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8 fatalities

Fatal aircraft accident at Düne Airport (D-IDHC)

Heligoland-Düne, GermanyTakeoff (climb)

On May 27, 1972, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration D-IDHC) operated by General Air was involved in an aviation accident near Heligoland-Düne, Germany during takeoff. 8 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft entered an uncontrolled left bank during the initial climb phase shortly after takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered D-IDHC
Aircraft registered D-IDHC. Photo: Magnussen, Friedrich (1914-1987) / CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons

An aircraft crashed shortly after departing Helgoland Island, resulting in eight fatalities and five injuries.

What happened

During a departure from Düne Airport on Helgoland Island, an aircraft experienced a catastrophic loss of control during the initial climb. While the plane was ascending to an altitude of approximately 60 meters, it entered a left bank. This maneuver led to the aircraft striking the ground roughly 200 meters to the left of the runway.

The accident resulted in eight fatalities, including both pilots and six passengers. Additionally, five individuals sustained injuries during the impact.

Findings

  • The aircraft was in the climb phase of flight when the incident occurred.
  • The sequence of events involved a sudden leftward banking motion following takeoff.

Probable cause

The aircraft entered an uncontrolled left bank during the initial climb phase shortly after takeoff.

Related events

Same operator

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