What happened
On March 29, 2015, a Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter, registration OK-RRJ, crashed in a forested area near the settlement of Filipova Huť in the Šumava National Park. The pilot had landed on private property near Modrava the previous afternoon and stayed overnight at a local guesthouse.
On the morning of the accident, despite heavy fog, rain, and strong gusty winds, the pilot decided to proceed with a flight to the Kolín airfield (LKKO). The takeoff occurred unobserved by others at approximately 08:00 UTC. GPS data indicates that shortly after takeoff, the aircraft performed several maneuvers, including a significant change in course. As the flight progressed, the pilot encountered rapidly deteriorating visibility, which dropped to between 0 and 200 meters due to low clouds being pushed into the valley by strong winds.
While flying over rising terrain, the pilot likely lost visual contact with the ground. In an attempt to climb out of the clouds, the pilot executed a sharp 180-degree turn. During this maneuver, the pilot lost spatial orientation and control, leading the aircraft to strike the treetops. The impact with the trees and the subsequent fall to the ground resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot.