What happened
On July 7, 2012, a pilot was operating a chartered Remos GX ultralight aircraft at the Schönberg airfield. After departing the airfield at 15:06, the pilot informed air traffic control around 17:40 that they intended to perform several practice landings. Witnesses observed the aircraft performing a landing and then taxiing back to the departure point for another takeoff.
During the subsequent flight, the aircraft performed a left-hand turn with a high bank angle at the end of the runway, overshooting the approach path. Following a shortened circuit, the pilot attempted another landing but aborted the maneuver, initiating a tight right-hand turn to go around. At approximately 17:50, the aircraft struck a cornfield roughly 150 meters west of the airfield, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and the engine components. The investigation included an analysis of flight data from the aircraft's SkyView system and the reconstruction of video footage from a GoPro camera mounted on the left wing strut. The BFU also reviewed radar records from air traffic control.
The wreckage analysis showed the aircraft struck the ground on its left wing edge in a supine position. The impact caused significant structural damage, including a broken left wing strut and a fractured fuselage. The engine was inspected by a technical service provider in the presence of the public prosecutor. This inspection included a performance test run to determine if any mechanical failure contributed to the accident.
Findings
- The investigation found no technical defects or limitations in the aircraft's controls.
- The engine was found to be in correct working order, with all components performing as intended during the performance test.
- While the engine showed signs of damage, these were determined to be caused by the impact of the crash rather than a pre-existing failure.
- The aircraft's flight data and reconstructed video footage confirmed the sequence of events leading up to the impact.