What happened
On March 19, 2024, a pilot planned a flight in his TL 232 CONDOR plus ultralight aircraft from the Hohebach landing field to Kulmbach to attend a training seminar. The pilot had prepared the aircraft the previous day and departed early in the morning. At the time of the flight, significant fog was present in the region. Witnesses near the accident site reported visibility as low as 50 meters.
During the flight, the aircraft struck a tree approximately 180 meters from the Hohebach landing field. The impact caused the aircraft to crash and subsequently catch fire. The wreckage was located by search services late that evening, 665 meters northwest of the runway threshold. The pilot sustained fatal injuries due to the impact and the resulting fire.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft wreckage, meteorological data, and the pilot's flight preparations. Investigators found that the aircraft, a TL 232 CONDOR plus, was destroyed in the accident. The wreckage showed that the right wing was wedged in a tree fork, while the engine and propeller components were found near an impact mark on the tree bark. The investigation also noted that the aircraft was not equipped with a transponder or an emergency locator transmitter (ELT).
Meteorological records from nearby stations, including Niederstetten and Öhringen, confirmed widespread fog and very low visibility (approximately 100 meters) during the early morning hours. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight preparation, noting that no specific weather briefing for this flight was documented in the official meteorological services for that period.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) while operating under visual flight rules (VFR).
- Extremely low visibility due to heavy fog significantly obscured the terrain and obstacles.
- The aircraft lacked an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) to facilitate rapid detection.
- The pilot's flight into deteriorating weather conditions led to the collision with the tree.