What happened
On April 5, 2000, a Piper PA-60-602P was conducting a training flight for the purpose of completing an instrument rating. The flight originated at Aschaffenburg Airfield and was destined for Hahn Airport. The crew, consisting of a pilot undergoing training and an instructor, initially operated under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) before transitioning to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR).
During the approach to runway 03 at Hahn, the aircraft was being guided via radar. Approximately 5 nautical miles from the runway threshold, the aircraft struck a forested area near Morbach in a nearly vertical descent. The impact was so severe that the aircraft was destroyed, and both persons on board were killed.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage, radar data, and meteorological conditions. Technical inspections of the aircraft showed no evidence of mechanical failure, and maintenance records indicated the aircraft was airworthy. The investigation also reviewed radio communications between the crew and the Frankfurt Approach controller. Radar data from several stations, including Frankfurt and Luxembourg, allowed for a reconstruction of the flight path.
While the radar data showed the aircraft briefly dipping below the glidepath and then climbing slightly before entering a steep descent, the investigators noted that the reconstruction was subject to significant tolerances due to the limited number of radar targets and the resolution of the radar system. Additionally, the medical examination of the pilots showed no evidence of impairment due to illness, alcohol, or medication.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in weather conditions influenced by a cold front, with low clouds, light rain, and potential snow/icing at higher altitudes.
- The aircraft was following an ILS approach to runway 03 at Hahn.
- The wreckage distribution and the broken propeller blades indicated that both engines were producing power at the moment of impact.
- Due to the extreme destruction of the wreckage, a definitive cause for the sudden descent could not be established.