What happened
During a training mission, a Hansa Jet was cruising at 9,500 feet when it was struck from behind by a German Luftwaffe Fiat G.91T-3 fighter, registered 34+49. The collision occurred while the Hansa Jet was performing a gentle left turn at a speed of 145 knots. The aircraft carrying two crew members struck the business jet during a descent toward VFR airspace at FL100, as the fighter was exiting a Temporary Reserved Airspace.
Following the impact, both aircraft lost control and entered a dive, ultimately crashing into a field in the Schwabmünchen area. The accident resulted in five fatalities among the occupants of the Hansa Jet. The two pilots operating the Fiat G.91T-3 successfully ejected from their aircraft without injury.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the transponder on the Fiat G.91T-3 was set to standby mode at the time of the accident. The primary cause of the collision was identified as a failure by the instructor pilot to detect and avoid other traffic. Several environmental and operational factors contributed to the inability to see the Hansa Jet:
- The flight path of the Fiat was directed toward the sun.
- There was insufficient contrast between the silhouette of the Hansa Jet and the sky.
- Visibility within the cockpit was hindered by canopy braces and maps placed against the canopy.
- The instructor's attention was divided between external observation and monitoring the student's navigation and steering.