Incident Overview
On November 7, 2021, a fatal accident occurred involving an Evektor EV 97 Eurostar 2000 R ultralight aircraft near Sinsheim/Ehrstädt, Germany. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed. No third-party damage was reported. The German Federal Aviation Office (BFU) concluded its investigation by presenting the facts without further analysis or conclusions.
Flight Details and Pilot Background
The 20-year-old pilot held a valid license for aerodynamically controlled ultralight aircraft with passenger privileges. He had approximately 54 hours of flight experience on ultralights. The aircraft, manufactured in 2008 by Evektor-Aerotechnik, was operated by an association and equipped with a Rotax 912 ULS engine and a rocket-assisted recovery system. It had accumulated 1,757 total operating hours.
Weather Conditions and Flight Path
The flight departed from Münsingen-Eisberg under visual flight rules (VFR) in marginal weather conditions. Radar data indicated the aircraft flew between 3,000 and 3,500 feet AMSL before entering a descent. The last radar signal was recorded at 13:02:23 local time at an altitude of 1,400 feet AMSL. Witnesses reported misty conditions, drizzle, and hearing two loud noises followed by smoke and debris falling from the aircraft.
Investigation Findings
The BFU report states that the ultralight aircraft entered a flight attitude that led to the structural failure of the left wing. Meteorological assessments indicated that while initial forecasts predicted VFR conditions, actual weather deteriorated near the accident site due to an approaching cold front, with visibility reducing to instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in some areas.