What happened
On March 6, 2006, a Mooney M 20K crashed southeast of Nauleis, Germany, during a visual flight rules (VFR) flight. The pilot had previously completed a flight from Dortmund to Dresden, dropping off two passengers. At 18:07, following sunset, the pilot departed Dresden Airport on runway 22, heading for Riesa-Göhlis under a special VFR clearance.
Radar tracking indicated that shortly after departure, the aircraft changed course approximately 90 degrees toward the northeast, near Grossenhain, while climbing from 700 ft to 2,000 ft. During this maneuver, the aircraft's speed decreased from 160 kt to 90 kt. At 18:11, radar contact was lost as the aircraft entered a region of heavy snow showers. The aircraft subsequently struck a frozen field at an altitude of approximately 420 ft MSL with a high longitudinal pitch, causing the airframe to break up and catch fire. The pilot was killed in the accident.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft, the weather conditions, and the pilot's actions. The Mooney M 20K was found to be airworthy, with no evidence of technical defects or mechanical failure contributing to the crash. Meteorological data revealed that a convergence line was moving through the area, bringing heavy snow, visibility as low as 300 m, and cloud ceilings between 200 ft and 400 ft, which presented significant icing risks.
The investigation also noted that the pilot had not sought individual weather briefings and was not registered with the German Meteorological Service's self-briefing system. Furthermore, while the air traffic controller at Riesa had requested a weather check via radio earlier that evening, the pilot did not call back. Notably, both the passenger from the previous leg and the controller at Dresden had advised the pilot against proceeding to Riesa due to the deteriorating weather.
Findings
- The pilot entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) without the necessary training or intent to fly under instrument rules.
- The aircraft encountered heavy snow showers and low visibility, leading to a loss of situational awareness.
- The pilot failed to recognize the approaching weather front and did not divert to an alternate airport despite warnings from others.
- The crash was caused by the unintentional entry into instrument flight conditions and the subsequent loss of control of the aircraft.