Incident Overview
On August 21, 1998, a single-engine, six-seat Extra EA-400 crashed near Hagen in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The aircraft was operating under a provisional airworthiness certificate (VVZ) and was piloted by a single individual on a private trip from Dinslaken to Donaueschingen. The pilot filed a VFR/IFR flight plan, indicating an intention to transition from visual to instrument flight rules.
Flight Progression and Loss of Control
The aircraft departed under visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and climbed through severe weather toward Flight Level 110. Radar data and witness accounts indicated the aircraft experienced multiple stalls and recoveries over Hagen. The pilot reported regaining control briefly before the aircraft pitched down again, striking a federal highway at an angle of 60–70 degrees. The impact caused the composite airframe to shatter, and the subsequent fire destroyed the wreckage.
Investigation Findings
The German Federal Aviation Office (BFU) investigated the crash, noting that the aircraft’s de-icing system, pressurized cabin, and instrument flight equipment had not yet received full type certification. The autopilot (S-TEC System 55) was a focus of the inquiry due to pilot reports of its influence. While no technical malfunction was confirmed, the trim position at impact was found to be nose-up relative to neutral. The pilot had completed only 55 minutes of familiarization flights with this specific aircraft type prior to the accident.