What happened
On the late afternoon of June 28, 2006, a two-seat, amateur-built MC100 Ban-Bi departed from the Celle-Scheuen glider airfield for a local flight. The aircraft was occupied by the pilot in command and a second pilot, an airline transport pilot. No radio communications with ground stations were recorded during the flight, and there were no witnesses to provide information regarding the flight path or the timing of the departure.
On the following morning, the aircraft was discovered destroyed in a forested area located between the airfield and the town of Garssen. The impact occurred at a 50-degree angle against tree trunks, with the aircraft striking the ground at an airspeed of approximately 136 knots. The aircraft hit the forest floor without any rotation around its longitudinal axis.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage with the assistance of two amateur aircraft builders experienced with the same model. The investigation focused on the structural integrity of the airframe, the engine, and the control surfaces. The wreckage was found intact at the site, and both occupants were located in the central cockpit area, secured by lap and shoulder harnesses, though the pilot in command's buckle was found in the open position.
Findings
Technical examination of the MC100 Ban-Bi revealed that all damage to the airframe and control linkages was consistent with the impact. While investigators found that the fuel filter had been installed with the inlet and outlet connections reversed, testing demonstrated that this error did not impair the engine's fuel flow. No evidence of mechanical failure or loss of control was identified.
Microscopic analysis of the tachometer and airspeed indicator revealed a strike mark at approximately 1,500 RPM, and the airspeed at the moment of impact was determined to be 136 knots. The investigation found no evidence of technical defects or failure of the control surfaces as the cause of the accident.