What happened
During a large-scale joint military exercise, a formation of aircraft departed from Frankfurt-Main Airbase. The group included 17 C-119 transport planes and 12 F-84 Thunderjet fighters. While the formation was maintaining an altitude of 5,000 feet, a collision occurred between one of the fighter jets, registration 51-628, and a transport aircraft.
Following this initial impact, both the fighter jet and the first transport plane entered a descent that led to a secondary collision with another C-119, registration 51-8241. This second transport aircraft was also part of the same flight formation and was carrying a crew of six.
All three involved aircraft eventually crashed into a field in the vicinity of Weinheim. The accident resulted in six fatalities among the crew of the first C-119, registration 51-8235, and two fatalities aboard the second C-119. Four individuals from the second transport plane were successfully rescued. The pilot of the F-84 Thunderjet managed to eject from the fighter and landed without injury.
Findings
- The collision sequence was initiated by a mid-air strike between an F-84 Thunderjet and a C-119 during a coordinated training maneuver.