Introduction
On 16 June 2007, at approximately 13:10 local time, a Robin DR 400-160 aircraft crashed in a wooded area near the northeastern end of Seedorf airfield (Sonderlandeplatz Seedorf), Germany. All three occupants were fatally injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and subsequent fire.
Aircraft Information
The accident aircraft was a Robin DR 400-160 Chevalier, serial number 871, manufactured in 1973 by Avions Pierre Robin. It had a maximum takeoff weight of 1050 kg and an empty weight of 610 kg. The engine was a Lycoming O-320-D2A producing 160 hp, driving a fixed-pitch propeller. Total airframe time was approximately 5795 hours. The aircraft held a valid airworthiness certificate until 1 August 2009. Its last 50-hour inspection was conducted on 14 June 2007, two days before the accident. The aircraft was operated and maintained by a flying club.
Personnel Information
On board were three persons. Two held French private pilot licenses. The pilot who flew the aircraft to Seedorf was a 63-year-old male with about 1165 flight hours; his license was issued in 1990. The pilot at the controls for the attempted takeoff was a 61-year-old female with a French private pilot license issued in 1997 and a total of 430 flight hours, including 5 hours in the preceding 90 days.
Accident Sequence
The flight was part of a planned cross-country trip by a French flying club from Hoogeveen, Netherlands, to Oskarshamn, Sweden, with three aircraft. Due to adverse weather, all three aircraft made a precautionary landing at Seedorf around 12:37 local time, landing in a westerly direction. After weather improved, the pilots assessed the 450 m grass runway (oriented 06/24), which was wet and soft from previous rain. The first two aircraft—a DR 400-180 with three occupants and a DR 400-160 with two occupants—took off at 13:00 into the wind (westerly direction), using the full grass area east of the runway. They became airborne near the half-runway marking, circled, and then departed eastward after a delay of the third aircraft.
The third aircraft, the accident DR 400-160, was occupied by three people and carried about 150 liters of fuel and luggage. At approximately 13:10, a witness observed a smoke plume in the area of Seedorf. At 16:30, police found the wreckage burnt out at the northeastern end of the airfield, about 150 m left of the end of runway 06, in a forest.
Meteorological Conditions
The region was under a moist, unstable air mass with occasional isolated or line thunderstorms and heavy rain. Wind was from about 220 degrees at 10 kt, gusting to 25 kt near thunderstorms. Visibility was more than 10 km, dropping to 4000 m in rain. Temperature was 20 °C, and QNH was 1004 hPa.
Site and Wreckage
The crash site was located about 150 m northeast of the end of runway 06, in a forested area. The first tree contact occurred with the right wing at a height of about 5 m. The right wing separated between the aileron and flap and remained in the tree. The aircraft then struck the ground nose-first 13 m away and burst into flame. The fire destroyed the entire aircraft. All major components were found in a confined area. Control system remnants were present, and no evidence of a technical defect was found.
Additional Findings
According to the flight manual for the DR 400-160, the takeoff distance required on runway 06 under the existing conditions (wet grass, soft ground, 10 kt tailwind, 20 °C, and maximum takeoff weight) was 740 m to lift off and 1250 m to clear a 15 m obstacle. The runway length was 450 m, with additional grass areas of about 250 m on each side. No clear tire marks from the accident aircraft could be identified due to numerous vehicle tracks. The airfield was closed at the time, and no personnel were present. No radio communication was recorded, and the aircraft had no contact with air traffic control or flight information services. Autopsies found no health impairments, and toxicology tests were negative.