What happened
On March 11, 2017, at approximately 17:10 local time, a privately owned STORCH S 500 LSA ultra-light aircraft crashed into a field northwest of the Xizhou airfield in Changhua County, Taiwan. The aircraft, operated by a single pilot, had departed from the Xizhou airfield around 16:00 for a flight covering the Zhuoshui River area.
As the pilot attempted to land, the aircraft encountered a strong crosswind. While attempting a go-around to recover from the unstable approach, the pilot lost control, causing the aircraft to overturn in a nearby agricultural field. The pilot sustained minor injuries during the impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the legality of the flight operations and the regulatory oversight of the airfield. The aircraft was found to have no valid inspection certificate, and the pilot did not hold a valid ultra-light aircraft operator certificate. Furthermore, the pilot was not a member of any authorized ultra-s-light flight organization.
Data retrieved from the aircraft's Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) revealed that the flight had frequently exceeded authorized altitude limits. While the permitted airspace for ultra-light activities in the region is capped at 500 to 1,000 feet, the EFIS recorded several instances where the aircraft reached altitudes between 1,500 and 2,000 feet, with one peak altitude reaching 15,934 feet. The flight path also indicated that the aircraft may have entered restricted zones where ultra-light flights are strictly prohibited due to high population density.
Investigators also noted that the Xizhou airfield is an illegal operating site. Although the site was used for ultra-light activities, it was officially registered as a sod production farm. The investigation team discovered that the aircraft wreckage had been moved from the crash site to a hangar on the airfield by the site owner using a crane shortly after the accident, which hindered the initial on-site examination of the debris.
Findings
- The accident was a result of unauthorized ultra-light flight operations conducted at an illegal airfield.
- The pilot attempted a go-around following a strong crosswind but lost control of the aircraft.
- The aircraft was operating without a valid inspection certificate, and the pilot lacked the necessary operating credentials.
- The flight exceeded authorized altitude limits and potentially entered prohibited airspace.
- The Xizhou airfield was an unapproved site operating under the guise of a commercial farm, and local authorities had failed to effectively decommission the illegal structures and runways.