Piper PA-34-220T Seneca V accident at Ballenstedt, 18 January 2011

Overview and flight details On 18 January 2011, a Piper PA-34-220T Seneca V departed Lübeck-Blankensee (EDHL) at 15:56 local time with the pilot and two passengers for a VFR night flight to Ballenstedt (EDCB). The aircraft entered the traffic pattern for runway 27 at 16:49. The pilot reported that the approach initially appeared normal but that the aircraft was flown lower than usual. During the base leg, with a heading of 180 degrees and a bank angle of about 3 degrees, the aircraft contacted a field and was decelerated. It then rotated about its vertical axis and slid 96 meters, sustaining heavy damage. One passenger was seriously injured. ## Pilot account and findings The pilot stated that he had completed his landing preparation before turning onto the base leg and that ground contact occurred shortly before turning onto the final approach. He said visibility to the airfield was clear and that he had underestimated his altitude. He reported that the altimeter had indicated 800 feet, but that, because of an incorrect QNH setting, the aircraft was already at 500 feet above field level. After impact, he switched off all switches, closed the fuel cock, and leaned the mixture. ## Aircraft and personnel The aircraft was a two-engine, all-metal low-wing Piper PA-34-220T Seneca V, serial number 3449243, built in 2002 and with 1,351 total hours. It was equipped with a Garmin 530/430 GPS. Its airworthiness certificate was valid until 16 June 2011. The 49-year-old pilot held a private pilot licence with multi-engine and single-engine piston land ratings and a night qualification. He had 326 total hours and 317 landings, including 142 hours and 230 landings in the type. In the preceding 90 days, he had 26 landings and 26 hours in the type, and 19 night landings, all within the last 90 days. ## Weather and site At the time of the accident, Ballenstedt reported 8/8 cloud at 3,000 feet, 10 km surface visibility, and variable wind at 2 knots. The DWD assessed that visibility of 3 to 5 km and cloud bases of 400 to 800 feet AGL with rain were possible around 16:50. The accident site was about 1,675 meters northeast of runway 27 on a field at approximately field elevation. The QNH set in the aircraft was 1,027 hPa, while the QNH at nearby Cochstedt was 1,022 hPa. No fire occurred.