Frankfurt - Basel
Flight / Schedule
Frankfurt - Basel
Aircraft
General Aviation Clark GA-43Registration
HB-ITU
MSN
2204
Year of Manufacture
1935
Operator
SwissairDate
April 30, 1936 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Küssnacht Schwyz
Region
Europe • Switzerland
Coordinates
47.0838°, 8.4386°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On April 30, 1936 at 12:00 AM, Frankfurt - Basel experienced a crash involving General Aviation Clark GA-43, operated by Swissair, with the event recorded near Küssnacht Schwyz.
The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.
2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was performing a cargo flight from Frankfurt to Basel. By night and in unfavorable weather conditions, the crew overflew Basel without locating the airport and continued to the southeast, in direction to the center of Switzerland. Dozen minutes later, the single engine aircraft hit the west slope of the Mt Rigi (1,798 meters high) located some 12 km east of Lucern, in the canton of Schwyz. Both crew were killed. Crew: Ernst Gerber, pilot, Arthur Müller, radio navigator.
Aircraft reference details include registration HB-ITU, MSN 2204, year of manufacture 1935.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 47.0838°, 8.4386°.
Fatalities
Total
2
Crew
2
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Frankfurt to Basel. By night and in unfavorable weather conditions, the crew overflew Basel without locating the airport and continued to the southeast, in direction to the center of Switzerland. Dozen minutes later, the single engine aircraft hit the west slope of the Mt Rigi (1,798 meters high) located some 12 km east of Lucern, in the canton of Schwyz. Both crew were killed. Crew: Ernst Gerber, pilot, Arthur Müller, radio navigator.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 2
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Frankfurt - Basel
Operator
SwissairFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Europe • Switzerland
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
