What happened
On August 27, 2017, a Socata Morane MS 883 departed Norderney (EDWY) on a cross-country flight bound for Leer-Papenburg (EDWF). The aircraft was occupied by the pilot and a dog.
During the flight, witnesses in the village of Simonswolde observed the aircraft flying at an altitude of approximately 80 meters. These observers noted that the engine appeared to be running unevenly with intermittent power fluctuations. Shortly thereafter, a ground observer reported seeing the aircraft on the ground in the vicinity of Moormeerland, north of a railway line.
Upon discovery, the aircraft was found destroyed. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, while a dog on board was found injured. The impact occurred on a field near the crash site, with evidence suggesting the aircraft may have flown beneath a high-voltage power line located approximately 400 meters from the wreckage.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage, the pilot's medical history, and witness statements. The investigation found that the aircraft was in a cruise configuration at the time of impact and that the engine was likely still operating until ground contact, evidenced by a bent propeller blade and fuel present in the carburetor.
Medical examinations of the pilot revealed a spinal injury caused by the impact as the cause of death. However, the autopsy also documented a recent myocardial infarction (heart attack) that had occurred either the day before or on the morning of the accident. While the infarct itself was not the cause of death, it was noted as a factor that could have impaired the pilot's ability to control the aircraft. Investigators also ruled out diabetic coma as a cause of unconsciousness.
Findings
- The pilot, an experienced aviator with over 5,000 flight hours, lost the ability to control the aircraft due to a medical emergency.
- The aircraft likely entered a continuous descent from its cruise altitude until it collided with the terrain in a shallow flight path.
- The aircraft's weight and center of gravity were within permissible limits, and the aircraft was properly maintained and airworthy.
- There was no evidence of a fire or mechanical failure that would have prevented controlled flight, other than the potential impact of the pilot's health condition.