What happened
During an approach to Frankfurt, an aircraft identified as 'Koningin Juliana' was navigating through adverse weather characterized by light rain and low cloud ceilings. The overcast layer was positioned at 1,500 feet, with scattered clouds as low as 300 feet. During the descent, the crew reported their position to air traffic control, noting they were vertically aligned with the Staden beacon at 4,000 feet. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft was positioned over Offenbach at an altitude of 2,500 feet.
While progressing toward the destination, the four-engine aircraft struck treetops and crashed into a heavily forested region located approximately 7 km northeast of the airport. The impact resulted in a post-crash fire. The accident resulted in 45 fatalities and left one passenger and one crew member with serious injuries.
Findings
While investigators could not establish a definitive reason for the crash, evidence suggests the aircraft was at an insufficient altitude during its final approach. It is suspected that the crew may have descended below the minimum descent altitude in an attempt to maintain visual contact with the terrain.