Incident Overview
On April 6, 2015, a single-engine Cessna 172D operated by a private individual crashed into a wooded area approximately 2.5 kilometers southwest of the Neuhausen ob Eck special landing site in Germany. The accident occurred roughly one hour after sunset. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact with high trees, resulting in significant forest damage, but the pilot sustained no injuries.
Flight Details and Sequence of Events
The flight originated from Ales/Deaux (LFMS) in southern France, departing at 14:38 UTC for Neuhausen ob Eck (EDSN). The pilot had calculated a flight time of three hours and forty minutes. Radar data indicated the aircraft was in the vicinity of the destination by 19:02 UTC. At approximately 19:03 UTC, the pilot communicated with Zurich Flight Information Service, stating they were on final approach and requesting the closure of the flight plan. The radar track ended at 19:04:15 UTC.
The pilot reported that fuel reserves were nearly exhausted approximately 500 meters before the runway due to headwinds encountered during the journey. Consequently, a forced landing was initiated among the treetops. The aircraft slid between the trees and came to rest on its right side. The Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) did not activate. The pilot exited the wreckage unharmed and spent the night in a vehicle parked at the airfield before notifying police the following morning.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The 1963-built Cessna 172D was powered by a Continental O-300-D engine producing 108 kW. It had a total time of 4,018 hours. The 68-year-old pilot held an EU license with Single Engine Piston (SEP) privileges but did not possess a Night Flying Qualification (NFQ). His recent experience included 3:17 hours in the preceding 90 days and over 35 hours on this specific type in the last year.
Environmental Conditions
At the time of the accident, weather conditions at Neuhausen ob Eck were clear with visibility exceeding 10 km. The wind was from 350 degrees at 4 knots. Sunset had occurred at 18:01 UTC, and full darkness set in by 19:00 UTC. The airfield's published operating hours ended at 18:00 local time, and no runway lighting was active for the arrival.