Investigation Summary
The flight was a scheduled international service from Munich to London with planned stops in Frankfurt, Brussels, and Ostend. After departing Frankfurt at 12:53, the crew encountered heavy fog over Brussels and elected to divert to Ostend. The airline also requested the stop to pick up two additional passengers. Upon reaching Stene Aerodrome, the pilot performed two circuits in an attempt to locate the runway through the fog. During the final approach, the aircraft's right wing struck the 50-meter-high chimney of the Briqueterie Nationale brickworks at a height estimated between 20 and 40 meters. The wing separated, causing the aircraft to stall, flip, and crash into the factory grounds where it burst into flames. The subsequent inquiry noted that ground staff had fired rockets to assist the pilot, but visibility remained insufficient for a safe landing.
Final Conclusions
The Belgian official enquiry concluded the accident was a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) caused by the pilot's attempt to land in weather conditions below safety minimums. A significant contributing factor was the mid-flight medical emergency involving Grand Duchess Cecilie, who gave birth during the flight. This emergency likely pressured the crew to land at the nearest available airfield despite the dense fog. The report also noted that an airport employee was criticized for failing to adequately assist the pilot despite the use of signal rockets.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Visual Approach Aids
Ground staff at Stene Aerodrome utilized signal rockets to help the pilot identify the airfield location through the fog, though these proved insufficient for a safe landing.
Interesting Facts
- 01The crash killed the Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse, their two sons, and the Grand Duke's mother.
- 02A newborn infant was found in the wreckage, confirming a mid-flight birth occurred; this brought the total fatalities to 12, although only 11 people (3 crew and 8 passengers) originally boarded.
- 03The aircraft was a Junkers Ju 52/3mge, a three-engine transport known for its corrugated duralumin skin.
- 04The accident resulted in the near-extinction of the House of Hesse-Darmstadt line.
- 05Arthur Martens, a world-record-setting glider pilot, was among the passengers killed.
- 06The couple's daughter, Johanna, was not on board but died of meningitis two years later in 1939, leading to the eventual extinction of the line.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Depiction in 'The Crown'
Reference ↗The Netflix series 'The Crown' (Season 2) depicted a fictionalized version of the event, implying Prince Philip was responsible for Cecilie taking the flight. In reality, her decision to travel was unrelated to him, and Philip reportedly threatened legal action over the distortion.