What happened
On 22 May 2018, a Reims Aviation F172N, registration PH-SBM, departed from Rotterdam The Hague Airport for a proficiency check. The aircraft, carrying a pilot and a pilot examiner, proceeded toward the Gouda low-flying area. While maneuvering in the area southwest of Stolwijk, the aircraft entered a vertical flight attitude at a low altitude. During the subsequent attempt to recover, the aircraft's altitude decreased rapidly, causing the left wing to strike several trees. The impact caused the left wing to detach, and the aircraft struck the ground approximately 200 meters later. The crash resulted in two fatalities and the complete destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The Dutch Safety Board investigated the sequence of events leading to the impact and the subsequent loss of control. Investigators examined the flight path from the departure at Rotterdam The Hague Airport to the accident site near Stolwijk. The investigation focused on the aircraft's transition into vertical flight and the pilots' ability to execute a recovery maneuver before ground impact.