What happened
On April 21, 2019, a Yak-11 aircraft was performing a local flight departing from the Mainz-Finthen airfield. During the landing phase on runway 08, the pilot performed two go-arounds, which the pilot attributed to approaching traffic. During these maneuvers, the pilot flew against the published traffic pattern to the left, prompting the air traffic controller to warn that the aircraft was overflying a noise-sensitive area. The pilot did not respond to these instructions.
On the third approach, the pilot notified the controller that the landing would be performed on the grass. At approximately 12:38, the aircraft's main landing gear touched down on the grass parallel to the asphalt runway. The aircraft continued to roll for approximately 250 meters with its tail lifted. Subsequently, the nose dropped, causing the propeller to strike the ground. The aircraft then underwent a capsize, coming to rest on its back. The pilot sustained minor injuries (skin abrasions to the face), while the aircraft suffered heavy damage, including a crushed cockpit roof and deformed wings.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance history, the pilot's experience, and the physical evidence at the scene. The Yak-11 was found to have been in a valid state of airworthiness, and the pilot's weight and balance were within limits. The investigation analyzed the tracks left in the grass, which showed the main gear contact began 175 meters past the runway threshold and ended 415 meters from the threshold. Physical damage to the propeller, spinner, and fuselage was consistent with the sequence of a nose-down impact and subsequent rollover.
No technical defects or mechanical failures were identified as contributing to the accident. The investigation also noted that the pilot had significant total flight experience, though his recent experience with this specific model was limited.