Incident Overview
On June 17, 2020, a Piper PA-34-220T (Seneca III) suffered a fatal accident near Reinsfeld, Germany. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact, and the sole occupant, the pilot, sustained fatal injuries. Significant ground damage was also reported at the crash site.
Flight Details
The flight originated from Marl-Loemühle in Germany at 12:23 local time, with Colmar, France, as the destination. The pilot departed under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and transitioned to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) for the en-route phase. Radar data indicated the aircraft was flying at Flight Level 90 (approximately 9,200 ft AMSL) with a ground speed of 150–160 knots.
Sequence of Events
At 13:13:25 UTC, air traffic control queried the pilot regarding their heading. The pilot responded at 13:13:29 UTC with "Some turbulence." Eight seconds later, when asked for a specific heading, no response was received. The last identifiable radar contact was recorded at 13:13:35 UTC. Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise and observing the aircraft break into multiple pieces before falling to the ground.
Aircraft and Pilot Profile
The aircraft, serial number 3448006, was manufactured in 1990 and had accumulated approximately 6,321 flight hours. It was equipped with Continental engines and a weather radar system. The pilot held a Private Pilot License (PPL(A)) with Instrument Rating (IR) valid until November 30, 2020. His total experience was roughly 548 hours, including about 23 hours on the PA-34 type.
Meteorological Context
The flight briefing included Significant Weather Charts predicting occasional Cumulonimbus clouds along the route. While no specific warnings were issued for the exact flight path prior to departure, the aircraft entered a shower cell characterized by heavy rain and severe turbulence, leading to structural failure.