What happened
On August 26, 2022, a Scheibe SF 25 C motor glider departed from Magdeburg-City (EDBM) for a local sightseeing flight. The flight began at 14:59 local time under weather conditions that, while potentially subject to forecasted thunderstorms, were suitable for flight at the time of departure. After an initial period of flight northeast of Magdeburg, the pilot contacted the tower to announce an intention to return to Magdeburg via the right crosswind approach.
Contrary to this stated intention, the aircraft flew north toward Braunschweig. During this period, the pilot ceased all radio communication. The aircraft subsequently entered the Braunschweig control zone and the controlled airspace southeast of Hannover, eventually turning southwest. The pilot failed to respond to inquiries from the Braunschweig tower, causing operational delays for other IFR traffic. The tower also attempted to establish contact via the emergency frequency while the aircraft traversed Hannover airspace, but received no response.
At approximately 18:05, after roughly three hours of flight, the motor glider entered the village of Lübbrechtsen at a very low altitude. Witnesses observed the aircraft approaching from the northeast in a level flight, though it was noted to be extremely loud. The aircraft then performed a 90-degree bank before descending into the village. The aircraft struck the wall of a residential building, causing damage to two houses, with the wreckage of the aircraft coming to rest inside one of the structures. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft's flight path using radar data and analyzed the wreckage. The impact caused severe structural deformation, with the fuselage compressed by approximately four meters and the forward section, including the engine and cockpit, compressed to 1.5 meters. The wing spars were broken at the root ribs, and the wooden wing structure was shattered.
The investigation also included a medical and pathological examination of the pilot. While no acute myocardial infarction was found, the autopsy revealed significant thickening of the right ventricular wall, indicating long-term increased workload on the heart. This condition, accompanied by signs of congestive liver, is associated with an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden incapacitation.
Findings
- The aircraft was flying at a very low altitude and deviated significantly from its communicated flight plan.
- The pilot failed to respond to radio communications from both Braunschweig and Hannover air traffic control.
- The pilot may have experienced sudden incapacitation due to a cardiac arrhythmia related to underlying structural heart changes.
- There was no evidence of drug use, though carbon monoxide levels in the blood were at the upper limit of normal.