Incident Overview
On a training mission, a Hansa Jet was cruising at an altitude of 9,500 feet when it was struck from behind by a German Luftwaffe Fiat G.91T-3 fighter, registered 34+49 and carrying a crew of two. The Fiat was executing a slight left turn at a speed of 145 knots at the moment of impact. Following the collision, both aircraft lost control, entered a dive, and crashed in a field near Schwabmünchen. All five occupants on board the Hansa Jet were killed, while both pilots on the Fiat ejected safely.
Circumstances Prior to Collision
At the time of the collision, the Fiat's crew was leaving a Temporary Reserved Airspace and descending to Flight Level 100 to enter Visual Flight Rules (VFR) airspace. The Fiat's transponder was in 'stand by' mode during this phase.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be the Fiat's instructor's failure to see and avoid potential traffic. Contributing factors included the Fiat's crew flying toward the sun, poor contrast of the Hansa Jet's silhouette against the background, obstructed visibility due to canopy braces and maps stowed against the canopy, and limited outside observation because the instructor also had to monitor the student's navigation and steering.