No fatalities

Four-engine aircraft crash-lands upside down after loss of control on landing (44-9050)

Berlin-Tempelhof, GermanyLanding (descent or approach)

On June 25, 1949, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 44-9050) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Berlin-Tempelhof, Germany during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. 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 aircraft lost control during the landing phase, resulting in a crash that left the plane upside down. All three crew members sustained injuries, and the airframe was destroyed beyond repair.

What happened

During the final approach and landing sequence, the four-engine aircraft experienced a loss of control. The pilot was unable to maintain stability, causing the machine to deviate from its intended path. Consequently, the aircraft impacted the ground and came to rest in an inverted position.

The impact resulted in significant structural damage to the airframe. Post-incident assessments confirmed that the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, rendering it unserviceable. Regarding personnel, all three members of the flight crew were involved in the accident. Each individual sustained injuries as a result of the crash, though no fatalities were reported.

Findings

The specific technical or human factors contributing to the loss of control during the landing phase are not detailed in the available source material. The primary outcome remains the total loss of the aircraft and the injury of the entire crew complement.