Incident Overview
On October 27, 2016, a single-engine Mooney M20K aircraft crashed at Saarbrücken Airport (EDDR) in Germany. The accident resulted in the death of the sole occupant, the pilot, and the total destruction of the aircraft. There was no third-party damage reported.
Flight Sequence and Weather Conditions
The 57-year-old pilot departed from Pattonville Special Landing Place at 08:49 local time for a business appointment in Saarbrücken. The flight was conducted under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). Due to insufficient visibility, the pilot initially aborted an ILS approach to Runway 27 and entered a holding pattern at Zweibrücken (ZWN) at 09:44.
Meteorological reports indicated fog with visibility as low as 150 meters and a vertical visibility of zero. At 11:36, the pilot was cleared for another ILS approach to Runway 27. Radar data showed the aircraft maintained an altitude of approximately 1,300 ft AMSL (about 200 ft AGL) before deviating from the glide path. The pilot failed to respond to tower instructions to execute a missed approach at 11:46.
Accident Site and Aircraft Condition
The wreckage was located on a grassy area west of Taxiway A and north of Runway 27, approximately 108 meters from the taxiway. Ground marks indicated the first contact with the ground involved the main landing gear and tail. The aircraft came to rest with its longitudinal axis pointing toward 292°.
Investigation findings revealed that the pilot was found deceased, secured in a three-point harness, with head injuries consistent with impact against the control horn. The engine had bent forward, and both fuel tanks were ruptured. The left landing flap was in a mid-position, while the right flap was torn off. No skid marks were observed between the initial impact point and the final resting position.