What happened
The incident involved a German military aircraft that was engaged by enemy forces during flight. The plane was hit by gunfire from a Polikarpov I-5 fighter, forcing the crew to initiate an emergency landing procedure. Despite their efforts, the aircraft crashed into a nearby field. Upon impact, the airframe was destroyed by a subsequent fire.
All four members of the crew sustained injuries during the crash and the ensuing blaze. Following the accident, the survivors were taken prisoner by the opposing side. They remained in captivity until their release on 2 January 1939.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the primary cause of the accident was the aircraft being shot down by enemy fire. The resulting damage necessitated an emergency landing which ultimately failed, leading to the total loss of the airframe and injuries to the personnel on board.