What happened
On August 7, 2013, a Cessna F 172N departed from Uetersen airfield for a local sightseeing flight. The pilot and one passenger had traveled to the airfield together, and the aircraft had been fueled prior to departure. At approximately 11:08 local time, the aircraft took off from runway 09. After a flight duration of roughly 27 minutes, the pilot contacted the tower to request landing clearance for runway 09. Shortly after this communication, the aircraft was observed entering a wooded area approximately 1.5 km from the airfield. The impact destroyed the aircraft and resulted in two fatalities.
The investigation
The BFU investigation established that the aircraft was undergoing repairs at the time of the accident. Specifically, the left seat and the left door latch had been removed. Because the pilot held keys to the aircraft owner's office, he was able to access the necessary documentation and keys for the flight despite these ongoing maintenance issues.
Investigators found that the aircraft's engine, fuel system, and controls were functional, and the propeller showed no signs of pre-impact failure. However, the investigation noted that the aircraft was not airworthy due to the missing seat and door latch. Witnesses observed the aircraft in a near-vertical descent from an altitude of approximately 200 meters before impact.
Findings
- The aircraft entered an aerodynamic stall during the landing approach at low altitude, leading to a steep descent that the pilot was unable to recover from.
- The pilot was operating the aircraft from the right-hand seat, a position he had not previously used for this aircraft type, which significantly altered his visibility of the instruments and his control inputs.
- The aircraft was not in an airworthy condition because the left pilot seat had been removed for repairs and the left door latch was missing.
- The decision to fly from the right seat increased the operational risk due to the unfamiliar cockpit ergonomics and instrument visibility.