Fatal Sinking of a Socata TB 10 in Stockheim, Germany

Incident Overview and Flight Details On July 18, 1999, a Socata TB 10 aircraft crashed into a forest near Stockheim in Upper Franconia, Germany. The aircraft, operated by a pilot with three passengers, departed from Bamberg Airfield at 15:50 for a sightseeing flight. The crash occurred approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, resulting in the deaths of all four occupants and significant forest damage. The aircraft was destroyed by a fire that started upon impact with the trees. ## Investigation and Aircraft Condition The investigation was conducted by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) in cooperation with local police. No mechanical defects were found that could have caused the accident, though the fire severely limited the scope of the investigation. The aircraft was a single-engine, low-wing metal aircraft powered by a 180 hp Lycoming O-360-A1AD engine. It was found to be approximately 38 kg over its maximum takeoff weight, and its center of gravity was outside the allowable rear limit. The pilot held a valid private pilot license and had 460 total flight hours, including 90 hours on the TB 10. ## Contributing Factors and Probable Cause The pilot was flying at a very low altitude and slow speed over Stockheim, failing to maintain the required 1,000 ft minimum safe altitude. As the aircraft approached a high-voltage power line, the pilot initiated a shallow left turn. The aircraft then stalled and crashed into a spruce forest. The probable cause was the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed above the stall speed during the turn. Contributing factors included the aircraft being overloaded and having an out-of-limits center of gravity. The pilot had not yet completed the required medical examination for license renewal.