No fatalities

Single-engine aircraft crash during enroute phase due to fuel starvation (44-70257)

Würzburg, GermanyFlight

On October 15, 1945, a Noorduyn Norseman (registration 44-70257) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Würzburg, Germany in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by the engine failing due to a lack of fuel supply. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed and was destroyed after an engine failure forced an emergency landing in a field. The pilot survived the incident without injury.

What happened

During the enroute phase of flight, the aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power. This mechanical failure compelled the pilot to initiate an emergency landing procedure in a nearby agricultural field. Despite the urgency of the situation, the aircraft impacted the ground and was subsequently destroyed by the crash. Remarkably, the pilot sustained no injuries during the event.

Findings

Investigations into the incident indicated that the engine failure was not random but resulted from a specific mechanical issue. The official findings concluded that the powerplant ceased functioning because it ran out of fuel supply. This condition, known as fuel starvation, prevented the engine from receiving the necessary mixture to continue combustion, leading directly to the loss of thrust and the subsequent crash.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the engine failing due to a lack of fuel supply.