What happened
On the evening of October 25, 2014, a Socata TB 9 departed from Heringsdorf Airport (EDAH) for a planned night flight under visual flight rules (VFR). The flight was intended to be a short duration, lasting no more than 30 minutes, and was routed over the Oderhaff to minimize noise impact. During taxiing, the pilot noted a red warning light to the air traffic controller, though he confirmed that oil pressure appeared normal.
Approximately 25 minutes after departure, the tower attempted to contact the aircraft multiple times without success. Radar support from Bremen was requested, but no target was detected in the Heringsdorf area. A search and rescue operation was initiated, and the wreckage was discovered the following day in the waters of the Oderhaff. The pilot was recovered from the site and was found to have sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's flight history, and local meteorological conditions. The investigation also analyzed the distribution of wreckage, which included the fuselage, parts of the right wing, and the engine, while the left wing was recovered separately several weeks later. The wreckage showed signs of extreme structural loading, with the propeller blades bent outward and instrument readings indicating the engine was under high power at the moment of impact.
Findings
Several critical factors contributed to the accident:
- Loss of orientation: The pilot likely lost visual references due to the lack of ground lighting over the water and the presence of low cloud layers (5-7 oktas) and fog patches, leading to spatial disorientation.
- Inadequate flight experience: The pilot's recent flight experience was extremely low, with only five hours of flight time and very few landings recorded in the preceding twelve months. Furthermore, his last documented night flight had occurred nine years prior.
- Poor weather conditions: The meteorological conditions, characterized by low cloud ceilings and intermittent fog, were unsuitable for VFR night operations.
- System knowledge deficits: The pilot's inquiry regarding a warning light during taxiing suggested a lack of familiarity with the aircraft's systems.
While the possibility of fuel exhaustion was considered, the investigation concluded that the primary cause was the loss of control and orientation due to the challenging environmental conditions.