On a cold January day in 1971, a shadow fell upon the Taunus Mountains. This shadow, cast not by clouds but by tragedy, marked the location where we now stand, before the Gedenkstein zum Flugzeugabsturz 22. Januar 1971. The Gedenkstein zum Flugzeugabsturz 22. Januar 1971 serves as a somber reminder of the lives lost on that fateful day. It commemorates the crash of a Beechcraft King Air 90, which claimed the lives of six prominent individuals.
The Gedenkstein zum Flugzeugabsturz 22. Januar 1971 stands near the site where the plane, en route from Frankfurt am Main to Fritzlar, met its tragic end. On board were Wattenscheid’s Oberbürgermeister Erwin Topp, Oberstadtdirektor Georg Schmitz, and Baurat Kurt Wille. They were accompanied by Josef Peckelsen, a representative of the construction company Heitkamp, and the two pilots, Alfred Krummlauf and Rolf Brennholt. The delegation had been in Frankfurt inspecting a construction site for the city’s new subway system. Their intended destination was a hunting lodge owned by Heitkamp.
The flight took off at 3:12 PM. Shortly after departure, the plane crashed into the wooded slopes of the Altkönig mountain. Bad weather, including dense fog, contributed to the accident. The wreckage was scattered over a wide area. The impact killed all six passengers instantly. The news of the crash sent shockwaves through Wattenscheid, a city that mourned the sudden loss of its leadership. The Gedenkstein zum Flugzeugabsturz 22. Januar 1971, located near the crash site on the 300-Meter-Weg, east of the Düngesberg spur, has become a place of remembrance. In the years following the tragedy, memorial services were held here, with delegations from Wattenscheid paying their respects. The loss of these individuals, who had played key roles in navigating the city through the challenging coal mining crisis and attracting new businesses to the area, was deeply felt. Their legacy, however, continues to resonate in the city’s history, a reminder of their dedication and leadership. The Gedenkstein zum Flugzeugabsturz 22. Januar 1971 ensures their story, and the tragic circumstances of their deaths, are not forgotten.