Accident Sequence
While cruising at 21,000 feet south of Ingolstadt, the pilot informed ATC that a fire had erupted on board, declared an emergency, and requested permission to divert to Munich Airport. The crew immediately started an emergency descent when control was lost. The aircraft entered a dive, partially disintegrated in the air, and eventually crashed in flames on a highway.
Debris and Wreckage
Debris were found in an open field, and the main wreckage came to rest on the Munich–Nuremberg highway. The tail was found about three kilometers from the main wreckage. Rescue teams were hampered in their mission, and it was difficult to reach the crash site as the highway was jammed with cars from people on holiday.
Occupants and Weather
None of the 48 occupants survived the crash. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered good despite broken clouds from 800 feet up to 15,000 feet.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the main generator failed in flight, causing a major power failure and probably an electrical short-circuit. This caused several systems and onboard instruments to fail, such as the gyrocompass. While cruising in poor visibility due to clouds, the crew was unable to maintain a proper attitude, and the aircraft went out of control. During the descent, aerodynamic forces exceeded the certification of the tail and wings, which were torn off. The aircraft impacted the ground at a speed of 310 knots. The accident was unsurvivable. The exact cause of the generator failure could not be determined with certainty.