flight CRX3597 reported on the aerodrome control frequency. When the aircraft reached the minimum descent altitude (MDA) of 2,390 feet QNH at 21:06:10, the commander mentioned to the copilot that he had certain visual ground contact and continued the descent. At 21:06:36 UTC the aircraft collided with treetops and subsequently crashed into the ground. The aircraft caught fire on impact. Twenty-one passengers and three crew members died from their injuries at the site of the accident; seven passengers and two crew members survived the accident. The wreckage was found in the Geissbühl forest, 4,050 metres short of runway 28.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

5

Passengers On Board

28

Estimated Survivors

9

Fatality Rate

72.7%

Known people on board: 33

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Berlin - Zurich

Operator

Crossair

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Europe • Switzerland

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Avro RJ100

Registration

HB-IXM

MSN

E3291

Year of Manufacture

1996

Similar Plane Crashes

March 6, 1920 at 12:00 AM

Martin Seidler

Farman F.40

The pilot Martin Seidler, sole on board, was completing a local flight in Porrentruy when he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field. The pilot escaped uninjured and the aircraft was destroyed.

May 24, 1920 at 12:00 AM2 Fatalities

Ad Astra Aero

Savoia S.16

The crew was taking part to an Air Show in Romanshorn and arrived in the morning from Geneva. During a demo flight, while flying at an altitude of 700 metres, the aircraft went out of control and lost height. During the dive, wings and other pieces detached and the aircraft eventually crashed in the Lake Constance, some 200 metres offshore. Quickly on the scene, SAR teams just found some debris floating on water and both dead bodies were found later in the lake bottom. The Swiss aviator Pierre Émile Taddéoli was killed with his mechanic Y. Giovanelli, engineer by the Italian motorist Isotta-Fraschini.

August 31, 1920 at 12:00 AM1 Fatalities

Ad Astra Aero

Savoia S.13

The pilot Oscar Bereta was completing a demonstration flight over the Lake of Zurich. In unknown circumstances, he lost control of the seaplane that crashed in the lake off Zürichhorn. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

September 18, 1921 at 06:45 PM2 Fatalities

Ad Astra Aero

Wild WT-S

The single engine airplane departed Solothurn between 1700LT and 1730LT on a flight to Lausanne, carrying one passenger and one pilot. While approaching Lausanne, the airplane was at low height went it went out of control and crashed in an open field located in Sainte Catherine, about 9 km northeast of Lausanne. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed. There was no fire. Crew: Eugène Bouché, pilot. Passenger: Fritz Minder.

March 29, 1922 at 12:00 AM

Ad Astra Aero

Hanriot HD.1

The pilot Walter Mittelholzer, sole on board, was flying overt the Swiss Alps when the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Guldenstock/Tödi. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was rescued.

June 2, 1922 at 12:00 AM2 Fatalities

École Aéro

Avro 504

The crew was completing a local training flight at Lausanne-Blécherette Airport. The single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing both occupants Emile Johner and Mr. Glaser.