What happened
On August 22, 2022, a B.O.T. Aircraft SC 07 Speed Cruiser ultralight aircraft departed from the Gera-Leumnitz airfield for a flight to Koblenz-Winningen. The pilot had recently taken ownership of the aircraft and was performing his first solo flight in this specific model.
Shortly after takeoff, while in the initial climb, the aircraft entered a left-hand turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled flight state at an altitude of approximately 40 to 50 meters. The aircraft struck trees near a local car dealership, where it became lodged in the branches. The impact triggered a fire that consumed the wreckage. The pilot sustained fatal injuries due to the impact, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU investigation utilized video footage from the previous owner's mobile phone and a nearby security camera to reconstruct the flight path. The investigation established that the aircraft began a turn toward the north prematurely, before completing the departure from the runway pattern.
Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, which showed the last inspection had been completed in August 2021 with no findings. The aircraft's weight and balance were found to be within permissible limits for the flight. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's training records, noting that while he held a valid license, he had no prior experience flying the SC 07 Speed Cruiser and had not received a formal transition briefing from an instructor.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a loss of control during an uncoordinated left-hand turn, where the use of rudder exceeded the use of aileron.
- This lack of coordination induced a sideslip, leading to an increased bank angle and a subsequent loss of altitude.
- The altitude at which the maneuver was initiated was too low to allow for the recovery of controlled flight or the successful deployment of the emergency parachute system.
- The pilot's lack of experience with this specific aircraft type contributed to the error.
- A potential contributing factor included a possible brief medical episode (fainting) due to underlying cardiovascular conditions, though the pilot's toxicology results were negative.