1 fatality

Fatal crash of single-engine aircraft during local joyride in Lewin Brzeski (D-548)

Lewin Brzeski, PolandTakeoff (climb)

On March 20, 1932, a Focke-Wulf A.16 (registration D-548) operated by Flugdienst Breslau - Wilhelm Przibilla was involved in an aviation accident near Lewin Brzeski, Poland during takeoff. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to attempt takeoff from an insufficient runway length and to initiate rotation at an airspeed that was too low. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine plane crashed upside down after a premature takeoff attempt from muddy ground, killing the pilot and injuring three passengers.

What happened

The incident involved a single-engine aircraft operating on a local pleasure flight near Löwen (now Lewin Brzeski). The aircraft was carrying one pilot and three passengers. During the operation, the pilot elected to initiate takeoff from an alternative section of the field. Conditions included light winds and relatively muddy ground, which affected performance.

As the aircraft accelerated, the pilot realized that a ditch was present ahead within the available runway length. The takeoff distance required was insufficient for the conditions. The pilot attempted to rotate before reaching adequate airspeed. Consequently, the aircraft nosed down, struck the ground, and came to rest inverted.

All three passengers sustained minor injuries and escaped the wreckage. The pilot suffered serious injuries and passed away from those injuries the following evening.

Findings

Investigations identified the primary contributing factors as operational decisions made by the pilot. Specifically, the choice to attempt takeoff from a distance that was insufficient for the prevailing conditions was cited. Additionally, initiating the rotation prematurely while the aircraft speed remained too low was determined to be a critical error leading to the crash.

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to attempt takeoff from an insufficient runway length and to initiate rotation at an airspeed that was too low.