Incident Overview
On April 8, 2013, a fatal accident occurred involving an ultralight aircraft at Flugplatz Neustadt-Glewe in Germany. The incident resulted in the death of the sole occupant and the total destruction of the aircraft. The German Federal Aviation Office (BFU) investigated the event under case number BFU 3X014-13.
Flight Details
The pilot, a 62-year-old student, was conducting a solo navigation exercise flight as part of his training for an ultralight aircraft license. He departed Neustadt-Glewe at 10:28 local time and made an intermediate landing at Müritz Airpark. After taking off again from the airpark at 11:43, he reported to air traffic control approximately five minutes before his intended return landing.
Accident Sequence
According to the flight instructor's account, the aircraft touched down on runway 09 at Neustadt-Glewe at 12:21. It briefly lifted off again by a few centimeters before entering a left turn with a slight bank angle and climb. The aircraft then executed a near 180-degree turn, stalled from a height of approximately 20 meters over the left wing, and crashed into an aircraft hangar.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Comco Ikarus C42, a two-seat shoulder-wing ultralight with fixed tricycle gear, manufactured in 2002. It was powered by a Rotax 912 UL engine. The pilot had a total of 79 flight hours and 293 landings on this specific model type. His medical certificate was valid until October 12, 2013.
Investigation Findings
The wreckage was found embedded in the hangar roof. No technical defects were identified in the control systems or airframe prior to impact. The emergency ballistic parachute system had deployed, but the rocket motor struck a hangar support beam, preventing the parachute from fully extracting. Two other ultralight aircraft parked inside the hangar were severely damaged by the crash and debris.