Investigation Summary
On the night of April 20 to 21, 1945, the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 departed Berlin-Tempelhof bound for Munich. The flight took place as the Third Reich was collapsing, serving as an evacuation effort for personnel and documents. While passing near Egglkofen, the aircraft crashed into a wooded area and exploded. Local witnesses reported seeing the aircraft on fire before it impacted the ground. Because the crash occurred in the final weeks of the war in Europe, no formal civil aviation investigation was conducted at the time. Historical records vary on the death toll; while some databases list 21, detailed site research and BAAA-Acro record 25 fatalities, likely including unmanifested passengers fleeing the Soviet advance on Berlin. In later decades, historical analysis has focused on identifying the victims and determining if the aircraft was brought down by Allied night fighters active in the sector.
Final Conclusions
The crash was caused by military action during the final stages of World War II. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and impact following a likely interception by Allied forces. All 21 occupants perished, and they were buried in a mass grave in the Egglkofen cemetery.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor
Originally designed as a transatlantic airliner, the Fw 200 was utilized by Lufthansa for high-priority transport and by the Luftwaffe for maritime reconnaissance during the war.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Focke-Wulf Fw 200 V3 (Condor), a long-range airliner converted for transport use.
- 02The flight took place during the Battle of Berlin, when the city was nearly surrounded by Soviet forces.
- 03Among the passengers were high-ranking officials and employees of the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda.
- 04The crash site is located in the 'Hofthaler Forst' near the border of Upper and Lower Bavaria.
- 05While this was one of the last flights from Berlin, Lufthansa operations continued elsewhere until May 4, 1945, with the final recorded flights being D-ASVX and D-AFFF.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Historical Documentation and Memorialization
Source ↗Due to the crash occurring in the final days of WWII, no immediate safety mandates were issued. However, in later decades, local historians and the Egglkofen community established a memorial at the crash site in the Hofthaler Forst to document the event and identify the victims buried in the local cemetery.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Identity of the Interceptor
Reference ↗While it is widely accepted the aircraft was shot down, historical records from Allied units do not definitively confirm which specific pilot or aircraft claimed the kill, leading to various theories involving RAF and USAAF night fighters.
Location
ACCIDENT SITE · Coordinates taken from the entered by an editor.