What happened
A charter flight, carrying 28 passengers and five crew members, departed Berlin-Schönefeld Airport at 13:57 local time, destined for Constata with a planned stop in Budapest. Approximately fourteen minutes into the flight, while cruising at an altitude of 2,400 meters, the aircraft experienced a critical electrical malfunction. The failure began when a broken wire caused the left magneto to fail, which subsequently led to the failure of the right magneto due to overcharging. This sequence resulted in the loss of all electrical systems on the aircraft type.
As the battery depleted, the onboard heating and deicing systems ceased to function, and several circuit breakers tripped. In response to these escalating failures, the captain initiated a diversion to Dresden-Klotzsche Airport. However, because the radio communication systems were non-functional, the crew could not establish contact with Air Traffic Control. Navigating through poor weather without radio assistance, the pilot was unable to locate the intended diversion airport and instead attempted an emergency landing in a field near Königsbrück. The aircraft performed a belly landing near a military barrack, sliding several yards before coming to a stop. All 33 occupants successfully evacuated the cabin, with only two passengers sustaining minor injuries. The aircraft was subsequently declared a total loss.
Findings
- A broken electrical wire caused the initial failure of the left magneto.
- The subsequent overcharging of the right magneto led to a complete loss of all electrical systems.
- The depletion of the battery resulted in the loss of deicing and heating capabilities.
- Loss of radio communication prevented the crew from coordinating with ATC for assistance during the diversion.