Accident Details
On 8 July 1997, a Piper PA-28-181 operated by a local flying club departed from Egelsbach at 0816 hours with a pilot and three passengers. The flight was part of a two-aircraft formation to transport employees to a business appointment in Dresden. The weather along the route was initially good, with the aircraft cruising at 5,000 feet above clouds. Near Coburg, a closing cloud deck prompted the pilots to continue at low altitude with visual ground contact.
Weather Deterioration
As the flight crossed the Thuringian Forest, visibility deteriorated rapidly near Plauen, dropping to 3–5 km south of Zwickau. Both pilots initially considered returning to Plauen. The pilot of the second aircraft, a less powerful Piper PA-28-161, decided to divert to Altenburg or Leipzig due to fuel concerns and better weather to the north. The accident pilot continued, intending to follow the highway from Plauen toward Dresden, reporting his position over Pöhl Dam, Zwickau, and south of Chemnitz.
Loss of Control
Shortly after, the pilot of the second aircraft heard an incomplete transmission: "... wait a minute, I don't have time, I have to climb." No further communication occurred. Radar data from Leipzig showed the accident aircraft near Stollberg at 1,860 ft MSL (about 100 m above ground), then turning right and climbing on an easterly heading while performing irregular, tight right turns. After completing one circle, the aircraft reached 2,860 ft MSL (about 330 m above ground) with an average climb rate of 500 ft/min. Just over a minute later, at 10:28:44, the last radar return showed an altitude of 2,260 ft MSL. The wreckage was later found in the 'Heiliger Wald' forest area.
Wreckage and Pilot Information
The aircraft impacted the forest floor with a high bank angle of about 80°, leaving a deep ground scar from the right wing. The engine was under power at impact, flaps were retracted, and the altimeter was set to the correct QNH. The pilot, male, held a private pilot license since 1970, with a total of 580 flight hours, about 200 on type. He held a controlled VFR (CVFR) endorsement but no instrument rating. Autopsy showed no impairment, negative alcohol test, and death was immediate due to the accident.
Weather Conditions
At the accident site (515 m MSL), visibility under a 8/8 stratus deck at 100–200 ft was only 1–2 km in heavy haze. The area was under a marginal (M2) GAFOR forecast, with horizontal visibility ≥8 km and cloud bases between 500 and 1,000 ft above the reference height. However, in areas with strong orography, higher terrain was in clouds. The pilot did not seek individual weather briefing as recommended for marginal conditions.
Investigation and Conclusions
The investigation determined that the pilot, not trained for instrument flight, entered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) when he climbed into low clouds to avoid terrain and obstacles after deciding too late to abandon the highway route. The radar track indicates a loss of control during the final minute, leading to a spiral dive into the ground.