What happened
On February 11, 2012, a Liberty Aerospace Incorporated/ Liberty XL-2 departed Marburg-Schönstadt aerodrome for a local flight with two occupants on board. After approximately one hour of flight, the aircraft was on final approach to runway 22.
According to the flight leader, the low position of the sun caused significant glare, prompting the pilot to decide on a go-around to land in the opposite direction on runway 04. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying over runway 22 at a high speed and low altitude. As the aircraft attempted to climb at the end of the airfield, it entered an uncontrolled flight state, stalled, and struck the ground in a field approximately 700 meters southwest of the aerodrome boundary. The impact caused the aircraft to catch fire, and two fatalities occurred.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft's flight path using radar data and analyzed the pilot's experience and the aircraft's handling characteristics. The investigation noted that the pilot was an experienced flyer with significant hours in various aircraft, including over 30 hours in the Liberty XL-2. The investigation also considered the meteorological conditions, noting that the sun was positioned at an angle of approximately 4 degrees above the horizon, which contributed to the blinding glare reported by the pilot.