What happened
On June 30, 2015, at approximately 10:45 AM, a Diamond DA 20-A1 Katana departed from the Frankfurt-Egelsbach airfield for a local flight. The aircraft was occupied by the pilot and one passenger. During the takeoff roll on runway 08, the pilot noted that the acceleration felt less impressive than usual, which he attributed to the high ambient temperature. Although the aircraft became airborne after the first third of the runway, it failed to gain sufficient airspeed or altitude.
The aircraft continued to roll at a very low speed, eventually lifting off and remaining only a few meters above the ground. The aircraft then drifted across the airfield, banking sharply to the right. The flight path led the aircraft into a railway embankment, where it collided with a passing freight train and overhead power lines. The impact caused a flash fire and significant debris. The pilot, who sustained serious injuries, managed to extricate himself and the passenger from the wreckage; however, the passenger succumbed to their injuries shortly thereafter. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire, and damage was also sustained by the railway infrastructure and the train.