2008 Piaggio FW P 149D accident at Torgau-Beilrode

Overview and flight details On 27 April 2008, a Piaggio FW P 149D was destroyed in a crash near the special landing site Torgau-Beilrode, Germany. The aircraft was operating under visual flight rules when it impacted the ground. The pilot and one passenger were killed. ## Aircraft and occupants The aircraft was a Piaggio FW P 149D, a four-seat low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear. It was built in 1961 and powered by a 270 hp Lycoming GO-480 geared engine. The maximum takeoff mass was 1,680 kg. The pilot was a 67-year-old male who held a commercial pilot license with an instrument rating. He had type-specific training on the P 149D and instructor qualifications. The passenger was a female private pilot who was seated in the right seat of the dual-control aircraft. ## Flight sequence The pilot intended to fly from Hodenhagen to Görlitz. Before taxiing to grass runway 21, he refueled the aircraft with 203 liters of AVGAS. After an initial takeoff and a short circuit, he landed to close a flap on the engine cowling that had not been re-secured after the preflight inspection. Eight minutes later, at 16:22 local time, the aircraft took off again and departed the circuit to the southeast. Witnesses observed the aircraft circling near Torgau-Beilrode at 17:58 with irregular engine operation and descending altitude. While turning onto final approach to grass runway 08 from the left base leg, the aircraft rolled left from low altitude and impacted a field with a high nose-down attitude. ## Meteorological and operational conditions At the accident area, conditions were unrestricted visual flight rules with 2/8 cumulus cloud at 1,800 ft. The wind was from 080° at 8 kt. No radio contact with air traffic services was made during the flight, and the Torgau flight information service was unstaffed at the time. ## Accident site and findings The wreckage came to rest 335 m before the threshold of runway 08. The aircraft had impacted while turning left and with a high angle of descent. All three propeller blades were bent backward; two were embedded in the ground and broken from the hub. No visible rotation marks were found on the blades. All spark plugs showed a uniformly light combustion pattern. The landing gear was extended at impact. The position of the landing flaps could not be determined. Both fuel tanks were found empty, and no spilled fuel was found at the site. The position of the melted fuel selector switch could not be determined. The filler cap for the right wing tank was missing. ## Fire and additional information A post-impact fire destroyed the central area of the cabin and engine and partially reduced the aircraft to ash. On the afternoon of the accident day, the right wing tank filler cap was found near the glider launch area at the beginning of runway 21 at the departure airfield, Hodenhagen.