No fatalities

Ambulance Flight Crash Near Idstein Due to Poor Visibility (D-422)

Idstein, GermanyFlight

On April 4, 1930, a Junkers F.13 (registration D-422) operated by Deutsche Lufthansa was involved in an aviation accident near Idstein, Germany in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot attempted an emergency landing due to poor visibility from thick fog, causing the aircraft to impact trees. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine ambulance aircraft crashed into a forest near Idstein after the pilot attempted an emergency landing due to thick fog, resulting in injuries for both occupants.

What happened

On the morning of the incident, a single-engine airplane departed from Frankfurt Airport at 0825 local time. The aircraft was operating as an ambulance flight bound for Cologne, with a pilot and one nurse on board. Approximately thirty-five minutes after takeoff, the pilot encountered significantly reduced visibility caused by thick fog. In response to these conditions, the pilot initiated an emergency landing procedure. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in the Frauenwald forest area near Idstein. The airframe, which was named 'Eiderente', was destroyed in the impact. Both individuals aboard the plane sustained injuries.

Findings

The primary factor leading to the crash was the pilot's decision to attempt an emergency landing due to poor visibility conditions caused by dense fog. This action resulted in the aircraft impacting trees during the descent.

Probable cause

The pilot attempted an emergency landing due to poor visibility from thick fog, causing the aircraft to impact trees.