What happened
On the day of the accident, an aircraft was performing a ferry flight from Zweibrücken Airport to Athens, via Split, to deliver the plane to a Greek owner. Shortly after departing from runway 21, the aircraft began to deviate to the left of the prescribed departure path, which required a straight climb for 7 nautical miles. Air traffic control contacted the pilot regarding this deviation, at which point the pilot reported experiencing difficulties.
During the climb, the aircraft's altitude began to fluctuate significantly between 1,500 and 3,200 feet. Following further inquiries from air traffic control, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent. The plane crashed in an open field in Rieschweiler, situated approximately 6 km northeast of the airport. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot, who was the only person on board.
Findings
Before the flight departed, the pilot had experienced several operational challenges with the aircraft. These included difficulty securing the main cabin door, which required assistance from ground staff. Additionally, the pilot received a briefing from an FBO staff member regarding the operation of the RNAV system. During the pre-flight sequence, the pilot also encountered issues starting the right engine, eventually requiring guidance to locate the correct ignition switch on the overhead panel.