What happened
On December 18, 2005, a Socata MS 893 A Morane departed Freiburg, Germany, on a visual flight rules (VFR) flight intended for Grenchen, Switzerland. The purpose of the flight was to transport a passenger to the Swiss airfield. The flight path was planned to proceed toward the Hochwald VOR and then toward Grenchen.
During the flight, the aircraft entered an area of deteriorating weather conditions along the western edge of the Black Forest. At approximately 09:05, the aircraft entered a region of low clouds and mist. A witness in the town of Kandern observed the aircraft emerging from the clouds with a high pitch attitude and a high-power engine setting, before it disappeared behind a ridge. Following the sound of an engine shutdown and a heavy impact, authorities were alerted. The wreckage was located the following morning by a search and rescue helicopter crew in a forested area at an elevation of 530 meters.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft, the weather conditions, and the flight parameters. The investigation found that the aircraft's center of gravity was within limits and no technical defects or evidence of in-flight icing were present on the airframe. Radar tracking from Basel-Mühlhausen airport confirmed the aircraft's path as a primary radar track without altitude information. The investigation also noted that the pilot had not established radio contact with any air traffic control or information services during the flight and the transponder was not in use.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the entry into an area of poor weather, which led to a loss of control over the aircraft.
- The pilot attempted to navigate through marginal VFR conditions along the western edge of the Black Forest, where orographic lifting had caused low cloud layers.
- The flight path chosen was more difficult than necessary; an alternative route via Mühlhausen would have provided continuous VFR conditions at the cost of only a few extra minutes of flight time.
- Transitioning to instrument flight rules (IFR) was not a viable option due to the low temperatures and the high risk of icing.
- The impact occurred at a high speed and a nearly vertical angle, making the crash non-survivable for both the pilot and the passenger.