What happened
On August 21, 2021, at approximately 12:45 PM, a pilot was conducting a private flight from the Weiden/Latsch airfield in Germany. The flight was intended to be a one-hour local excursion. During the approach to runway 14, the Comco Ikarube C42 B experienced a series of bounces on the runway. Witnesses noted that the aircraft's main gear touched down, but the plane subsequently bounced several times, causing the left door to swing open.
In an attempt to regain control and execute a go-around, the pilot applied power. However, the aircraft's climb was sluggish. Witnesses observed the aircraft entering a left-hand turn while maintaining a high degree of rightward nose attitude, effectively flying in a "skidding" or side-slip manner. The aircraft's airspeed was estimated to be as low as 75 km/h, which is near the aircraft's stall speed in certain configurations. The aircraft subsequently stalled, banked sharply to the left, and plummeted vertically from an altitude of approximately 20 to 30 meters.
The aircraft struck the ground approximately 120 meters from the runway, impacting a telecommunications line and catching fire upon impact. The pilot, a 74-year-old experienced flyer, sustained fatal injuries from the impact. Although the aircraft's emergency ballistic parachute system likely deployed shortly after the crash, the pilot did not survive.
The investigation
The BFU investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing and the subsequent go-around. Investigators examined the aircraft's wreckage, which was found on a paved farm track. The investigation included analyzing the aircraft's maintenance history, which showed a recent 100-hour inspection and engine maintenance completed in July 2021. The aircraft's weight and balance were found to be within operational limits. Witnesses, including an airfield manager and an ultralight flight instructor, provided accounts of the aircraft's flight path and the pilot's actions during the landing phase.