What happened
On September 22, 2006, two Piper PA-2HD-181 aircraft were involved in a mid-air collision near Pariner Berg, approximately 1.5 kilometers northeast of the Lübeck VOR. The first aircraft, a Piper PA-28-181, had departed from Lübeck-Blankensee for a local flight with the pilot and three passengers. The second Piper PA-28-181 had departed from Kiel-Holtenau, carrying only the pilot.
At the time of the collision, both aircraft were flying at 2,400 ft MSL. The collision occurred when the nose wheel of the first aircraft struck the cockpit roof of the second. The impact caused the second aircraft to enter an uncontrolled descent, crashing into a field near Groß Parin, which resulted in the death of the pilot. The first aircraft sustained heavy damage, including a damaged left wing and the loss of its nose and right main landing gear, but the pilot was able to return to Lübeck-Blankensee and perform an emergency landing, during which one passenger sustained a minor injury.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined radar data, radio communications, and the physical wreckage of both aircraft. Investigators analyzed the flight paths, which showed the aircraft were approaching each other at a 120-degree angle. The investigation also reviewed the staffing levels at the Bremen Flight Information Service (FIS) during the time of the accident. It was determined that a single FIS specialist was managing multiple sectors and additional responsibilities due to staff shortages caused by meetings and illness.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the pilots failed to recognize the other aircraft or the impending collision hazard in time.
- Visibility was significantly degraded for the pilot of the second aircraft due to light scattering caused by a haze layer (inversion) and looking toward the sun.
- The high workload of the FIS specialist, caused by the consolidation of multiple sectors into one, hindered the ability to identify the collision risk and provide timely traffic information.
- Under VFR rules in uncontrolled airspace, both pilots had the responsibility to maintain a lookout, though the second aircraft was technically the aircraft required to yield under right-of-way rules.