What happened
On October 13, 2017, a pilot was conducting a VFR flight from Eschwege to Worms in an Aerospool Dynamic WT9. While flying over the hilly terrain of the Vogelsberg region, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions. During radio communications with FIS Langen, the pilot reported descending to 1,900 feet due to approaching low clouds, describing the weather as "dirt" or "mess" (Dreck) and stating that the clouds were very close.
By 1/14:34, the pilot confirmed that he no longer had visual contact with the ground. Witnesses on the ground observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude, approximately 50 to 100 meters above the terrain, before entering the cloud base over the Ilbeshausen-Hochwaldhausen area. Shortly after the aircraft disappeared into the clouds, witnesses heard a loud impact. The aircraft struck the treetops, caught fire, and crashed onto the forest floor.
The investigation
The BFU investigation focused on the meteorological conditions, the flight path, and the aircraft's technical state. Radar data confirmed a nearly straight flight path toward the southeast, with a significant change in direction recorded just before the impact. Meteorological analysis by the DWD revealed that while forecasts predicted manageable VFR conditions, the actual cloud ceiling in the mountainous area was significantly lower than predicted, with some peaks obscured by clouds and fog.
The investigation also examined the aircraft's emergency systems. Although the aircraft was equipped with a ballistic parachute, the investigation found that the pilot had not manually deployed it. The system was triggered by the impact with the trees. Additionally, the investigation noted that the maintenance records for the parachute's rocket motor showed an expired inspection date of May 2017.
Findings
- The pilot flew into Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) while only qualified for VFR flight.
- The aircraft was not equipped for flight in IMC.
- The pilot underestimated the immediate risks posed by the low cloud base and rising terrain.
- There was a failure to perform adequate flight planning regarding the specific weather conditions along the route.
- The pilot failed to execute an immediate precautionary landing or deploy the emergency parachute when visual references were lost.