1955 Altensteig mid-air collision

Aviation accident in Germany 1955 Altensteig mid-air collision Accident C-119 Boxcar.jpg 300 A Fairchild C-119 similar to both aircraft lost 1955 08 11 yes Mid-air collision Near Altensteig, West Germany Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar United States Air Force 53-3222 Stuttgart Airport Stuttgart Airport 14 5 19 0 Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar United States Air Force 53-7841 Stuttgart Airport Stuttgart Airport 41 6 47 0 66 0 The Altensteig mid-air collision occurred on 11 August 1955 when two United States Air Force Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcars collided and crashed three miles from Altensteig in West Germany. The aircraft were part of a formation of nine C-119s flying a training mission from Stuttgart-Echterdingen airfield, West Germany with troops from the United States Seventh Army. With all 66 on board both aircraft killed, it was, at the time, the deadliest air crash in Germany. Accident Just after 14:00 one of the aircraft on the right of a formation of three developed engine problems just after takeoff, when it was around 4,000 feet; it lost height, then climbed abruptly into the second aircraft, colliding in mid-air. The first aircraft, serial number 53-7841, crashed and disintegrated with the loss of all 19 on board. The second aircraft 53-3222 continued for a while before it also crashed about 30 miles from Stuttgart in a wooded area and burst into flames, killing all 47 on board. Helicopters were sent to the scene, supported by fire engines and people from local villages to help with the search for survivors, none were found and the fireman were still fighting the blaze into the evening. Aircraft The two Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcars were twin-engined military transport aircraft from the 60th Troop-Carrier Wing based at Rhein-Main airfield in West Germany. See also 1959 Okinawa F-100 crash 1960 Munich C-131 crash 1964 Machida F-8 crash 1977 Yokohama F-4 crash 1988 Remscheid A-10 crash Cavalese cable car disaster (1998) References Notes Troop Planes Collide - 66 Americans Killed 12 August 1955 8 53297 External links AviationSafety Network report 48.5377 N 8.5427 E source:wikidata title Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1955 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents involving the Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar Category:Mid-air collisions in Germany Category:Mid-air collisions involving military aircraft Category:Accidents and incidents involving United States Air Force aircraft Category:1955 in West Germany Category:20th century in Baden-Württemberg Category:August 1955 in Europe