What happened
On August 23, 1996, a Reims Aviation Cessna F 172G was performing a flight from Langeoog to Helgoland-Düne. After departing Langeoog at 15:19, the pilot contacted Bremen Information and later requested to switch to the Langeoog frequency. No further contact was established with the destination aerodrome before the accident.
At approximately 15:42, the aircraft approached the north beach of Spiekeroog from a westerly to northerly direction at an altitude between 100 and 400 meters. While executing a right-hand turn in front of the beach, the aircraft experienced a loss of altitude. The right wing and nose gear struck the water surface, causing the engine and nose gear to detach from the airframe. The wreckage came to rest in the water approximately 150 meters from the shore.
All three fatalities occurred during the accident. The pilot and the passenger in the front right seat died from injuries sustained during the impact. The rear passenger died from drowning after being recovered from the cockpit.
The investigation
The BFU investigation was complicated by the high degree of destruction to the aircraft and the challenging underwater recovery conditions. Several components, including the left outer wing, engine cowling, and certain seats, were not recovered. Investigators also noted that the aircraft's annual inspection was overdue, as a required maintenance check following a propeller strike in May 1996 had not been documented as completed.
The investigation examined the pilot's experience, weather conditions, and the aircraft's mechanical state. While the pilot had relatively low flight experience, toxicology reports showed no impairment due to drugs or alcohol. The aircraft's weight and balance were within limits, and no evidence of engine failure or other aircraft interference was found.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the pilot allowed the aircraft to descend during a turn over the water and failed to recover the altitude before impacting the surface.
- Contributing factors included hazy weather conditions and poor horizon visibility, particularly as the aircraft was flying into the sun.
- The pilot's relatively low flight experience made it difficult to maintain situational awareness during the turn in challenging visibility.