Flight and Accident
On 21 August 1999 at 09:15 local time, a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu departed Niederstetten for a private flight to Paderborn-Lippstadt. The flight plan specified visual flight rules initially, transitioning to instrument flight rules after Würzburg. The intended route included the Warburg VOR/DME and an approach on the WRB 2H arrival.
The aircraft contacted Düsseldorf Radar before Warburg. The controller cleared the pilot for a standard ILS approach to runway 24 at Paderborn-Lippstadt, instructed a descent to 5,000 feet after passing Warburg, and provided a QNH of 1022 hPa. The pilot descended to 4,500 feet prematurely and was instructed to climb back to 5,000 feet and hold until 8 NM past Warburg.
After passing Warburg, the pilot began an unauthorized left turn toward the west. The controller instructed a heading of 330°, which the pilot acknowledged but only flew 320°. Later, the pilot initiated another left turn, and the controller directed a right turn to 350°, again only partially followed by the pilot (320°).
The aircraft approached the extended centerline of runway 24 at an 80° angle, about 7 NM from the threshold at 3,800 feet. At 10:16:32, the controller cleared the pilot: "turn left heading west, descent 3000, cleared ILS 24." The pilot acknowledged and at 10:16:45, while at 3,700 feet, began a tight left turn with a high descent rate, crossing the localizer by about 0.18 NM to the north. The pilot then initiated a climb from 2,500 feet to 4,000 feet.
According to radar data, the aircraft reached about 4,000 feet then suddenly entered a dive. Before exiting the clouds, a section of the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer separated. The aircraft then struck the ground at a shallow angle in a field at 10:17.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot and two passengers suffered fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed by impact. Crop damage occurred due to the crash and spilled fuel, oil, and hydraulic fluid.
Air Traffic Control
The controller did not recognize that the pilot was clearly overwhelmed by the ILS approach.
Cause
The accident occurred because the pilot attempted to follow the ILS for runway 24 from an unfavorable position. While trying to stabilize the approach, he briefly lost control of the aircraft. During recovery from the dive, the right outer wing failed due to overstress. Additionally, the controller had not recognized the pilot's difficulty with the approach.