What happened
On August 21, 1999, a Piper PA 46-310P (Malibu) departed from Niederstetten on a private flight destined for Paderborn-Lippstadt. The flight was planned to begin under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and transition to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) after passing Würzburg.
As the aircraft approached Paderborn-Lippstadt, the pilot was cleared for a standard ILS approach to runway 24. However, the pilot began deviating from the prescribed flight path, necessitating several heading and altitude corrections from air traffic control. While flying at approximately 3,800 ft, the pilot initiated a tight left turn and a descent to 3,000 ft. During this maneuver, the aircraft missed the approach course and entered a period of instability.
After briefly climbing to 4,000 ft, the aircraft entered an abrupt dive. In an attempt to recover from the dive, the pilot applied significant pull-up forces, which caused the right outer wing and part of the right horizontal stabilizer to break off due to structural overstress. The aircraft subsequently struck a field at a shallow angle, resulting in the fatal deaths of the pilot and two passengers. The aircraft was destroyed, and damage was caused to the surrounding farmland.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the flight path, the aircraft's structural integrity, and the meteorological conditions. Radar data confirmed the aircraft's deviations from the assigned headings and the subsequent loss of control. Investigators also reviewed the air traffic controller's communications and workload.
While the aircraft had undergone a significant repair in the wing area previously, investigators determined that this was not a primary cause of the accident. The investigation also noted that the controller was managing eight different flight movements simultaneously, contributing to a high-workload environment. Meteorological data indicated that the approach was conducted primarily in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) due to low cloud ceilings.
Findings
- The pilot had limited experience in the Piper PA 4 .6-310P, with only 47 IFR hours in this specific model.
- The aircraft was in an extremely unfavorable position to intercept the ILS approach due to repeated deviations from instructions.
- The pilot was overwhelmed by the attempt to stabilize the approach from an improper position, leading to a temporary loss of control.
- The structural failure of the right wing was caused by the excessive positive load applied during the recovery attempt from the dive.
- The air traffic controller did not recognize that the pilot was struggling with the complexities of the instrument approach.