Accident
On a flight from Dreux, Eure-et-Loir, to Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport in southwest Germany, a group of nine Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar aircraft operated under the flight code 'Chalk'. During the flight, the pilot of aircraft registration 53-3222 (Chalk 8) reported losing the left engine and elected to land as soon as possible. While attempting to leave the formation, 53-3222 turned left. At that moment, the top of its empennage struck the base of the cockpit of aircraft registration 53-7841 (Chalk 9). Both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground, and crashed in a wooded area and a field near Edelweiler. Both aircraft disintegrated on impact, and all 66 crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Investigation
The investigation determined that the failure of the left engine in flight occurred on 53-3222. The collision was attributed to the incorrect position of 53-7841, whose crew failed to maintain the assigned altitude in the formation. Just prior to the accident, 53-7841 had overrun its element leader. Aircraft 53-3222 was in the process of leaving the formation by descending and turning left according to normal procedures when the collision occurred. The investigation also found evidence of supervisory error: the pilot of 53-7841 had not had proper crew rest, and his copilot had extremely low experience.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was determined to be the failure of the left engine in flight, combined with the wrong position of 53-7841 due to its crew failing to respect the assigned altitude. The board concluded that the primary cause was pilot error. It noted that if the left wingman (53-7841) had held its proper position instead of dropping down and out, the accident would not have occurred. Additionally, the accident would not have happened if the engine malfunction had not occurred, prompting the right wingman to break formation.