Investigation Summary
The accident involved a formation of three C-119G Flying Boxcars from the 60th Troop-Carrier Wing, which had recently departed from Stuttgart. Shortly after 14:00, the aircraft positioned on the right side of the formation experienced engine trouble at approximately 4,000 feet. This mechanical failure caused the aircraft to lose height initially. In an attempt to recover or due to aerodynamic instability, the aircraft then climbed sharply, striking the second aircraft in the formation. The collision caused the first aircraft (53-7841) to disintegrate immediately, while the second (53-3222) remained airborne for a short period before crashing into a forest approximately 30 miles from Stuttgart.
Final Conclusions
The collision was triggered by a mechanical engine failure on one of the formation aircraft. The subsequent loss of control or erratic flight path of the disabled aircraft led to an unavoidable impact with its wingman. The intensity of the post-crash fires in the wooded terrain hampered initial rescue efforts, though it was quickly determined there were no survivors.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Engine
A failure in one of the engines on aircraft 53-7841 initiated the sequence of events leading to the collision.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft belonged to the 60th Troop-Carrier Wing based at Rhein-Main Air Base.
- 02The collision occurred approximately 30 miles from Stuttgart.
- 03One aircraft carried 19 people while the other carried 47, totaling 66 fatalities.
- 04The C-119G Flying Boxcar is a twin-engine military transport aircraft.
- 05Local villagers assisted firemen in searching for survivors and fighting the forest fire.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Formation Flight Safety Review
Following the accident, the USAF conducted reviews of formation flight procedures, specifically addressing emergency protocols for engine failures during close-proximity maneuvers to prevent similar mid-air collisions.