1 fatality

Four-engine aircraft crash near Fassberg Airport during Berlin Airlift (45-0563)

Fassberg AFB, GermanyLanding (descent or approach)

On January 18, 1949, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 45-0563) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Fassberg AFB, Germany during landing or approach. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control during approach to Fassberg Airport. 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 aircraft crashed in a field 10 km from Fassberg Airport while on approach, resulting in one fatality and two serious injuries during the Berlin Airlift.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was on final approach to Fassberg Airport. The crew was operating a cargo flight originating from Berlin as part of the Berlin Airlift operations. During the descent, the four-engine aircraft lost control and impacted the ground in an agricultural field situated approximately 10 kilometers from the threshold of runway 27.

The crash resulted in significant casualties among the personnel on board. One member of the crew was killed in the accident, while two others sustained serious injuries requiring medical attention. The specific registration of the aircraft is not provided in the available source material.

Findings

The immediate sequence of events indicates that the loss of control occurred during the approach phase. No further technical details or contributing factors are specified in the provided text beyond the fact that the aircraft went out of control before impact.

Probable cause

Loss of control during approach to Fassberg Airport