Incident Overview
On September 5, 2010, a fatal accident occurred at the Sonderlandeplatz Lauf-Lillinghof in Germany during an aviation event. A De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, part of a formation of three vintage biplanes, crashed into the spectator area shortly after takeoff. The incident resulted in the death of one spectator and left five others with severe injuries, while 33 additional people sustained minor wounds.
Aircraft and Pilot Details
The aircraft involved was a De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, manufactured in 1941 with serial number 85223. It was powered by a Gipsy Major 1F engine and had accumulated 5,610 flight hours at the time of the accident. The pilot was a 68-year-old private pilot holding a JAR-FCL license issued in 1972. He possessed approximately 2,840 total flight hours, including 1,300 hours on this specific aircraft type. His medical certificate was valid until March 2011, with a requirement to wear corrective lenses.
Sequence of Events
At approximately 14:49 local time, the formation began its takeoff roll from runway 07R. The Tiger Moth was positioned on the right grass strip behind the lead aircraft. Witnesses and video footage confirmed that the tail wheel remained on the ground throughout the initial rollout. As the aircraft lifted off from a three-point attitude near the half-runway mark, it suddenly yawed to the right. The pilot reported attempting to counteract this with rudder and aileron inputs but felt no response. He subsequently reduced power. Despite these efforts, the aircraft collided with the crowd barrier and spectators.
Investigation Findings
The German Federal Aviation Office (BFU) investigated the crash under case number BFU 3X126-10. Post-crash examination revealed significant damage to the left wing structure and landing gear, while the right wing remained largely intact. The propeller blades were found broken off. No fire occurred following the impact. Meteorological conditions at the time were clear (CAVOK) with a light wind from 090 degrees at 5 knots. The investigation noted that the pilot had arrived the previous day and had completed pre-flight checks, including fueling the aircraft with 50 liters of gasoline.