2008 Evektor Eurostar EV-97 crash near Tarmow

Accident Overview On 23 July 2008, an Evektor-Aerotechnik a.s. Eurostar EV-97 ultralight aircraft crashed near Tarmow, Germany. The accident occurred during a private flight from the Verkehrslandeplatz Ruppiner Land. The 79-year-old pilot was killed, and the aircraft was destroyed. ## Aircraft and Pilot The aircraft was a two-seat, aerodynamically controlled ultralight aircraft in metal construction. It was a Eurostar EV-97, Mod. 2000R, with serial number 2005 2623, built in 2005. The maximum takeoff weight was 472.5 kg, and it was powered by a Rotax 912 ULS engine producing 100 HP. The total flight time was approximately 80 hours. The pilot held a valid air sports pilot license issued on 22 May 2005, with a passenger endorsement added in September 2007. He had a total flight experience of approximately 203 hours, including 111 hours during training. On the accident aircraft type, he had approximately 80 hours and 140 takeoffs and landings. ## Flight and Accident Sequence At 17:25 local time, the pilot took off from runway 11 at Verkehrslandeplatz Ruppiner Land for a private flight. After takeoff, the aircraft continued in the direction of the runway. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at low altitude and moving up and down. A witness from the airfield saw the aircraft crash vertically into a rapeseed field from a turn and catch fire. The pilot was killed. ## Weather and Airport The weather on the day of the accident was described as high summer and cloudless. The wind was variable from the north at 5 knots. The air pressure was 1,024 hPa, and the temperature was 25°C. Visibility was over 10 km (CAVOK). The Verkehrslandeplatz Ruppiner Land has runway 11/29, an asphalt runway measuring 905 m x 23 m. The airfield is located 42 m above sea level. ## Accident Site and Aircraft Findings The accident site was approximately 2.6 km east of the airfield in a rapeseed field. The rescue system was not deployed. No skid marks were visible at the accident site. The cockpit area and adjacent components were destroyed by the fire. Due to the high degree of destruction, the control connections could no longer be verified. All control surfaces and landing flaps were movable from the outside. The propeller and engine area showed a high degree of destruction due to the ground collision and fire. A propeller blade was torn off at the propeller root during impact. The left wing and the leading edge and outer area of the wing had diagonal deformation marks. The right wing had impact marks on the leading edge. The fuselage was crushed in the area of the tail attachment. ## Fire A fire broke out during the impact. The fire department and emergency services were alerted at 17:28 and arrived at the accident site at 17:37. The fire was extinguished at 17:45.