What happened
On February 13, 2016, an FK 14 B Polaris ultralight aircraft crashed in a field southeast of Söhlde, Germany. The pilot had requested that a flight instructor accompany him on the flight to help him become familiar with the newly acquired aircraft. Although the instructor was highly experienced, he was acting as a passenger during this flight.
The aircraft departed from Hildesheim airfield at 10:29 local time, performing four touch-and-go maneuvers on runway 07. At 11:11, the pilot radioed that the aircraft was exiting the traffic pattern toward the east. Shortly thereafter, witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a low altitude from the northeast. The aircraft then entered a steep right-hand turn with the nose pitched upward. During this maneuver, the aircraft stalled, rolled over a wing, and impacted a field with a high angle of descent.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and the flight circumstances. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's engine and propeller sustained significant damage upon impact, and the fuel tanks ruptured. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's credentials, noting he had approximately 58 hours of total time on three-axis ultralight aircraft, with very limited experience on this specific model. The passenger was an experienced pilot with nearly 600 hours of total flight time.
Technical inspections of the FK 14 B Polaris revealed no mechanical failures or technical defects. The control linkages were intact up to the point of structural failure in the fuselage. The ballistic parachute system was found to be undeployed.
Findings
- The aircraft entered an aerodynamic stall during a steep, high-pitch turn.
- The two fatalities occurred as a result of the high-energy impact with the ground.
- The pilot's experience with this specific aircraft type was limited to only eight starts and approximately four hours of flight time.
- Abrupt control inputs or excessive angle of attack changes during the turn likely induced the stall.