Accident Details
On October 16, 2018, at approximately 14:35 local time, a homebuilt powered hang glider (motodeltaplan) with German registration D-MJWW crashed in Sarkaņu parish, Madona municipality, Latvia. The aircraft was privately owned and piloted by its 65-year-old Latvian citizen owner, who held no pilot license. The flight was a private operation.
Witnesses reported that the aircraft abruptly lost altitude, glided into treetops at a height of about 4–5 meters, tumbled, and came to rest with its wing on the ground and wheels up. The pilot was found unconscious and later died from severe injuries at a hospital. Emergency services were called by witnesses.
Investigation
The Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau of Latvia examined the wreckage. The aircraft’s structure was severely damaged, including a broken trike frame, deformed right wing, bent wheel struts, damaged instrument panel, and ruptured fuel tank. The ignition switch, located on the right side of the pilot’s seat (unconventionally), was found in the "off" position (AUS). The propeller blades showed no characteristic fracture marks, indicating the engine was not running at the time of impact.
A fuel sample from the tank was tested at a certified laboratory. Results showed mechanical impurities and elevated water content. The engine was later removed and tested on a stand using clean fuel; it ran smoothly at various settings except for uneven idle, attributed to incorrect carburetor adjustment. No internal engine damage or overheating was found.
Findings
The investigation identified several shortcomings, including the flight being conducted without a pilot license, using an unregistered homebuilt aircraft, the pilot's lack of formal training and experience, inadequate preflight preparation and maintenance, and the unconventional placement of the ignition switch.
No safety recommendations were issued by the investigation bureau.
Probable Cause
The investigation did not state a probable cause. It noted possible factors: unstable engine operation due to fuel contamination, carburetor misadjustment, and the ignition switch location, but did not assign a definitive cause.