Search for Cause of Southern Hesse Plane Crash Could Take Months

The search for an official explanation of the plane crash near Weinheim in southern Hesse is expected to take many weeks, and possibly months. Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation is examining technical data to establish why the aircraft crashed while approaching the airfield.

A spokeswoman for the aviation club involved said it could take “several weeks or perhaps even months” to reach a result. Under the agency’s standard procedure, an interim report can be expected after roughly two to three months. A final report on the cause normally takes about a year, according to the agency.

The crash occurred on Sunday on the edge of a summer festival held by the Weinheim aviation club. Police said the aircraft went down for an as-yet unknown reason while approaching the airfield, where several aerobatic flights had also been announced.

The suspected 67-year-old pilot and a 76-year-old passenger died. A 40-year-old woman and a three-year-old child were taken to hospital with extremely serious injuries. The towns of Viernheim and Weinheim lie only a few kilometres apart on the border between the states of Hesse and Baden-Württemberg. The club shut down its website soon after the crash.

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It will take several weeks or perhaps even months before we have a result here.