What happened
During an approach to Heringsdorf Airport, a twin engine aircraft struck trees and crashed in a forested region approximately 750 metres before reaching runway 28. The accident occurred while the aircraft was attempting a final approach under challenging meteorological conditions. Upon impact, the airframe sustained severe damage and a subsequent fire broke out, resulting in the total destruction of the plane.
At the time of the incident, the pilot was the only person on board. The impact and the resulting post-crash fire left the pilot with serious injuries.
Findings
Environmental conditions at the time of the accident were significantly below operational minimums. The reported visibility was approximately 400 metres, and the cloud ceiling was measured at only 100 feet. The low visibility and low ceiling were primary factors present during the flight phase when the collision with trees occurred.