3 fatalities

Four-engine cargo aircraft crash near Frankfurt during Berlin Airlift (42-72688)

Frankfurt-Main, GermanyLanding (descent or approach)

On October 18, 1948, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 42-72688) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Frankfurt-Main, Germany during landing or approach. 3 people were killed. 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

A four-engine cargo plane crashed near Frankfurt while returning from a Berlin Airlift mission, resulting in the deaths of all three crew members on board.

What happened

The incident involved a four-engine aircraft engaged in cargo operations as part of the Berlin Airlift. The flight was returning to its base in Frankfurt after completing a delivery run to Berlin. During the night, while on final approach to the airport, the aircraft crashed in Neu-Isenburg, located approximately six kilometers east of the landing zone. The specific circumstances leading to the impact remain unknown. All three crew members were killed in the accident.

Findings

The source material does not provide specific contributing factors or investigative conclusions regarding the cause of the crash.