Thessaloniki – Belgrade
Flight / Schedule
Thessaloniki – Belgrade
Aircraft
Junkers JU.52Registration
D-ADQW
MSN
640610
Year of Manufacture
1943
Operator
Deutsche LufthansaDate
January 15, 1944 at 01:45 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Belgrade-Nikola Tesla (ex Surcin) Belgrade City District
Region
Europe • Serbia
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On January 15, 1944 at 01:45 PM, Thessaloniki – Belgrade experienced a crash involving Junkers JU.52, operated by Deutsche Lufthansa, with the event recorded near Belgrade-Nikola Tesla (ex Surcin) Belgrade City District.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.
5 people were known to be on board, 5 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: 3, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. 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.
Aircraft reference details include registration D-ADQW, MSN 640610, year of manufacture 1943.
Fatalities
Total
5
Crew
2
Passengers
3
Other
0
Crash Summary
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.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
3
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 5
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Thessaloniki – Belgrade
Operator
Deutsche LufthansaFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Europe • Serbia
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Deutsche Lufthansa
Junkers F.13
The pilot was performing a local training flight at Berlin-Staaken Airport. On final approach, while completing a last turn to the left, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that stalled and crashed. The pilot Paul Billik was killed.
Deutsche Lufthansa
Fokker-Grulich F3
Following an uneventful flight from Königsberg with an intermediate stop in Ganzig, the airplane was approaching Berlin-Staaken Airport when it crashed in unknown circumstances. A passenger was injured and all three other occupants were killed. The aircraft named 'Flensburg' was destroyed.
Deutsche Lufthansa
Junkers F.13
The single engine airplane departed Osnabrück on a flight to Borkum, carrying four passengers and one pilot. While approaching the Borkum Island from the east, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions when the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the sea south of Juist, about 20 km east of Borkum. A passenger was seriously injured while four other occupants were killed. The only survivor later died from his injuries.
Deutsche Lufthansa
Fokker-Grulich F3
The single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all four occupants.
Deutsche Lufthansa
Junkers G.24
Shortly after takeoff from Königsberg (Kaliningrad) Airport, the pilot encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest, bursting into flames. All occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Deutsche Lufthansa
Fokker-Grulich F3
En route from Hanover to Würzburg, the pilot encountered unfavorable weather conditions when the engine failed. He attempted an emergency landing in an open field when the aircraft crossed a railway road and came to rest upside down. The passenger Mr. Saalfeld was killed and the pilot Mr. Schaefer was seriously injured. He died later from his injuries. The aircraft named 'Unstrut' was destroyed.