Incident Overview
On November 29, 1998, a Piper Aircraft Corporation PA-34-220T experienced a fatal accident while on final approach to Nuremberg. The aircraft impacted the ground approximately 300 meters before the threshold of Runway 10 after entering an unusual flight attitude. The sole occupant, the pilot, was killed in the impact, and the airframe was destroyed.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft had departed Berlin-Tempelhof earlier that day for an IFR flight to Nuremberg. During the final approach phase using the Instrument Landing System (ILS), witnesses observed multiple longitudinal oscillations before the plane pitched forward and struck the ground nearly vertically. The crash site also resulted in damage to nearby vegetation and an approach lighting unit.
Contributing Factors
Investigation findings indicated that no mechanical defects were present on the aircraft prior to the accident, and ant-icing system components tested post-crash showed no malfunction. However, remnants of rime ice were found on the inflatable de-icing boots of the horizontal stabilizer.
The probable cause was identified as a tail stall resulting from ice accumulation. The investigation concluded that the pilot either failed to activate the de-icing system or activated it too late to prevent the aerodynamic degradation leading to the loss of control.