What happened
On October 16, 2018, a Tecnam P 2008 JC departed from the Bonn-Hangelar airfield (EDKB) for a training flight. On board were a flight instructor and a student pilot. Shortly after takeoff from runway 11, the aircraft experienced an engine malfunction during the initial climb. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying lower than usual and reported engine surges.
Following the engine failure, the aircraft began to lose altitude and airspeed. Radar data and witness accounts indicate that the aircraft performed a 180-degree turn during the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled flight state and struck an uncultivated field approximately 1,400 meters southeast of the airfield. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that destroyed the aircraft. The two fatalities included both the instructor and the student.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance history, the engine's condition, and the flight crew's actions. While the engine was heavily damaged by fire, the investigation of the remaining components provided no evidence of mechanical defects. The investigation also analyzed the meteorological conditions, noting an air temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and clear skies.
Investigators reconstructed the flight path using radar tracks and witness statements. They also reviewed the crew's emergency procedures, noting that while a structured emergency briefing had taken place, it did not include specific landing scenarios or identified emergency landing sites for the departure sector of runway 11.