What happened
On April 23, 1999, a Piper PA 28RT-201T departed Friedrichshafen, Germany, bound for Seppe, Netherlands, carrying the pilot and three passengers. The flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). Radar data indicates that while the aircraft initially maintained a steady course and altitude of FL 70, it eventually encountered significant weather disturbances.
As the aircraft approached the Zendscheid area, it entered a region of Cumulobonimbus clouds. Radar tracking showed a sudden, intense vertical deviation, with the aircraft experiencing an upward surge reaching FL 77, followed by a steep descent at approximately 3,000 ft/min. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing the aircraft rolling around its longitudinal axis, with the right wing and tail section separating and falling from the clouds. The aircraft struck the terrain near Zendscheid in a nearly vertical descent, resulting in four fatalities and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and analyzed radar and meteorological data. The investigation focused on the structural integrity of the airframe and the flight conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators recovered the main wreckage, which had been heavily damaged by a post-impact fire, as well as separated components including the right wing and the entire T-tail assembly.
Technical analysis of the wing attachment points revealed that the bolt on the rear lateral bracket of the right wing had sheared due to overload. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight records, medical status, and the aircraft's weight and balance. Meteorological data from the DWD confirmed the presence of a convergence line and convective activity, including moderate turbulence and icing, in the vicinity of the accident.