3 fatalities

Airplane Strikes Trees on Approach to Nuremberg, Three Killed (TF-OAE)

Nuremberg, GermanyLanding (descent or approach)

On May 6, 1974, a Douglas DC-6 (registration TF-OAE) operated by Fragtflug was involved in an aviation accident near Nuremberg, Germany during landing or approach. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Excessive accumulation of ice/frost on fuselage during a night approach, with the captain's blood alcohol level (between 1.21 and 2.5‰) as a contributing factor. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

On night approach to Nuremberg Airport runway 28, an airplane struck tree tops and crashed in flames 4 km short of the runway. All three occupants were killed. Official probable cause cites ice accumulation and captain's blood alcohol as contributing factors.

Accident

During a night approach to Nuremberg Airport, the aircraft was on final for runway 28 when it struck tree tops. The airplane then crashed in flames in a wooded area approximately 4 km short of the runway threshold. The impact and subsequent fire destroyed the aircraft. All three occupants on board were killed.

Investigation

Investigators looked into the circumstances of the crash. The probable cause was determined to be an excessive accumulation of ice or frost on the fuselage during the night approach. Furthermore, it was reported that the captain's blood alcohol level was between 1.21 and 2.5‰, which was considered a contributing factor to the accident.

Probable Cause

The official probable cause attributes the accident to an excessive accumulation of ice/frost on the fuselage during a night approach, with the captain's elevated blood alcohol level (1.21 to 2.5‰) considered as a contributing factor.