What happened
On May 15, 2005, a Comco Ikarus C42B micro light aircraft, registration D-MFVW, crashed into a house in Kilder, Netherlands. The flight departed from Stadtlohn-Vreden airport in Germany at 17:09 local time under favorable weather conditions, characterized by clear skies and good visibility.
During the flight, the pilot performed several low-altitude maneuvers over a residential area to wave to acquaintances on the ground. Eyewitnesses observed the aircraft performing several turns before an abrupt climb was attempted. During this maneuver, the aircraft appeared to lose lift to the left, pitching nose-down into the roof of a house. The impact caused the aircraft to penetrate the tiled roof and strike the exterior wall of the building, triggering a fire that consumed both the aircraft and part of the structure. Both occupants were killed in the accident.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft, the engine, and the pilot's recent flight history. The D-MFVW and its engine were relatively new, having been delivered only two months prior to the accident. While the aircraft's logbook was destroyed in the fire, airport records indicated the aircraft had completed 11 take-offs and landings in the weeks preceding the crash.
Technical inspections of the engine and the remaining aircraft components revealed no mechanical failures or technical defects that could have caused the loss of control. Additionally, an autopsy of the pilot revealed no medical conditions that would have impaired his ability to fly. The investigation also noted that while the aircraft was equipped with a mandatory emergency parachute, it was not deployed, likely due to the insufficient altitude available for such a recovery.
Findings
- The pilot's attention was likely diverted by interacting with people on the ground, which may have led to a loss of situational awareness regarding altitude.
- The aircraft likely entered a stall during an attempt to climb abruptly after the low-altitude maneuvers.
- The low altitude at the time of the aerodynamic stall prevented any possibility of recovering the aircraft.
- It remains unconfirmed whether a weight and balance calculation was performed prior to the flight.