What happened
On the day of the accident, a Piper PA 46-350P was scheduled to perform an IFR flight from Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport to the Cottbus-Drewitz Special Airfield. Before departure, the pilot refueled the aircraft with 400 liters of fuel and filed a flight plan. The aircraft departed at 09:23 hrs and maintained Flight Level 190 along its intended route.
At approximately 10:44 hrs, the aircraft began its descent. Radar data indicates that the plane passed the Cottbus-Drewitz NDB (DRW) at roughly 3,900 ft AMSL with a ground speed of 170 kt at 11:04 hrs. As the aircraft proceeded toward the NDB-RWY-25 approach, it passed the intermediate approach fix at an altitude of about 2,800 ft AMSL. To intercept the final approach, the pilot executed a left turn.
Radar tracking from the air traffic control center and the German Federal Armed Forces recorded several altitude fluctuations during this turn. At 11:07:34 hrs, the aircraft was at 2,400 ft AMSL. Subsequent radar captures showed the aircraft at 1,200 ft, 2,700 ft, 1,700 ft, and 1,000 ft AMSL. The final radar contact occurred at 11:08:21 hrs at an altitude of 600 ft AMSL. The aircraft subsequently struck a field south of Gubin, Poland, and ignited. The crash resulted in two fatalities.
Findings
Radar data shows the aircraft experienced rapid and erratic altitude changes while performing a left turn to intercept the final approach course.