What happened
On April 22, 2008, an Evektor Kunovice EV 97 ultra-light aircraft, registration OK-GUR 26, crashed into hilly, partially forested terrain near the village of Staré Oldřůvky. The flight was being conducted in formation with another ultra-light aircraft, flying under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) on a route between Kunovice and Choceň.
During the flight, the crew of OK-GUR 26 entered an area characterized by low cloud bases and reduced visibility. The aircraft likely encountered meteorological conditions that were unsuitable for VFR flight. The aircraft impacted the ground at an angle of 10° to 20° while in a descent. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that destroyed the cabin and engine components. Both occupants, the pilot and the passenger, sustained fatal internal injuries and died shortly after the impact.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the aircraft's wreckage, the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident, and the flight logs of the accompanying aircraft. Investigators analyzed the engine, finding that while the propeller was in operation at the time of impact, the engine was likely operating at low power or idle.
Flight instruments were recovered from the wreckage; the airspeed indicator was stuck at 200 km/h, and the altimeter was set to a pressure of 999 hPa. The investigation also reviewed the weight and balance of the aircraft, determining that the aircraft was significantly overweight at the time of the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the entry into meteorological conditions unsuitable for VFR flight and the subsequent loss of spatial orientation.
- The aircraft was operating significantly above its Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW). Calculations indicated the aircraft was overweight by more than 62 kg at the time of the crash.
- The flight path deviated from the planned route, and the aircraft entered a restricted airspace area (LK R3).
- The pilots were not trained for flight in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), and the aircraft was not equipped for IFR operations.
- Meteorological conditions in the area included low cloud bases (as low as 50–300 m AGL) and reduced visibility due to mist and low clouds.