Event Details
On 31 August 2019, a sightseeing flight in a Comco Ikarus C42 B ultralight aircraft ended in an accident near Tiefenbach, Germany. The pilot and his partner intended to fly over the Lake Constance region. The aircraft departed from Mengen airfield at 11:28 local time. Radar tracking by the German Armed Forces began at 11:37:23.
Around 12:29, the airfield manager heard a female voice on the radio calling for help. He could not identify the sender and notified the flight information service. Shortly after, two pilots on the same frequency reported hearing a male voice respond, stating he had "briefly been unconscious" and giving the aircraft's call sign.
The wreckage was discovered by passersby in a cornfield around 12:35. The pilot later reported to the investigation that he remembered the flight and confirmed losing consciousness, regaining it only after impact. He was able to exit the wreckage unaided.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot sustained serious injuries including multiple fractures. The passenger died at the accident site. The aircraft was destroyed. Ground damage occurred to the cornfield.
Aircraft Information
The C42 B is a two-seat, side-by-side ultralight with a fixed nosewheel and central control stick. It was powered by a Rotax 912 ULS engine. The aircraft had 871 operating hours and was maintained by a certified maintenance facility. The last annual inspection was on 21 November 2019. The rescue system, a Junkers Magnum Light Speed Softpack, was not deployed.
Weather and Environment
Meteorological conditions at nearby Laupheim airfield at 12:20 included wind from 220° at 2 knots, visibility 10 km or more, no clouds, and temperature 25 °C. The weather was suitable for visual flight and did not influence the accident.
Investigation Findings
Radar data showed the aircraft changed course to north at 12:29:14. It was not tracked between 12:30:05 and 12:31:03. The last radar signal at 12:34:44 indicated a shallow descent at about 80 knots ground speed near Tiefenbach.
The accident site was in a cornfield about 20 km east of Mengen. First contact with obstacles occurred about 150 m before the final wreck position, striking a tree group at about 8 m height. The aircraft then traveled through the cornfield for about 5 m. The engine penetrated the cockpit; both wings were compressed. The propeller blades were broken about 40 cm from the hub. No fuel leak was observed (about 25 liters remained in the undamaged tank). No pre-impact technical defects were found; the propeller damage indicated the engine was running at impact.
Medical examinations of the pilot after the accident did not reveal a specific cause for his loss of consciousness. No relevant pre-existing conditions or seizure disorders were present.
The rescue system was not activated. The manufacturer's manual recommends passenger briefing and use of the system in situations such as pilot incapacitation. The source notes that activation by the passenger at the time of the distress call could have mitigated consequences, but no formal briefing requirements were established by relevant German associations.
Conclusion
The accident resulted from a temporary impairment of the pilot's consciousness, leading to loss of control.