What happened
On a scheduled sightseeing excursion, a single-engine aircraft operated by Sachsische Luftfahrt Service departed from Essen-Mühlheim Airport at 11:58 local time. The flight was intended to traverse the airspace above Duisburg and Düsseldorf before returning to its point of origin. On board were two crew members and nine passengers.
While the aircraft was maintaining a cruising altitude of 1,500 feet, the engine suffered a loss of power. In response to the failure, the pilot initiated a descent to a lower altitude and sought a suitable location for an emergency landing near a local sports center. The aircraft made contact with a field, where it continued to travel for approximately 200 metres before striking a group of trees.
Despite the impact and the subsequent damage to the airframe, all 11 occupants managed to exit the aircraft without sustaining any injuries. The aircraft itself was determined to be a total loss due to the extent of the damage.
Findings
- The primary factor leading to the emergency landing was the loss of engine power during the cruise phase of the flight.