Incident Overview
On August 23, 2014, at approximately 16:18 UTC, a Van's Aircraft RV-7 with registration LN-DSF crashed into the terrain of Mount Špičník, located 7 km south of Modrava in the Czech Republic. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact with tree trunks near the summit. The sole occupant, the pilot, sustained fatal injuries. No other persons were injured.
Flight Details and Sequence of Events
The pilot departed from Fürstenzell (EDMF) in Germany at 16:06 UTC, intending to fly Visual Flight Rules (VFR) to Welzow (EDCY). Radar data indicated the aircraft climbed to 4,000 feet and maintained a track speed of approximately 150–170 knots. At 16:17:50, the last radar position was recorded at 4,400 feet. Shortly after, air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft as it crossed into Czech airspace. Search and rescue teams located the wreckage the following day.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot was a 38-year-old male holding a valid Private Pilot License (PPL(A)) issued by Germany. He had approximately 102 hours of experience on the RV-7 type. The aircraft, manufactured in 2011, was powered by a Lycoming YIO 360 1B engine and a Hartzell propeller. It held valid airworthiness certificates and insurance at the time of the accident.
Investigation Findings
The investigation was conducted by the Institute for Professional Investigation of Causes of Aviation Accidents (ÚZPLN). The aircraft impacted dry, dead trees first before continuing its trajectory down the northern slope, where it struck further trunks and broke apart. Fuel contamination was noted in the surrounding soil within a protected national park zone.