The course of the accident
On the day of the accident, the pilot wanted to fly from Bamberg (EDQA) to Hof-Plauen (EDQM). After properly coordinating with the operations manager by radio, he taxied to the taxi stop on runway 21, but instead of taking the recommended route via runway 03, the pilot turned right and began his take-off run on the remaining runway. 190 metres the 1104 metre long runway. This distance was clearly too short for a safe take-off.
A glider pilot radioed to the pilot that another glider launch was possible. Instead of waiting for the situation to develop, the pilot decided to start the take-off run immediately. The operations manager recognised the dangerous situation and asked the pilot twice by radio to abort the launch. But the warnings came too late. The aircraft briefly lifted off the ground, tilted to the right and crashed. A stall led to the fatal loss of control.
Investigation and root cause analysis
During the investigation, the BFU found that the pilot had been injured by, among other things Lack of situational awareness and a Inadequate flight preparation came to the momentous decisions. The announced glider launch probably increased his stress level, causing him to act hastily.
Error chain in detail
- Incorrect rolling: The pilot turned in the wrong direction at the taxi stop, which drastically shortened the usable take-off distance.
- Insufficient communication: Although he co-ordinated via radio, the pilot ignored the instructions and warnings from the operations manager.
- Faulty take-off: At the end of the runway, the pilot attempted to take off, although the speed and lift were not sufficient for a safe climb.
- Stress-related excessive demands: The combination of time pressure and situational complexity meant that the pilot was unable to abort the take-off.
The pilot: a problematic history
The investigation revealed that the pilot had repeatedly experienced difficulties during his training. Already in his first flying school he was Lack of critical faculties and Unsafe flight manoeuvres was noticed. The headmaster ultimately recommended that he discontinue his training. Nevertheless, the pilot continued his training at another organisation and passed his practical test.
At the time of the accident, the pilot had 193 hours of flying experienceDespite the formal qualification, the known deficits and the excessive demands of the situation led to the tragic incident.
Learning potential from the accident
1. importance of flight preparation
Thorough planning is essential to avoid errors such as incorrect taxiing or inadequate route estimation. Before taxiing off, pilots should check the taxi route and runway direction using maps or compass data.
2. dealing with stress
Stress and haste are dangerous companions when flying. A conscious approach to time pressure, for example by planning buffer times or avoiding hasty decisions, can significantly increase safety.
3. training and qualification
The case shows how important sound training and regular checks of flying skills are. Flight instructors should place particular emphasis on the situational awareness and responsiveness of their students.
4. communication and decision-making
Communication between all those involved on the ground and in the air plays a key role. The accident could possibly have been prevented if the pilot had waited for the glider to take off or heeded the warnings of the operations manager earlier.
Conclusion
The crash of the Cessna 182 in Bamberg is a tragic example of how a chain of wrong decisions can lead to fatal consequences. The incident is a reminder that Stress management, Thorough preparation and professional training are essential for flight safety. Particularly in general aviation, where pilots often fly alone, a conscious and considered approach to complex situations is crucial in order to avoid similar accidents in the future.
Source references:
Aviation magazine