What happened
On March 14, 1999, a Mooney M20J departed from Finow for a VFR flight to Heringsdorf, carrying a pilot and two passengers. While descending from 2,500 ft after passing the "Sierra" waypoint, the engine failed over the Oderhaff. After being unable to restart the engine, the pilot elected to perform an emergency landing on the mainland to avoid a water landing.
Upon reaching an appropriate landing field, the pilot performed a short circuit and extended the landing gear. During the final approach, the aircraft entered an aerodynamic stall and tipped over the right wing at approximately 10 meters above the ground, impacting the terrain heavily. Following the impact, the pilot successfully rescued both passengers, but a fire subsequently broke out in the engine compartment. Despite attempts to use an onboard fire extinguisher, the aircraft was destroyed by the fire.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and components, including the electrical and mechanical fuel pumps and the fuel injection system. Due to the extensive damage caused by the fire, investigators could not identify specific defects in the fuel system or the airframe. The pilot, who had approximately 5,000 total flight hours, was found to be fully rated for the flight. The investigation also noted that while the engine had experienced starting difficulties earlier that day, it had operated normally during the flight prior to the failure.
Findings
Investigators determined that the primary cause of the accident was the engine failure during cruise flight, the specific cause of which could not be determined due to the severity of the fire.
During the emergency landing sequence, the pilot applied a significant right bank to avoid trees at the edge of the landing strip. This maneuver, combined with a failure to monitor the airspeed indicator during a high-stress situation, caused the aircraft to drop below its minimum flying speed, leading to the stall and subsequent impact. Additionally, the post-crash fire was likely caused by an electrical short circuit, potentially facilitated by the master switch remaining in the 'on' position.