Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 4 March 1959
Aircraft Type: Baade 152
Owner/operator: VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden
Registration Number: DM-ZYA
Location: 8 km NE of Dresden-Klotzsche Airport (DRS) – ÿ Germany
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: Engine spool-up system.Engine spool-up system.
Category: Accident
On March 4, 1959, a Baade 152 passenger plane prototype experienced a significant descent during a test flight. The pilot initiated a low-speed descent, but failed to add power, resulting in stalling and a crash. The crash was attributed to pilot error, but preliminary investigation suggests a fuel flow interruption during descent.On March 4, 1959, a Baade 152 passenger plane prototype experienced a significant descent during a test flight. The pilot initiated a low-speed descent, but failed to add power, resulting in stalling and a crash. The crash was attributed to pilot error, but preliminary investigation suggests a fuel flow interruption during descent.

Description

The Baade 152 was an East-German designed passenger plane. The prototype, registered DM-ZYA, was prepared for a second test flight on March 4, 1959. During this flight the landing gear was to be raised for the first time. The flight departed at 12:55 from Dresden-Klotzsche Airport (DRS) and climbed to an altitude of 6000 m were flight tests were carried out. When descending back towards Dresden the flight crew were supposed to add power at 3000 m in order to arrest the descent and to test the airplane’s response to power settings. However, the descent was continued without adding power. Instead, the crew requested permission for an unplanned low pass with gear and flaps up. During the descent the airspeed dropped to a value close to stall speed. At an altitude of about 600 m the crew selected the undercarriage down and added power. The engine spool up time, 8-10 seconds, was insufficient. The airplane stalled and struck the terrain at an angle of 70 degrees. Although the crash was officialy attributed to “pilot error”, it is thought that the fuel flow to the engines stopped while descending towards Klotzsche. This was a recurring problem that was detected on later test flights.

Primary Cause

Insufficient engine spool-up time during descent.Insufficient engine spool-up time during descent.

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