What happened
On February 24, 2000, an Extra EA 300 was being ferried from Dinslaken to Romania as part of a delivery of two new aircraft. The flight was being conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). After a delay due to morning weather, the two aircraft departed Dinslaken at approximately 15:00.
Approximately 45 minutes into the flight, the aircraft struck the treetops of a forested ridge near Sundern. The impact occurred at a medium to high speed in a straight flight path with no significant bank. The collision tore off both wings and parts of the tail unit before the fuselage struck the ground. The pilot was killed in the accident, and the aircraft was destroyed. The second aircraft in the formation landed safely at a different airfield.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the flight path, the weather conditions, and the technical state of the aircraft. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at extremely low altitudes over Sundern, performing several full circles and briefly disappearing into clouds.
Meteorological analysis from the German Meteorological Service (DWD) confirmed that while conditions at the departure airfield were favorable, a cold front had moved into the Sauerland region. At the time of the accident, the cloud base was between 1,200 and 1,500 feet MSL, with some cloud fragments as low as 800 feet. The accident site, located at 1,485 feet, was obscured by clouds.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's experience and the aircraft's equipment. The pilot held a commercial pilot license but did not possess an instrument rating. The Extra EA 300, being designed exclusively for aerobatics, was not equipped with the instruments required for flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
Findings
- The pilot attempted to continue a VFR flight through mountainous terrain despite encroaching low clouds and deteriorating visibility.
- The aircraft struck the terrain while flying in a straight line, likely because the pilot was unable to perceive the rising terrain hidden within the cloud layer.
- Although weather documents and warnings regarding low clouds in the mountains were found in the wreckage, the investigators concluded that the pilots likely could not interpret the German-language summaries or the specialized English-language symbols and abbreviations used in the weather charts.
- No technical malfunctions were identified as a cause of the accident.