What happened
On May 30, 2011, at approximately 18:05, a Sova-Kappa KP-2U ultralight aircraft departed from the Barßel airfield (EDXL) for a flight. The aircraft was occupied by a pilot and a passenger, who was a flight instructor acting in a non-instructional capacity for this specific flight.
Around 18:20, witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude over a field east of the airfield. The aircraft was initially flying toward the airfield and the observers, positioned below the height of nearby trees. The aircraft then performed a 18/0-degree left turn. Following a subsequent turn of between 90 and 180 degrees, the aircraft entered a spiral dive, rotating approximately 270 degrees around its vertical axis before impacting the ground with a high pitch angle.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft, the flight history of the occupants, and the wreckage. The aircraft, a 2003 metal-construction low-wing design, was operated by a club. The pilot held a valid ultralight pilot license, though his specific experience on this model was limited to 1 hour and 40 minutes of flight time with an instructor. The passenger was a highly experienced flight instructor with 1,933 hours of ultralight experience.
Physical examination of the wreckage revealed that the aircraft struck the ground initially with the left wing and nose. After a secondary impact involving the right wing and tail, the aircraft came to a rest. The investigation found that the engine had been pushed into the cabin, the landing gear was in the retracted position, and the flaps were retracted. The trim was set in a nose-up position.
Findings
- The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury.
- The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
- The aircraft entered a spiral dive prior to ground impact.
- Meteorological conditions were favorable, characterized by clear weather and good thermals.