Accident Overview
A twin-engine aircraft departed Regensburg-Oberhub Airport in the morning on a flight to Mannheim City. About 15 minutes prior to arrival, the pilot canceled the IFR flight plan and began a descent under visual flight rules (VFR).
Flight Details
During the approach, at an altitude of 1,700 feet and a speed of 110 knots, the aircraft struck tree tops and crashed in a wooded and hilly area east of Dossenheim, approximately 15 km southeast of Mannheim Airport. The impact and a subsequent fire destroyed the aircraft.
Impact and Aftermath
The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries and died from those injuries two weeks after the accident.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was the pilot's decision to continue the approach under VFR in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Contributing factors included limited visibility due to low clouds; at the time of the accident, the hilly terrain was shrouded in clouds. For unknown reasons, the approach speed was relatively low at 110 knots.