What happened
On October 8, 2008, at approximately 14:15, a Moyes Microlites Dragonfly ultralight aircraft was conducting a sightseeing flight after departing from Bürstadt airfield. The pilot was accompanied by one passenger. The flight proceeded east along the A 6ឡើង 67 motorway toward the town of Einhausen.
During the climb, the pilot entered a stall and the aircraft began to wing over to the right. While the pilot attempted to recover and regain altitude, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled flight state. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a low altitude over the Einhausen industrial area before it descended. The aircraft's fuselage first struck a group of spruce trees in the front garden of a residence. The aircraft then entered a rotation, causing the left wing to strike the wall of the house. The wreckage finally came to rest on the house's terrace, where the left wing and tail boom became wedged under the terrace roof.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and the flight conditions. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within permissible limits. The engine, a Rotax 912 ULS, had been operating without malfunction, and 16 liters of fuel remained in the tank at the time of the accident. The control surfaces were found to be fully connected, though they were deformed by the impact. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's emergency recovery system was not deployed.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained heavy damage, including a broken left wing, a detached left aileron, and a deformed fuselage structure.
- The primary cause of the accident was the aircraft entering an uncontrolled flight state following a stall during the climb.
- The impact with trees and the residential structure resulted in two serious injuries to the occupants and caused damage to the aircraft, nearby vegetation, and the building.