History of the Flight
On 16 April 2016, the pilot of Piper PA-28-140 registration YU-DMY flew from Kostolac Airport (LYKT) to an unregistered airstrip near the village of Kumane in the Veliko Gradište municipality. The aircraft was privately owned and operated. The pilot did not submit a flight plan and the aircraft did not have a valid airworthiness certificate (expired 15 July 2011), though witnesses reported it was operational. After landing without incident, the pilot remained at the airstrip for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, socializing with friends. At about 15:15 local time, he departed for the return flight to Kostolac.
Takeoff and initial climb to the west were normal. At a low altitude, with flaps retracted, the pilot reduced engine power to idle and initiated a left half-roll with a nose-down attitude of about -20 degrees. During this maneuver, airspeed dropped sharply, leading to an aerodynamic stall. The nose pitched down, and the pilot attempted to recover by leveling the aircraft and extending the flaps. However, altitude was insufficient. The aircraft struck the ground approximately 300 meters from the airstrip in a near-horizontal attitude with a slight left bank.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries from the impact and/or the subsequent fire. The aircraft was completely destroyed by the impact and fire. No third-party damage occurred.
Findings
The pilot held a valid private pilot license with single-engine piston (SEP) rating and a valid medical certificate. He had accumulated 292 hours 40 minutes total flight time, with limited recent flying (4 hours 34 minutes in the last 60 days). The aircraft's airworthiness certificate had expired, but the aircraft was reportedly operational. The pilot frequently performed similar low-altitude maneuvers during landings, according to witness statements.
Causes
The immediate cause of the accident was the aircraft's impact with terrain due to a stall during a low-altitude maneuver. Indirect causal factors included non-compliance with aviation standards.
Investigation
The Serbian Centre for Investigation of Accidents in Transport conducted the investigation. The inquiry relied on site examination, witness testimony, and documentation. Meteorological conditions were favorable for visual flight rules (VFR) and did not contribute.