What happened
On the morning of the incident, a twin engine airplane departed from Budaörs Airport to conduct an aerial photography mission across the local region. The flight was operated with a crew consisting of two pilots and two photographers. During the mission, the aircraft initially maintained an altitude of 5,000 meters before performing a series of descents to 3,000 meters and subsequently 1,500 meters.
While the aircraft was approaching the area near Lake Balaton, Air Traffic Control (ATC) notified the crew regarding active skydiving operations in the vicinity. In response to this information, the captain lowered the aircraft's altitude to minimum levels. As the plane reached a height of approximately one meter above the water, the landing gear made contact with the surface of the lake. This impact caused the aircraft to crash into the water and sink approximately 1,500 meters away from the shore.
Emergency response efforts led to the rescue of three individuals on board. However, the copilot was killed in the accident. The wreckage of the plane was located and retrieved by authorities one day after the crash.
Findings
- The crew's decision to descend to minimum altitude following notification of skydiving activity led to the gear striking the water surface.