Incident Overview
On the day of the accident, the pilot departed Zweibrücken Airport on a planned flight to Athens with an intermediate stop in Split. The aircraft was being delivered to a new owner based in Greece. After takeoff from Runway 21, the aircraft deviated left during its initial climb. The standard departure procedure required a straight climb to 7 nautical miles. Air traffic control (ATC) contacted the pilot, who reported problems.
Shortly thereafter, the aircraft's altitude fluctuated between 1,500 and 3,200 feet. ATC again contacted the pilot to assess the situation. Seconds later, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field in Rieschweiler, approximately 6 kilometers northeast of the airport.
Pre-Departure Events
Before departure, the pilot encountered difficulties closing the main cabin door and required instruction on its operation. A fixed-base operator (FBO) staff member asked if the pilot needed an explanation of the aircraft's avionics. The pilot replied yes, and the staff member described how to operate the RNAV system. Subsequently, the pilot had difficulty starting the right engine and was directed to the ignition switch on the overhead panel.
Final Sequence
The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed.