What happened
On a flight originating from Vienna-Schwechat, a twin-engine aircraft was performing an approach to Mannheim Airport. During the descent, the pilot encountered heavy fog, which significantly reduced visibility. While navigating the low-visibility conditions, the aircraft struck a tall tree. The impact caused the plane to stall and crash into a forested region located on the slopes of Mt Königstuhl, east of Heidelberg, approximately 17 km from the destination airport. The collision resulted in a post-crash fire.
Of the four people on board, three fatalities occurred at the scene. One passenger sustained serious injuries during the accident; however, that individual later passed away from their injuries on December 7, two weeks after the event. The crew consisted of two pilots, and the remaining passengers were corporate executives.
Findings
Investigations into the accident indicated that the pilot was operating in poor visibility caused by fog, which led to a failure to maintain a safe altitude during the approach.