Junkers Ju-52/3mge – OO-AUA

Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 14 March 1939

Aircraft Type: Junkers Ju-52/3mge

Owner/operator: Sabena

Registration Number: OO-AUA

Location: Sint-Stevens-Woluwe – ÿ Belgium

Phase of Flight: Approach

Status: Destroyed, written off

Casualties: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3

Component Affected: Aircraft ? specifically, the Junkers Ju-52/3mge aircraft.Aircraft ? specifically, the Junkers Ju-52/3mge aircraft.

Category: Accident

A night-time postal flight from London-Cherbourg-Donjon Airport to Brussel-Haren Airport, Belgium, experienced a sudden and catastrophic crash. The aircraft, a Junkers Ju-52/3mge, was grounded due to deteriorating weather conditions. At 04:01 GMT, the flight crew contacted Brussels and received warnings of moderate rain, visibility of 2 km, and a 10/10 low cloud SW wind at 30 km. The aircraft then descended to 10-20 meters, then executed a go-around, and crashed in a field near Sint-Stevens-Woluwe. Initial observations indicate the aircraft crossed the aerodrome at an altitude of approximately 50-60 meters, and subsequently descended to 10-20 meters before a fire ignited. The investigation suggests a pilot error ? specifically, a go-around when the aircraft was in the final landing phase, flaps out, and losing speed ? which was exacerbated by a lack of concern for the landing direction and a perceived risk of missing the ground. The terminal services appear to be in order.A night-time postal flight from London-Cherbourg-Donjon Airport to Brussel-Haren Airport, Belgium, experienced a sudden and catastrophic crash. The aircraft, a Junkers Ju-52/3mge, was grounded due to deteriorating weather conditions. At 04:01 GMT, the flight crew contacted Brussels and received warnings of moderate rain, visibility of 2 km, and a 10/10 low cloud SW wind at 30 km. The aircraft then descended to 10-20 meters, then executed a go-around, and crashed in a field near Sint-Stevens-Woluwe. Initial observations indicate the aircraft crossed the aerodrome at an altitude of approximately 50-60 meters, and subsequently descended to 10-20 meters before a fire ignited. The investigation suggests a pilot error ? specifically, a go-around when the aircraft was in the final landing phase, flaps out, and losing speed ? which was exacerbated by a lack of concern for the landing direction and a perceived risk of missing the ground. The terminal services appear to be in order.

Description

The Junkers Ju-52/3mge, registered OO-AUA, departed London-Croydon Airport, U.K. at 03:20 hours GMT, bound for Brussel-Haren Airport in Belgium. It was a night-time postal flight with three crew members on board. At 04:01 GMT the flight crew contact Brussels by radio and were given the latest weather observations: Moderate rain, Visibility 2 km, 10/10 low clouds SW wind at 30 km, ground pressure: 1016, 4 millibars. Last radio contact was at 04:55 GMT when the flight was about to land. Witnesses at the control tower saw the aircraft crossing the aerodrome at an altitude estimated at 50 – 60 m. It then descended to 10-20 meters until a go around was performed. Shortly afterwards the aircraft crashed in a field. Crashed in a field at Sint-Stevens-Woluwe and caught fire. Conclusions (translated from French): In conclusion, the accident appeared to us to be attributable to an error of the pilot who made a go-around when the aircraft was in the final landing phase, flaps out, and was already losing speed. The pilot’s pilot error was caused by an initial error of judgement, as he felt that he could land without facing the wind when he had taken a large margin of safety at high altitude, a margin required by the poor weather conditions and the lack of clearance from the aerodrome boundary in the direction of landing. The pilot did not appear to be concerned about the required landing direction indicated to him by the “T” and the landing light location. His decision seems to have been dictated by the fear of missing the ground that he had had a hard enough time finding after a trip that was probably painful. In any event, the terminal services do not appear to be questionable as to the origin and consequences of the accident.

Primary Cause

Pilot error ? specifically, a go-around when the aircraft was in the final landing phase, flaps out, and losing speed, exacerbated by a lack of concern for the landing direction and a perceived risk of missing the ground.Pilot error ? specifically, a go-around when the aircraft was in the final landing phase, flaps out, and losing speed, exacerbated by a lack of concern for the landing direction and a perceived risk of missing the ground.

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