What happened
On September 3, 2016, at approximately 16:25 local time, a homebuilt Renegade Spirit ultralight aircraft crashed during an authorized aviation event at the Dierdorf-Wienau airfield (EDRW) in Germany. The aircraft had been performing a low-speed pass over the airfield to drop sweets from small parachutes to children in attendance.
During a westward flight path, the aircraft began to fly at a very low speed while maintaining altitude. The aircraft subsequently entered a left-wing drop, resulting in two and a and a half spins. Video evidence from the event showed the aircraft maintaining a significant nose-down pitch of 60 to 70 degrees, which decreased to approximately 45 degrees just before impact. Witnesses and recordings indicated the pilot was applying back pressure on the elevator and right aileron input.
Upon impact, a fire broke out in the forward section of the aircraft. Although bystanders attempted to rescue the pilot, the intensity of the heat and the secured harness prevented them from extracting him. The 80-year-old pilot died approximately 15 minutes after the crash due to injuries sustained during the impact.