What happened
On June 9, 2022, a student pilot was conducting solo circuit training at the Worms airfield. The flight was originally intended to be a cross-country solo flight to Aschaffenburg, but low cloud bases over the Odenwald prompted the instructor to change the plan to local circuits. Weather conditions were favorable, with light winds from the west at approximately 5–7 knots.
During the second circuit, the Comco Ikarus C42 B was observed at approximately 200 feet AGL performing a shallow left turn. Witnesses noted that the aircraft's forward airspeed had become extremely low. As the pilot initiated a go-around from runway 24, the aircraft experienced an abrupt increase in the angle of attack without a corresponding increase in engine RPM. The aircraft's forward momentum dropped significantly, and it began to bank steadily to the left.
As the aircraft continued to tilt, reaching an angle of approximately 45 degrees, it lost altitude rapidly and entered a vertical descent. The aircraft struck a group of trees in a wooded area approximately 535 meters from the threshold of runway 24. The impact was vertical, with the propeller and cowling striking the ground first, immediately followed by a post-impact fire that destroyed much of the airframe. The pilot sustained fatal injuries due to the impact.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage, engine components, and witness statements. Investigators found that the aircraft's control linkages and rudder connections were intact, though the forward cockpit controls were destroyed by the impact and fire. The engine showed no immediate signs of mechanical failure, and the spark plugs were in normal condition. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's training records, noting he was a student pilot with approximately 31 total flight hours, of which only 2.5 hours were solo. The aircraft's weight and balance were found to be within operational limits.
Findings
- The pilot initiated a go-around maneuver at a very low airspeed.
- The aircraft experienced an abrupt increase in the angle of attack during the go-around, leading to a loss of lift.
- The aircraft entered a left-wing stall and subsequent vertical descent.
- The aircraft's forward airspeed was extremely low prior to the loss of control.