Columbia 400 accident at Rendsburg-Schachtholm

Overview and Investigation Status On 27 June 2024, a single-engine Columbia 400 aircraft was involved in an accident at Rendsburg-Schachtholm Airport (EDXR) in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. The German Federal Aviation Accident Investigation Office (BFU) concluded its investigation with a factual presentation only, without analysis or conclusions. The aircraft was heavily damaged, and the pilot sustained minor injuries. No third-party damage was reported. ## Flight and Accident Sequence The pilot departed Münster-Osnabrück Airport at 17:00 local time for Rendsburg-Schachtholm. The flight was conducted at approximately 1,500 ft AGL due to low cloud, and the pilot reported no contact with thunderstorms en route. During the final approach to runway 03, the aircraft touched down just before the half-runway marking and the pilot applied the brakes. After the half-runway marking, the left main gear left the runway and returned to the pavement about 190 m from the runway end. The aircraft then overran the end of runway 03 and overturned. The wreckage came to rest approximately 40 m beyond the runway end in a grassy area with 20 to 40 cm of vegetation. ## Pilot and Aircraft The 70-year-old pilot held an EU private pilot licence (PPL(A)) with SEP (land) PIC privileges valid until 30 June 2026. He had approximately 173 total flight hours, including 5 hours 25 minutes in the preceding 90 days and five takeoffs and landings in the Columbia 400. His Class 2 medical certificate, valid until 30 November 2024, carried TML2 and VML restrictions. The aircraft was a 2001 Columbia 400 LC41, a single-engine low-wing airplane with fixed tricycle landing gear, manufactured by Columbia Aircraft in the United States. It was powered by a TSIO-550-C engine and had a total time of 777:40 hours. The aircraft was registered for operation in the United States. ## Meteorological and Airport Conditions Witnesses described the weather at the time of the accident as CAVOK, with a temperature of about 19 °C and light wind after a local thunderstorm had moved east. The runway was described variously as wet or damp, with no standing water. Rendsburg-Schachtholm Airport has an asphalt runway 03/21, 969 m long and 30 m wide, at an elevation of 23 ft AMSL. ## Findings at the Accident Site The wreckage was found on its back, with the nose pointing opposite the approach direction. The nose gear was broken off, the landing gear flaps were extended, and the landing gear flap switch was in the landing position. The engine control levers were found in the “start” position, though subsequent adjustment by rescue personnel could not be excluded. The propeller blades were bent in the longitudinal direction. The main gear tires showed clear brake skids, the wheels rotated freely, and brake torque was felt when the brake pedals were manually actuated. The ailerons and elevator were free to move, but the rudder control could not be checked due to the extent of damage. Skid marks indicated that the left main gear left the runway behind the half-runway marking, with marks found in the grass about 380 m from the runway end. Right main gear brake marks were present on the asphalt about 300 m from the end. Continuous brake marks from both main gears were found from about 190 m from the runway end to the threshold, followed by an asymmetric gear track in the grass to the wreckage. ## Flight Data and Communications The Garmin G1000 memory cards were removed by an airport employee before the BFU arrived and later handed over. One card could not be read, and the other contained no flight data. The pilot had been in contact with flight information service during the cruise, but radio communications at Rendsburg-Schachtholm were not recorded. No fire occurred.