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5 fatalities

Cargo Flight Crash in Czechoslovakia: Military Crew Descends Prematurely into Mountain (D-21)

Vřesovice, Czech RepublicLanding (descent or approach)

On November 30, 1952, a Douglas DC-3 (registration D-21) operated by Czech Air Force - Ceské Vojenské Letectvo was involved in an aviation accident near Vřesovice, Czech Republic during landing or approach. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The official findings determined that the flying crew started the descent prematurely following several errors. 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 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A cargo flight carrying newspapers for CSA Czech Airlines crashed into Mt Bradlo during a night approach to Brno-Tuřany Airport, killing all five crew members.

Incident Overview and Crew Details On a night cargo flight in Czechoslovakia, an aircraft operating on behalf of the national carrier CSA Czech Airlines struck the slope of Mt Bradlo, a 548-meter peak in the Chriby Mountain Range. The impact occurred approximately 2.5 kilometers northwest of Vřesovice, while the aircraft was on approach to Brno-Tuřany Airport. The wreckage was later located 35 kilometers east of the airport. All five crew members were killed in the accident. The crew consisted of Větroň Antonín, Antal Viliam, Dvořák Jiří, Gregr František, and Koval Vlastimil. The flight was transporting a load of newspapers.

Probable cause

The official findings determined that the flying crew started the descent prematurely following several errors. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was at an insufficient altitude of 550 meters, well below the minimum altitude of 1,800 meters fixed for the area. Low visibility caused by night and marginal weather conditions prevented the crew from seeing the mountain, which was considered a contributory factor. Czech authorities confirmed that the flight should normally have been scheduled by CSA, but a CSA crew refused to fly due to poor weather conditions. Consequently, a military crew was engaged for the flight despite lacking training in such weather conditions.
Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 30 Nov 1952 Douglas DC-3 accident near Vřesovice, Czech Republic?

A cargo flight carrying newspapers for CSA Czech Airlines crashed into Mt Bradlo during a night approach to Brno-Tuřany Airport, killing all five crew members.

Were there any fatalities in the 30 Nov 1952 Douglas DC-3 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 5 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 30 Nov 1952 involved a Douglas DC-3, registration D-21, operated by Czech Air Force - Ceské Vojenské Letectvo, at Vřesovice, Czech Republic.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The official findings determined that the flying crew started the descent prematurely following several errors. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was at an insufficient altitude of 550 meters, well below the minimum altitude of 1,800 meters fixed for the area. Low visibility caused by night and marginal…

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