What happened
On March 24, 2001, an amateur-built Lancair 320 crashed near Stadtkyll during a flight test mission. The aircraft departed from Dahlemer Binz airfield with the intention of performing airspeed and temperature measurements. On board were the pilot and a passenger, who was tasked with recording flight data.
Approximately six minutes after takeoff, witnesses located about 4 km south of the airfield noticed the aircraft maneuvering toward the airport. Observers reported that the aircraft suddenly entered a flat spin. The rotation continued until the aircraft disappeared from view, impacting a meadow with a right-hand spin and low pitch. The impact resulted in two fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the wreckage and the impact site, as well as the aircraft's flight data and the pilot's credentials. The aircraft, which had a total time in service of 51 hours, showed no signs of technical failure. A GPS unit was recovered but contained no stored flight paths. A calibration form found in the wreckage indicated a recorded speed of 170 knots.
The pilot, who was also one of the aircraft's builders and owners, held a valid license and had 470 total flight hours, including 39 hours on this specific model. An autopsy of the pilot revealed no evidence of medical impairment. Notably, despite flight instructions for test flights requiring the use of parachutes, neither occupant was wearing one at the time of the accident.
Findings
Several critical factors contributed to the accident:
- The aircraft was overweight by 21 kg at the time of takeoff.
- The rearward limit of the center of gravity was exceeded.
- The increased weight resulted in a higher stall speed.
- The improper center of gravity position likely hindered any attempts to recover from the spin.
The investigation concluded that the accident was caused by the pilot's failure to observe the aircraft's increased stall speed due to the weight and balance configuration.