4 fatalities

Mid-air collision involving de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver

Lorsch, GermanyFlight

On July 20, 1955, a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Lorsch, Germany in flight. 4 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A mid-air collision between the training aircraft and another plane caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-06-14Data APIEditorial standards

A training flight ended in a fatal mid-air collision between a single-engine aircraft and an unidentified plane, resulting in four fatalities.

What happened

During the conclusion of a scheduled training mission, a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver was performing a low-altitude approach toward its home base. While operating at a low height, the aircraft entered into a mid-air collision with another unidentified aircraft. The second aircraft involved in the encounter managed to land safely following the contact.

Immediately following the impact, the de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver lost stability and became uncontrollable. The aircraft drifted approximately 800 meters from the point of collision before crashing into the ground. The accident resulted in four fatalities, as all occupants on board the Beaver were killed in the crash.

Findings

  • The aircraft was operating at a low altitude during its return to base.
  • A mid-air collision with an unidentified aircraft served as the primary catalyst for the loss of control.

Probable cause

A mid-air collision between the training aircraft and another plane caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 20 Jul 1955 De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver accident near Lorsch, Germany?

A training flight ended in a fatal mid-air collision between a single-engine aircraft and an unidentified plane, resulting in four fatalities.

Were there any fatalities in the 20 Jul 1955 De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 4 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 20 Jul 1955 involved a De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Lorsch, Germany.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A mid-air collision between the training aircraft and another plane caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft.