What happened
On April 1, 2006, at approximately 08:55 UTC, an SLZ P 220 Koala, registration OK-CUR 07, was involved in a fatal accident at the former military airfield in Bechyn and. The aircraft, operated by Reklamní služba Jiří Puš, was returning from a local flight with a pilot and one passenger on board.
According to witnesses, the pilot performed a low-level pass at an altitude of approximately 30 meters over the threshold of runway 12, flying from south to north. After passing over the parking area at the northwest end of the airfield, the pilot entered a sharp, left-hand climbing turn, reaching an altitude of about 70 meters. During this maneuver, the pilot likely extended the takeoff flaps. The aircraft subsequently entered a steep descent and crashed into a nearby wooded area.
The impact caused the aircraft to be destroyed, and a significant fire broke out immediately following the crash, likely caused by an electrical short circuit and leaking fuel. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries due to polytrauma.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established several critical technical and operational details. While the engine was found to be in normal operating condition and was still functioning at the moment of impact, the investigation revealed that the aircraft's maximum takeoff mass (MTOM) had been exceeded by 13%. The actual takeoff weight was calculated at 509 kg, whereas the legal limit for this ultralight category is 450 kg.
Investigators also noted a discrepancy between the aircraft's registration documents and its actual equipment, specifically regarding the propeller installed. The investigation confirmed that the pilot held a valid license and medical certificate, and toxicology reports showed no presence of alcohol or drugs in the occupants.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in violation of minimum altitude requirements; the pilot flew below the 150-meter limit required for Class G airspace.
- The pilot engaged in careless and imprudent operation of the aircraft by performing low-level maneuvers.
- The aircraft was overweight, exceeding its maximum takeoff mass by 13%.
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure to maintain minimum altitude and the execution of a low-level pass followed by a high-bank climbing turn, which induced a high-speed left-hand spiral dive.