What happened
On August 3, 2012, an ultralight aircraft, a Sky-Walker II, crashed near the Idar-Oberstein airfield in Germany. The pilot had been undergoing familiarization with this specific aircraft type earlier that day with his father. Following several solo training flights and passenger flights, the pilot commenced a new flight in the evening.
Around 19:25 local time, the pilot contacted the airfield controller to request landing information for runway 24, announcing a low-level flyover. After completing the low-level pass, the pilot transitioned into a turn toward the southern circuit. Witnesses on the ground, including a motorcyclist and a local landowner, observed the aircraft performing a turn at a very low altitude. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered a high-bank angle and plummeted nearly vertically toward the ground. The aircraft struck a pasture near the intersection of the K 3ary and K 37 roads.
The impact resulted in the death of the pilot and serious injuries to the passenger. The aircraft was destroyed, and there was minor damage to property on the ground.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft's flight history, the pilot's experience, and the wreckage. The investigation established that the pilot held a valid license for ultralight aircraft and gliders, but his experience specifically with the Sky-Walker II was very limited, totaling only 1 hour and 28 minutes with only four landings. His previous ultralight training had been conducted on a different model, the Dynamik WT9.
The wreckage analysis showed that the forward section of the aircraft was destroyed, the main spar had broken behind the rear seat, and the landing gear and nose gear were fractured. The engine mount was compressed, and one propeller blade was broken. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's emergency parachute system had not been deployed.
Findings
- The pilot was performing maneuvers at an extremely low altitude.
- The aircraft entered a steep, near-vertical dive during a turn.
- The pilot had very limited flight time (less than 90 minutes) specifically on the Sky-Walker II model.
- The aircraft's pusher-configuration and specific handling characteristics may have contributed to the loss of control during the low-altitude maneuver.