Piper PA-18 accident at Fassberg Military Air Base

Overview and Investigation Status On 2 January 2025, a Piper PA-18 aircraft operated by a German air sports club crashed at Fassberg Military Air Base (ETHS). The German Federal Aviation Accident Investigation Office (BFU) investigated the event under case number BFU25-0002-3X. The investigation was concluded with a factual presentation only, without analysis or conclusions. ## Flight and Accident Sequence The 58-year-old pilot, holding a LAPL(A) licence, intended to conduct licence-maintenance flights. Radar data showed the aircraft took off from runway 27 at 10:54 local time. At 10:55, the pilot contacted Langen Information and stated he intended to remain in the area of Fassberg. At 11:00:32, he reported problems with the elevator. After being asked whether he wished to land, the pilot said he would attempt the landing and asked that the fire service be informed. The last radar recording was at 11:01:04 at the eastern airfield boundary. A witness reported seeing the aircraft on approach, flying straight from the turn, then climbing steeply before descending steeply with the left wing low, at an estimated altitude of about 200 m above ground. The aircraft impacted the ground, and the pilot was fatally injured. ## Aircraft and Maintenance The aircraft was a two-seat, braced high-wing Piper PA-18 with fixed tailwheel landing gear. It was manufactured in 1954, had serial number 18-3449, a maximum takeoff mass of 681 kg, and was powered by a Continental C-90-12F engine with a Sensenich 76AK-2-42 propeller. Total time was 8,688 hours, with 4,388 hours since major overhaul. The aircraft was owned and maintained by an air sports club, with maintenance oversight by a CAMO operator. The last 100-hour inspection was on 4 June 2024, and the last flight before the accident was on 24 October 2024. ## Findings at the Accident Site The wreckage was found in the grass area approximately 250 m before the threshold of runway 27, about 50 m east of the taxiway E1 and 60 m south of the runway. The fuselage was crushed, the engine block was bent downward about 30 degrees, and the detached propeller was embedded about 30 cm in the ground. The cockpit area was compressed to the landing gear attachment, and both landing gear legs were bent backward. The tail boom was undamaged. Both wings were crushed and dented along the leading edge, with ground marks on the right wingtip. The left wing was bent upward about 30 degrees in the outer section. The control surfaces on the wings and tail were connected to the control cables and were movable. The cockpit trim was in the nose-down position. The trim spindle at the rear of the aircraft was found half a turn below the maximum adjustment range and was slightly bent. It required increased hand force to adjust from the upper adjustment range. Pilots who had previously flown the aircraft reported no prior impairment of the trim adjustment during operation. ## Meteorological and Operational Conditions The METAR for Fassberg at 11:20 reported wind from 260 degrees at 9 kt, visibility greater than 10 km, few clouds at 4,000 ft and scattered clouds at 19,000 ft, temperature 3 °C, dew point 1 °C, and pressure 1,009 hPa. A wind recording at 11:10 showed wind from 250 degrees at 7 kt with a gust of 11 kt. The airfield was used civilly on the day of the accident, with no military flight operations. ## Survival Aspects The aircraft was equipped with an emergency locator transmitter (ELT). The first ELT signal was received at 11:02 in the area of the accident site. The airfield fire service was alerted at 11:12 and arrived at 11:16. The pilot was recovered with severe injuries and died later in hospital. No fire occurred.