What happened
On June 12, 2000, at approximately 15:37, a Jak-52 aircraft departed from Chemnitz-Jahnsdorf airfield to perform aerobatic maneuvers as part of an aviation event. The flight included one passenger and was directed toward the Zwönitz-Geyer aerobatic zone, located roughly 13 km east-southeast of the departure point.
Witnesses observed the aircraft performing several aerobatic figures, such as loops and spins. Following a brief pause in maneuvers to allow other aircraft to pass, the aircraft flew westward toward rising terrain. During this phase, the pilot may have been facing direct sunlight. At approximately 15:50, witnesses observed the aircraft at a low altitude, rotating around its longitudinal axis. Shortly thereafter, an impact was heard, followed by a visible smoke cloud.
The aircraft impacted a forested area between Geyer and Zwönit in a steep, 70-degree descent without bank, subsequently catching fire. The accident resulted in two fatalities, including the pilot and the passenger, and the total destruction of the aircraft. There was also damage to the surrounding forest and vegetation.
The investigation
The investigation was conducted on-site, though the high degree of destruction caused by the impact and subsequent fire complicated the examination. Crucial flight data, such as radar tracks and radio communications, were unavailable. The reconstruction relied on witness statements and physical evidence from the wreckage.
Investigators examined the pilot's credentials and health. While there was conflicting information regarding his total flight experience, he held a valid private pilot license with aerobatic endorsements. Medical examinations and autopsies of both occupants showed no significant health impairments or alcohol levels that would have caused functional impairment, though the passenger had a trace amount of alcohol (0.29 permille) in their system.
The aircraft, a 1982 Romanian-built Jak-52 registered in Lithuania, was found to be in good mechanical condition. No technical defects were identified. The investigation also noted that for these passenger flights, the control stick in the rear cabin had been removed, leaving only the rudder pedals functional.
Findings
- The aircraft entered an uncontrolled flight state during a maneuver.
- The low altitude at the time of the loss of control prevented the pilot from recovering the aircraft.
- While the possibility of the passenger interfering with the rudder pedals could not be ruled out, there was no evidence to confirm it.
- Technical failure, weather conditions, and interference from other aircraft were not identified as causes.