Fatal VFR Approach Accident at Rotenburg-Wümme Airport (D-FERY)

Flight Details and Accident Sequence A single-engine aircraft departed Kiel-Holtenau Airport in the morning with two passengers and two pilots aboard. The flight was bound for Rotenburg, Lower Saxony, where two additional passengers were scheduled to board before the aircraft continued to Friedrichshafen for the Aero 2013 Airshow. During the approach to Rotenburg-Wümme Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions, including a cloud base at 500 feet and visibility limited to 2 km. On final approach, the aircraft impacted the ground and came to rest in an open field, where it burst into flames. ## Wreckage Location and Outcome The burnt wreckage was located 2.3 km short of runway 08 and 570 metres to the left of the runway's extended centerline. The aircraft was destroyed by a post-crash fire, and all four occupants were killed. ## Official Probable Cause The official investigation found that the accident occurred because the crew decided to continue the approach under VFR mode despite inadequate weather conditions, which prevented timely recognition of the approach to the ground. Additionally, insufficient situational awareness by the pilots meant the descent was not canceled in time.