What happened
On May 23, 2008, at approximately 12:55 local time, a Flight Team/Twister iXess ultralight trike was performing a glider tow operation near the Schwäbisch Hall-Weckrieden airfield. After releasing a hang glider to the south of the airfield, the pilot proceeded with a landing approach. The flight path took the aircraft over the control tower, across the center of the grass runway, and into the left-hand pattern for runway 08.
During the final part of the approach, approximately 300 meters before the threshold of runway 08, the aircraft entered a steep, nose-down dive. Witnesses reported that the wing appeared to be collapsed. The aircraft struck the ground at an altitude of roughly 80 to 100 meters, causing the trike to pitch forward in a nose-over motion (tuck). The impact destroyed the aircraft and resulted in one fatality.