Accident Overview
On 26 August 2005, at 13:32 UTC, a sport flying device (SLZ) EV-97 EUROSTAR, model 2000, version R, registration OK-KUR 16, crashed at Letňany Airport (LKLT). The pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed.
Flight History
The 63-year-old pilot, who held a valid SLZ pilot license and had accumulated 99 flight hours, had rented the aircraft from LETOV AIR FLIGHT SERVICES s.r.o. He planned a flight from LKLT to České Budějovice and Nové Hrady and back, expecting a duration over two hours, and requested a full fuel load of 65 liters (28 liters of NATURAL 95 were added). GPS data show the route via Závist, Tábor, Nové Hrady, then return east of Tábor through Říčany, Horní Počernice, and Vinoř to LKLT.
Accident Sequence
After passing Vinoř, the pilot aligned with runway 23 and reported 'Finále 23.' He descended normally, with flaps deployed (evidenced by a speed decrease and slight altitude increase on GPS). The approach remained stable until the flare. Then, the pilot abruptly announced his intention to go around, aborted the landing, and began climbing with a left turn. The initial climb speed was low. During this phase, the pilot retracted the flaps, worsening the situation. The aircraft entered a stall with a left bank, inverted, and struck the ground at approximately a 60° angle. The engine was operating normally. After impact, the aircraft came to rest inverted.
Aircraft and Weight
The empty weight was 282 kg. The pilot weighed 90 kg, the passenger 105 kg. Fuel on board was 65 liters (47 kg). Estimated fuel consumption was 20 kg. The takeoff weight was calculated at 524 kg, and the weight at the time of accident at 504 kg. The maximum takeoff weight specified in the flight manual is 450 kg, so the aircraft was overweight by 74 kg (16.5%). The excess weight did not affect the center of gravity but degraded flight characteristics.
Investigation
A test flight conducted on 10 October 2005 confirmed that during a go-around, the aircraft tends to yaw left by about 30°, but this behavior is easily manageable by a pilot. Medical examination determined that the pilot was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and no health-related cause was identified. The pilot was conscious and aware of the critical situation in the final seconds.
Conclusions and Safety Recommendations
The investigation concluded that the pilot did not control the go-around maneuver, partly due to lack of training on such situations. The aircraft was overloaded, and the pilot was not authorized to fly with that weight. The pilot's logbook records were found to be inconclusive. Safety recommendations included enforcing weight limits, expanding pilot training to cover emergency procedures, and requiring truthful logbook entries.