Two Dead in Small Aircraft Crash at German Gliding Field

A somber mood has descended upon the gliding field in Pohlheim, central Hesse, following the tragic crash of a small aircraft that claimed the lives of its pilot and a passenger. The incident has deeply shocked the members of the Steinkopf Glider Club.

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This is a shock for everyone.

"This is a shock for everyone," said Rainer Pauli, the club's first chairman, speaking to the German Press Agency. He identified the victims as a 69-year-old pilot, a long-time and experienced member of the club, and a 56-year-old companion. Pauli, who knew the pilot well, described him as highly skilled and a dedicated club member.

Pauli was an eyewitness to the accident, which occurred Tuesday morning. He explained that the flight was intended to measure the propeller noise of the small aircraft. After completing a full circuit of the airfield, the pilot attempted to land, but the engine reportedly failed. "And we don't know why," Pauli stated, adding that the pilot might have been attempting a glider landing, a maneuver for which the aircraft is designed.

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And we don't know why.

However, the propeller plane suddenly dropped from an estimated altitude of 30 to 70 meters, crashing into a grain field adjacent to the runway. First responders and emergency services attempted resuscitation at the scene before transporting the victims to hospitals, where they succumbed to their severe injuries. Experts from the Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation are now on site to determine the cause of the crash, though officials caution that the investigation may take time.

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This is rather a safe sport, we pay close attention to safety.