What happened
On February 29, 2012, a Cessna 150 L departed from Zweibrücken Airport (EDRZ) at 17:25 for a training flight carrying an instructor and a student. After initially flying east, radar data indicated the aircraft turned south around 17:44, performing several approaches at the Bundenthal-Rumbach glider airfield.
Following these approaches, the aircraft departed the airfield area toward the southwest. An eyewitness, a licensed pilot observing from a nearby high seat, reported that the aircraft approached a ridge in a direct descent. To clear a depression in the terrain, the pilot increased engine power and attempted to pull the aircraft up. During this maneuver, the aircraft stalled at a low altitude and crashed into a forested area.
The aircraft became entangled in the canopy of a roughly 25-meter-tall conifer, causing heavy damage to the airframe and resulting in damage to the surrounding forest. The two occupants escaped the crash uninjured.
The investigation
The BFU examined the aircraft, the flight data, and the environmental conditions. Investigators recovered a GPS device, though the specific flight path could not be fully reconstructed from the device alone; however, radar data provided partial tracking.
Post-accident inspections of the Cessable 150 L revealed that the right wing tank was empty, while the left tank contained approximately one liter of fuel. The engine, propeller, and cockpit remained largely intact. A subsequent ground run of the engine at Zweibrücken airport demonstrated that the engine started and operated normally without issues. Blood alcohol tests for both the instructor and the student were negative.
Findings
- The aircraft was performing a low-altitude maneuver to clear terrain.
- The aircraft stalled during an attempt to climb over a ridge.
- The aircraft was operating within its weight and balance limits.
- Meteorological conditions were generally favorable, with visibility at least 8 km and a cloud base of 2,000 feet.