What happened
On December 7, 2003, at approximately 13:30 UTC, a Z-142 aircraft, registration OK-LNM, was conducting a private flight near the village of Pohořalka in the Chrudim district. The pilot was performing low-altitude maneuvers near a cabin owned by his parents. After completing a 360-degree right turn, the pilot initiated a left turn at an altitude of approximately 50 meters. During the execution of a climbing roll, the aircraft struck the treetops and crashed into a forested area. The impact triggered an intense fire that completely destroyed the aircraft.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the pilot was performing complex aerobatic maneuvers at an insufficient altitude above the terrain. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at low levels before the fatal roll. Medical and toxicological examinations revealed that the pilot had residual alcohol in his system, with levels of 0.28 g/kg in the blood and 0.56 g/kg in the urine. While the pilot was in the elimination phase of alcohol metabolism, the investigation concluded that the alcohol levels negatively affected his performance. Furthermore, the pilot was found to have been under significant physical and psychological stress during the critical moments of the flight.
Findings
- The two fatalities (the pilot and one passenger) were caused by polytrauma sustained during the impact.
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure to maintain a safe minimum altitude while attempting a complex aerobatic maneuver in close proximity to terrain obstacles.
- A contributing factor was the influence of residual alcohol on the pilot's ability to operate the aircraft safely.