Accident Overview
On 5 May 2001, a Piper PA-42-1000 Cheyenne registered to the pilot crashed near Nuremberg, Germany. The pilot, who was also the owner, had flown earlier that day from Berlin-Tempelhof to Nuremberg. After a 6.5-hour work stop, he intended to continue to Zurich.
Flight Sequence
The aircraft departed Nuremberg Airport at approximately 16:28 local time from runway 10, using the DKB 9 M departure route. Witnesses described the initial climb after lift-off as 'very steep'. The pilot contacted departure control on the standard frequency when passing 2000 ft and was cleared to climb to flight level (FL) 130 after being instructed to activate the transponder.
Radar tracking later revealed an unusual altitude profile. The aircraft stopped its climb at FL 45 and transitioned into a steep descent. It emerged from the cloud base in straight flight at high speed, executed a pull-up reversal, and climbed back into clouds, reaching FL 47 before entering a dive-like attitude and impacting the ground at high speed in a wooded area near the A3 motorway. Despite the erratic vertical profile, the horizontal track remained aligned with the departure route, with only a slight right offset attributed to light northerly winds.
Meteorological Conditions
Surface weather at the time included visibility exceeding 10 km, a cloud base at 1800 ft MSL, wind from 010° at 10 knots, temperature 11°C, dew point 7°C, and QNH 1008 hPa.
Aircraft and Impact
Both engines were operating under power at impact. The airspeed indicator, destroyed in the crash, indicated approximately 280 knots at ground contact. Landing gear and flaps were retracted. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact. No evidence of technical failure was found during on-site or subsequent detailed examination of the wreckage in a hangar.
Injuries and Medical Findings
The pilot sustained fatal injuries. Due to the extensive destruction of the body, the autopsy could not determine any acute medical conditions or impairment of the pilot's capabilities.
Investigation Conclusion
The official investigation determined that the accident cause could not be established.