KLM KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, legally ''Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.'' (literal translation: Royal Aviation Company Plc.), is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands. KLM is headquartered in Amstelveen, with its hub at nearby Amste ...

Flight 592, a KLM

Douglas DC-6 The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with t ...

was a scheduled passenger flight from Rome-Ciampino Airport (CIA/LIRA) to Frankfurt International Airport (FRA/EDDF). On Saturday 22 March 1952, Flight 592 crashed on final approaching to Frankfurt International around 10:45 AM Local time; 45 of the 47 people aboard the

DC-6 The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with ...

were killed.

Aircraft

On 22 March 1952, KLM Flight 592 was operated using a

(registration nr. PH-TPJ). The aircraft first flew in 1948. This was the 12th loss of a DC-6, the 8th fatal accident and the 4th worst accident with the type (at the time, now 20th's worst). After the crash, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash

Flight 592 departed Rome-Ciampino Airport and headed for

Frankfurt Airport Frankfurt Airport (; german: link=no, Flughafen Frankfurt Main , also known as ''Rhein-Main-Flughafen'') is a major international airport located in Frankfurt, the fifth-largest city of Germany and one of the world's leading financial centres ...

, around 10:38 AM local time the crew of Flight 592 contact Frankfurt Air Traffic Control and reported they were overhead the staden beacon at . 7 minutes later, at around 10:45, the crew reported that they were approaching the Offenbach beacon and descending to . Nothing more was heard from the flight after this. Around five minutes later, the aircraft crashed into a forest. Of the 47 people aboard, 45 did not survive the crash. The survivors were one crew member and one passenger.

Investigation

The cause of the crash was not determined, but it was possible that the crew continued the approach below the minimum descent altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground.

References

{{coord missing, Germany 1952 in Germany Aviation accidents and incidents in 1952 Aviation accidents and incidents in Germany

592 __NOTOC__ Year 592 ( DXCII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. The denomination 592 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era be ...

Accidents and incidents involving the Douglas DC-6