What happened
On May 26, 2021, a Diamond DA 20-A1 (Katana) departed from Grefrath-Niershorst for a flight training session aimed at obtaining a private pilot license. The flight, operated by a flight school, initially proceeded without incident, including several successful take-offs and landings.
During the fourth circuit, while on final approach to runway 25, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control. The air traffic controller observed the aircraft bank sharply to the left before disappearing from view. The aircraft was subsequently located in a field near a line of trees. The impact resulted in the death of the student pilot and serious injuries to the flight instructor. The aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the flight data, recovered from navigation tablets and a Garmin watch, which revealed that while previous approaches were stable, the final approach showed significant fluctuations in ground speed. Specifically, the ground speed dropped from 116 km/h to 90 km/h and eventually down to 80 km/h near the trees.
The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions. Although visibility was good, the area was experiencing light to moderate surface turbulence and gusts due to unstable maritime air. The investigation also assessed the experience levels of the crew, noting that the instructor had very limited recent experience on the specific aircraft type, having only completed a single orientation flight prior to the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an unstabilized approach that led to a loss of control at low altitude and a subsequent wing dip into trees.
- The instructor failed to recognize the instability of the approach and did not initiate a go-around.
- Contributing factors included the student pilot's limited flight experience and the instructor's insufficient recent experience with the Diamond DA 20-A1.
- The presence of moderate turbulence and wind gusts during the final approach further complicated the flight conditions.