What happened
On June 16, 2004, at approximately 15:50 UTC, a Zenair Zodiac, registration OK-GUL 15, crashed into a wooded area near a former gasworks in the municipality of Užín, Ústí nad Labem. The flight departed from the Ústí nad Labem ultralight airfield on runway 23.
During the initial phase of the flight, between the first and second circuit turns, the pilot executed two 360-degree left turns. The second turn transitioned into a descent, leading into a left spiral. During the final phase of the flight, the aircraft struck trees at an angle of approximately 30 degrees. The impact caused the left wing and tail surfaces to detach. The destruction of the fuselage ruptured the fuel tank, triggering a post-impact fire. The pilot sustained multiple traumatic injuries and died at the scene.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the engine remained functional until the moment of impact. However, the investigation revealed that the pilot was not fit for flight, as toxicological analysis of biological samples detected the presence of alcohol. Additionally, the investigation found that the meteorological conditions at the time of takeoff were unsuitable for ultralight operations, characterized by strong wind gusts of 25–30 knots and mechanical turbulence caused by the orographic effects of the Ore Mountains.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's impairment due to alcohol consumption.
- The pilot misjudged the prevailing meteorological conditions.
- The pilot overestimated his flying abilities during the execution of the maneuvers.