What happened
On November 16, 2006, a Christen Eagle II departed from Kempten-Durach airfield for a sightseeing flight. The pilot intended to perform maneuvers for a camera crew positioned on the summit of Falkenstein mountain near Pfronten.
As the aircraft approached the camera position at approximately 1,270 m MSL, the pilot performed a left roll. Following this maneuver, the aircraft entered a westward circuit to reposition for another pass. During this second pass, the aircraft began a left roll once more. However, while in the inverted position, the nose of the aircraft dipped below the horizon. The descent continued until the aircraft reached a pitch angle of approximately 30° nose-down. The rotation stopped while the aircraft was in a knife-edge attitude, and roughly two seconds later, the aircraft struck the steep mountainside at an altitude of approximately 1,230 m MSL.
The investigation
The BFU investigation utilized video footage recorded by the camera crew to reconstruct the flight path. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's extensive flight experience, which included approximately 9,100 total flying hours and various aerobatic ratings.
Physical examination of the wreckage revealed that the impact and a subsequent fire destroyed the aircraft. The wings and fuselage skin were burned away, leaving only the metal fittings and small fragments of the airframe. The engine and tail structure remained identifiable, with most larger components located near the engine's impact point. Medical and toxicological examinations of the pilot showed no evidence of health-related impairment or intoxication at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft struck the terrain during an aerobatic maneuver.
- The pilot's nose dipped significantly below the horizon during an inverted roll, leading to a loss of altitude and subsequent impact.
- The pilot was highly experienced, possessing over 9,000 flying hours and multiple aerobatic licenses.
- There were no medical or toxicological factors identified that contributed to the pilot's inability to maintain control of the aircraft's pitch during the maneuver.