What happened
In May 2018, two separate fatal accidents involving powered aircraft occurred in the Netherlands. On May 22, a Reims F172N departed Rotterdam The Hague Airport for a proficiency check. While flying near Stolwijk, the aircraft's left wing struck several trees, causing the wing to detach and the aircraft to crash, resulting in two fatalities. Shortly after, on May 31, a Piper Pawnee crashed near Breda International Airport while attempting to pick up an advertising banner. The impact caused the aircraft to catch fire and destroyed it, killing the unaccompanied pilot.
Other notable occurrences included a runway excursion at Breda International Airport on June 15, where a New Piper PA-28-181 veered off the runway, crossed a road, and came to rest in a meadow, causing severe damage to the aircraft. Additionally, an LS 4-b glider experienced a significant mechanical failure when its air brake lever detached during flight, though the pilot managed to land safely.
The investigation
The Dutch Safety Board examined the circumstances surrounding these accidents, including the flight paths, mechanical states, and operational procedures. In the case of the Reims F1-72N, investigators focused on the impact with trees during the low-flying phase. For the Piper Pawnee, the investigation centered on the maneuvers performed during banner retrieval. The Board also reviewed an incident involving an LS 4-b glider to determine why the air brake mechanism failed, noting that a manufacturer-issued modification had been installed incorrectly.
Findings
Investigations into the various incidents revealed several contributing factors:
- The Reims F172N crash was caused by the aircraft striking trees during a low-altitude flight.
- The LS 4-b air brake failure was linked to a modification that was not installed in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
- In a separate glider incident near Terlet, a pilot's decision to fly at low levels due to thermal hunting led to an off-airfield landing in a LAK-17AT.
- A taxiing incident involving an Aquila AT01 was attributed to a pilot failing to notice a tow bar attached to the nose wheel during a walk-around inspection performed too early.