What happened
On August 16, 2012, at approximately 13:42 local time, a Socata Rallye 150ST, registration OE-DII, crashed while attempting to land at Ostrava/Mošnov Airport (LKZA). The aircraft, operated by a private individual, was on a VFR flight from Kaunas, Lithuania.
GPS analysis and witness testimony indicate that during the final stages of the approach, the aircraft began a descent from approximately 3,300 ft. As the aircraft approached the airfield, it performed a series of maneuvers, including a right turn toward runway 28R. A witness observed the aircraft flying at a very low altitude, between 30 and 50 meters AGL, at a high angle of attack with low engine power. The aircraft continued to fly over the runway in a steady descent before the impact occurred near the edge of a ditch. Both occupants of the aircraft, the pilot and the passenger, sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation examined the aircraft wreckage, engine components, and GPS data from a Garmin Aera 500. Technical inspections of the Textron Lycoming O-320-E2A engine and propeller revealed no mechanical failures that would have prevented normal operation. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's qualifications, medical certification, and the flight history of the aircraft. Medical examinations confirmed that the pilot was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and the passenger experienced intense psychological stress during the final moments of the flight. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's transponder was set to an unassigned squawk code, meaning altitude information was not visible to air traffic services.
Findings
- The pilot conducted a non-standard approach characterized by extremely low altitude and low engine power.
- The aircraft's speed decreased below the stall speed during maneuvers at a very low altitude.
- The aircraft entered a stall during a turn at an altitude that left the pilot with insufficient time or margin to recover.
- The engine was operating at low power, near idle, during the critical phase of the approach.
- The pilot attempted to recover by pulling back on the control column, but the low altitude prevented a successful outcome.