What happened
During the landing sequence for runway 25L at Berlin-Schönefeld Airport, the flight crew conducted the approach with the autopilot engaged. While standard procedure required the deactivation of the autopilot at an altitude of approximately 120 meters, the captain chose to maintain the automated configuration. To manage the aircraft's attitude during this phase, the pilot utilized the elevator to compensate for the autopilot's inputs.
As the flight progressed through the final segment, the aircraft experienced a significant increase in its descent rate, reaching between 6 and 8 meters per second. This led to the aircraft striking the runway surface. The force of the impact caused the left wing to separate from the fuselage. Following the initial contact, the plane lost directional control and traveled roughly 400 meters away from the impact site before coming to a halt in an inverted position on a grassy area.
Findings
- All 74 occupants were successfully evacuated from the wreckage.
- The accident resulted in eight serious injuries.
- The aircraft type was destroyed during the event.
- The primary factor contributing to the crash was an incorrect approach configuration characterized by the continued use of autopilot and an excessive rate of descent.