What happened
On June 30, 2007, a Piper PA-46-310 P Malibu was preparing for a flight from Wangerooge to Bremen following a three-hour stop on the island. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and four passengers. At 15:58 local time, the pilot applied full engine power and released the brakes to begin the takeoff roll on asphalt runway 2']))28.
After a takeoff roll of less than 300 meters, the aircraft lifted off and assumed a high angle of attack, as observed by several witnesses. Simultaneously, the aircraft entered a steep left bank. During this maneuver, the left wingtip struck the ground, causing the wing to tear away. The aircraft then impacted the ground nose-first with the landing gear. As the aircraft continued to rotate around its longitudinal axis, the right wing also separated from the fuselage. The wreckage came to rest in a drainage ditch running parallel to the runway at the base of a protective dike.
Emergency responders were able to assist three occupants in exiting the cabin through the rear left door. However, the pilot and one passenger seated in the front right were trapped and had to be extricated from the wreckage by firefighters. The accident resulted in four serious injuries and one minor injury, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage at the site and subsequently at an aviation maintenance facility. The investigation focused on the aircraft's configuration and mechanical condition. The aircraft, which had been in service since 1987, had flown 57 hours since its last annual inspection.
Investigators examined the flap mechanism and found minimal damage to the mid-fuselage area, confirming that a flap setting of 10 degrees had been selected for takeoff. The trim was found in a slight nose-up position; this setting was verified against another PA-46-310 to ensure it had not been altered by the impact. The engine was confirmed to have been operating at full power during the takeoff attempt.
Findings
- The investigation found no technical defects that would have impaired the airworthiness of the aircraft.
- Meteorological conditions at the time included visibility greater than 10 km, though winds from 280 to 300 degrees were reported as gusty, with speeds between 15 and 30 knots.
- The primary cause of the accident was the high angle of attack and subsequent steep bank during the takeoff roll, which led to the wing strike.