What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1997-03-07 involved a Piper PA-28R-200, at bei Hahn, DE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot flew below the established glide path during a night approach, likely due to a lack of proficiency in managing visual cues and descent rates during night operations.

Fatal Nighttime Collision with Trees During Approach at Hahn

A Piper PA-28R-200 crashed into a forest during a night training flight near Hahn, resulting in one fatality and two serious injuries.

What happened

On March 7, 1997, a Piper PA-28R-200 was conducting a local night training flight under visual flight rules (VFR) at Hahn airport. The flight, which included two crew members and one passenger, was intended to consist of several left-hand pattern circuits.

During the final approach, approximately 1,300 meters before the threshold of runway 21, the aircraft struck a high forest located ahead of the airfield and struck the ground. The pilot in the left seat was killed, while the pilot in the right seat sustained serious injuries. The passenger survived with only minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed, and damage was also sustained to the ground area.

The investigation

The BFU investigation found no evidence of mechanical failure or technical malfunction. The landing gear was extended, and the flaps were set at 10 degrees. Engine controls, including throttle, propeller pitch, and mixture, were found in full power, fine pitch, and rich settings, respectively.

Air traffic control confirmed that the approach lighting, runway lighting, and Precision Approach Path Indicator (P/API) were functioning correctly at the time of the accident. A subsequent flight by a police helicopter the following day verified that the PAPI glide slope alignment was accurate. Weather conditions were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km and winds from the southeast at 10 knots.

According to the surviving pilot in the right seat, he realized via the PAPI that the aircraft was flying too low and immediately advanced the throttle, but the collision with the trees occurred at that same moment.

Findings

The investigation established that the pilot unintentionally flew below the glide path, leading to the impact with the trees.
This error was likely caused by a lack of familiarity with the different optical perceptions and descent rate controls required for night flight, as the pilot's last night flight in this aircraft type had occurred over ten years prior.
While the right-seat pilot was the responsible pilot in command for the training flight, the left-seat pilot was not authorized to act as pilot in command because he had not flown this specific aircraft type for more than 24 months without prior instruction, nor was he authorized to carry passengers due to insufficient recent night landing experience.