Accident
A twin-engine aircraft on approach to Mannheim Airport crashed after striking a tall tree in foggy conditions. The flight from Vienna-Schwechat had been uneventful prior to the descent. The pilot failed to recognize the aircraft's low altitude due to poor visibility, resulting in a collision with a tree. The aircraft stalled and subsequently crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found on the slope of Mt Königstuhl, east of Heidelberg, approximately 17 kilometers southeast of Mannheim Airport.
Victims
On board were two pilots, aged 34 and 29, and two passengers. The passengers were identified as Otto Rüdiger and Klaus O. Fleck, both corporate executives of the Südzucker Group. Three of the four occupants died in the crash, while one passenger sustained serious injuries. Two weeks later, on December 7, the sole survivor succumbed to his injuries, raising the total number of fatalities to four.
Probable Cause
According to the investigation, the accident was caused by the pilot's encounter with poor visibility due to fog and failure to realize the aircraft's altitude was too low, leading to the aircraft striking a tall tree, stalling, and crashing.