Ultralight Aircraft Accident at Waizenhofen

Incident Overview and Flight Details On September 10, 2022, a Tecnam P 92 Echo ultralight aircraft was destroyed in a mid-air breakup near Waizenhofen, Germany. The 53-year-old pilot, who was flying from Ampfing to the Gössenheim ultralight airfield for a fly-in event, was fatally injured. The aircraft, manufactured in 1996 with serial number 192, had approximately 2,475 flight hours and was powered by a Rotax 912 UL engine. The pilot held a valid LAPL medical certificate and a private pilot license, though the SEP(L) rating was valid until July 31, 2022. The flight departed at 11:25 local time, climbing to approximately 2,700 ft AMSL. The pilot communicated with the Flight Information Service (FIS) and received weather information indicating challenging conditions. Despite a recommendation to divert westward to avoid moderate to heavy rain and associated weather cells, the pilot continued the flight, noting blue skies above 4,000 ft. The aircraft climbed to over 8,500 ft AMSL before entering a tight climbing left turn, followed by a steep descent. Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise and seeing the fuselage, attached to a parachute, fall from the clouds at a high rate of speed. The wreckage impacted the ground approximately 400 meters southwest of the Thalmässing-Waizenhofen airfield, causing crop damage.