Incident Overview
On May 25, 2010, a fatal accident occurred involving an Ikarus C42 B ultralight aircraft at the Wertheim airfield in Germany. The incident resulted in the deaths of both occupants and the total destruction of the aircraft. The investigation was conducted by the German Federal Aviation Office (BFU) under case number BFU 3X060-10.
Flight Sequence
The pilot, a 48-year-old licensed operator, and his passenger had completed a previous flight of 49 minutes before taking a short break. At 16:50 local time, they departed again from the ultralight airfield. Witnesses reported that shortly after takeoff, the aircraft flew at a shallow angle before transitioning into a near-vertical climb. At an altitude between 35 and 45 meters, the aircraft rotated approximately 100 degrees to the right and impacted a field located about 80 meters downrange from runway 07.
Aircraft and Pilot Details
The aircraft was a two-seat shoulder-wing ultralight manufactured by Comco Ikarus GmbH in 2003. It was powered by a Rotax 912 UL engine and had accumulated 735 flight hours at the time of the crash. The pilot held a valid license for air sports devices with passenger privileges and possessed a Class 2 medical certificate requiring corrective lenses. He had a total experience of 70 hours, including 54 hours on this specific model.
Investigation Findings
The wreckage showed significant damage to the nose section, wings, and cockpit, with the engine displaced into the cabin. The propeller hub was embedded in the ground, and one blade was detached at the root. Fuel was present in the tanks and lines, but no fire occurred. The ballistic recovery system did not deploy. Crucially, the investigation revealed no technical defects or mechanical failures prior to the impact. All control surfaces and connections were intact, and the landing gear flaps were locked in the takeoff position.