What happened
On April 21, 2007, a HOAC-Austria HK 36 R Super Dimona motor glider departed from Rheinstetten airfield to perform a standard circuit flight. The flight was conducted using a right-hand pattern. Following an initial landing behind the runway markings, the pilot attempted a second takeoff. The aircraft lifted off after a relatively short ground roll at a low airspeed.
As the aircraft proceeded in the direction of the runway departure, it encountered a treeline consisting of trees approximately 25 meters in height. Before reaching the trees, the aircraft entered a right-hand turn and subsequently stalled over the wing. This led to a spin, and the aircraft impacted the ground with a heavy longitudinal pitch. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
The investigation
The BFU investigation focused on the flight path, the condition of the aircraft, and the environmental factors at the time of the accident. The wreckage was examined at the accident site, located approximately 350 meters beyond the end of runway 02 and 90 meters south of the extended centerline. The investigation confirmed that there were no technical defects found in the aircraft's systems. Furthermore, the aircraft's loading and fueling were found to be within acceptable limits. Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident were favorable, with visual flight rules (VFR) conditions, a light north wind of approximately 2 knots, and an ambient temperature of 21 °C.