What happened
A non-scheduled international VFR flight, operating a prototype aircraft type from Emden, Germany, to Southampton, England, ended in a fatal crash. The flight, carrying the pilot and one passenger, departed Emde at 1137 hrs local time. Early in the flight, the aircraft was flying at 1,500 ft within visual meteorological conditions, though the crew was flying on top of a cloud layer.
As the flight progressed toward the Schiphol Control Zone, the pilot requested radar assistance but was unable to establish positive contact with controllers. Due to deteriorating weather, air traffic services advised the pilot to divert to Eelde; however, the pilot initially intended to follow the original flight plan. By 1234 hrs, the pilot reported experiencing significant compass malfunctions and requested navigational guidance, though radar contact remained unavailable.
Eyewitnesses observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude near the village of Rijs amidst fog and rain, which prevented visual ground references. The pilot eventually climbed to 3,000 ft but reported serious instrument failures while operating in IMC. Despite instructions from Schiphol Control to maintain specific headings and altitudes, the pilot struggled to control the aircraft, reporting an inability to maintain a heading and performing erratic turns. After climbing to approximately 8,700 ft in an attempt to find clear air, the aircraft was seen making random, small-radius turns on radar. At 1310 hrs, debris from the aircraft was seen falling into Ringwiel lake. The impact resulted in two fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations determined that the aircraft reached an altitude exceeding 10,000 ft, where it encountered moderate to severe turbulence and heavy icing. The accident was ultimately caused by the failure of the starboard wing due to overstressing during a rapid descent, which occurred while the aircraft was being operated beyond its certified limitations.