Incident Overview
On February 15, 2013, an Embraer EMB-500 business jet suffered a serious accident while on final approach to Runway 07L at Berlin-Schönefeld Airport. The aircraft was operating a commercial flight from Kortrijk-Wevelgem in Belgium. During the landing phase, the plane stalled and impacted the ground, coming to rest at the right edge of the runway. Despite the severe damage to the airframe, all three individuals on board—the pilot in command, the co-pilot, and one passenger—survived without injury.
Investigation Findings
The German Federal Aviation Accident Investigation Office (BFU) determined that the accident resulted from a combination of crew actions and environmental conditions. The flight was conducted under known icing conditions. Contrary to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), the crew did not activate the Wing and Horizontal Stabilizer De-Ice System. This failure led to significant ice accumulation on the wings and tail surfaces.
Contributing Factors
The investigation highlighted that the crew also flew below the prescribed approach speed for icing conditions. When attempting to arrest the descent, the aircraft entered a stall due to the aerodynamic degradation caused by the ice. A contributing factor was identified as insufficient crew knowledge regarding the interplay between the Ice Protection System and the Stall Warning and Protection System (SWPS). The BFU issued four safety recommendations to relevant aviation authorities in Belgium, Brazil, Europe, and Germany.