What happened
On the morning of the accident, an aircraft departed from runway 28 at Zurich-Kloten airport at 07:43 local time. The flight was conducting a local training mission with an instructor and three student pilots on board. Shortly after takeoff, during the initial climb phase, the pilot executed a right-hand turn while maintaining a low altitude. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck treetops and subsequently entered a stall. The plane crashed into a dense forest located in Regensberg, approximately 8 kilometers northwest of the airport. The impact resulted in debris being spread across an area exceeding 200 meters. All four fatalities were recorded among the crew members.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the instructor chose to perform a right turn immediately after rotation, deviating from established procedures that required a left-hand turn. This unauthorized maneuver was performed at an insufficient altitude, leading to the collision with vegetation and the subsequent stall. Additionally, foggy weather conditions reduced visibility during the flight, serving as a contributing factor to the event.