What happened
A training mission involving a twin engine aircraft departed from Landsberg-Penzing Airport, bound for Munich. The flight crew consisted of a pilot and an instructor, accompanied by one passenger. During the final approach to runway 07 at Munich-Riem Airport, the aircraft was flying at an altitude of approximately 200 feet.
At this low altitude, the instructor chose to decrease power to the right engine. Simultaneously, the pilot was preparing to execute a go-around as part of the established training syllabus and responded by increasing power to the left engine. This maneuver caused the aircraft to lose altitude, leading it to strike the roof of a McDonald's restaurant in the Trudering district. Following the impact with the building, the plane crashed into a bus. The collision resulted in a fire that destroyed the aircraft, the restaurant, the bus, and several nearby vehicles.
The accident resulted in seven fatalities initially, including all three people on board the aircraft and four passengers on the bus; two additional deaths occurred days later due to injuries. A total of 30 injuries were reported, with some victims sustaining serious harm.
Findings
Investigators concluded that the instructor's choice to reduce engine power occurred at a highly sensitive stage of the flight. The aircraft was operating at a dangerously low altitude of 200 feet while flying directly over a densely populated area. Furthermore, the pilot's actions were complicated by the fact that he was actively preparing for a planned go-around procedure.