What happened
On April 26, 2012, a private Beechcraft 35-C33, registered D-ECLD, departed Colmar Houssen aerodrome for a local flight carrying a pilot and two passengers. During the return to the airfield, the pilot established a long final approach for runway 19. As the aircraft reached the flare stage, it began to tilt and drift toward the left side of the runway. In an attempt to correct the alignment and return to the runway centerline, the pilot increased engine power but subsequently reduced it again to complete the landing.
Believing the aircraft was still poorly positioned, the pilot initiated a go-around. During this maneuver, the aircraft experienced a severe leftward bank. The pilot applied right rudder and stick inputs to compensate, but the left wingtip struck the ground. The aircraft subsequently crashed and came to rest 500 meters past the runway threshold, approximately 30 meters to the left of the runway centerline. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight parameters and the pilot's actions during the critical phases of the approach and go-around. Data indicated that the aircraft was in a full-flaps landing configuration. On short final, the indicated airspeed was approximately 70 knots, which decreased to 65 knots during the flare. This remained above the manual's specified stall speed of 52 knots for that configuration.
Air traffic controllers observed a significant change in the aircraft's pitch attitude immediately before the leftward tilt and subsequent ground impact. Meteorological conditions at the time showed a light wind of 100 degrees at 6 knots, though the pilot had been informed by the controller that conditions were calm.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was inappropriate and excessive control inputs during the go-around maneuver.
- These inputs led to a loss of control at a very low altitude, resulting in the wingtip striking the terrain.