What happened
On the morning of the accident, a single-engine aircraft departed from Buochs Airport Runway 24 at 09:38 local time, bound for Burg Feuerstein in Bavaria. The flight was being conducted privately with two people on board: the pilot and one passenger. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft performed a right-hand turn over Stansstad. During the climb phase, the plane entered an uncontrolled descent and struck the surface of the Lake of Lucerne near Kehrsiten, approximately 4 km north of the departure airfield.
Prior to the fatal sequence, the aircraft had performed an earlier departure from Runway 24 at 08:21. That initial flight ended when the pilot returned to the airport eight minutes later, landing on Runway 06 after aborting the approach. The plane remained stationary on the apron for nearly an hour before the second, unsuccessful departure took place.
Following the impact with the water, rescue efforts were successful in recovering both individuals from the wreckage. The passenger sustained one injury, while the pilot was able to escape the scene without any physical harm.
Findings
- The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent during the climb-out phase.