No fatalities

Engine Failure Leads to Emergency Field Landing in Oberröblingen (42-93802)

Oberröblingen, GermanyFlight

On July 12, 1947, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration 42-93802) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Oberröblingen, Germany in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure during enroute flight forced an emergency landing that resulted in substantial airframe damage. 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)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft suffered an engine failure during cruise, forcing the crew to execute an emergency landing in a field near Oberröblingen. The incident resulted in no injuries but total loss of the airframe.

What happened

During the enroute phase of flight, the aircraft experienced a critical mechanical issue when one of its engines failed. This sudden loss of power forced the crew to abandon their planned route and initiate an emergency landing procedure. The pilots selected a nearby open area for the descent, ultimately bringing the machine down in a field located in Oberröblingen. Although the impact caused significant structural damage to the airframe, all persons on board survived the event without injury. The severity of the collision meant that the aircraft was declared damaged beyond repair and could not be returned to service.

Findings

The primary factor leading to the accident was the engine failure occurring during cruise flight. This mechanical malfunction necessitated an immediate diversion to the nearest suitable terrain for a safe landing, resulting in the total loss of the equipment despite the successful evacuation of occupants.

Probable cause

Engine failure during enroute flight forced an emergency landing that resulted in substantial airframe damage.