What happened
During a scheduled cargo operation traveling from Frankfurt to Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport, the crew encountered challenging meteorological conditions. On final approach, cloud ceilings were as low as 200 meters, and visibility was restricted to approximately half a mile.
While attempting to land, the co-pilot could not identify the runway threshold. In response, the decision was made to execute a go-around. During this maneuver, the aircraft type's right main landing gear and the third engine collided with an earthen mound situated roughly 20 meters before the start of the runway. The impact resulted in the separation of both the engine and the landing gear from the airframe.
Despite the structural damage, the captain managed to stabilize the flight and maintain a climb. The crew notified air traffic control of their intention to divert to Nuremberg Airport for an emergency landing. Following the incident, the runway at Stuttgart-Echterdingen was treated with foam by emergency responders. The aircraft subsequently performed a belly landing, sliding a short distance before coming to a stop. There were zero fatalities and zero injuries among the three crew members, though the airframe was declared a total loss.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the co-pilot-in-command maintained an approach below the prescribed glide path, performing an improper approach that deviated from standard operating procedures. This resulted in the aircraft being at an insufficient altitude during the final phase of flight. Additionally, investigators noted that a lack of supervision by the captain served as a contributing factor to the accident.