Bitburg - Karlsruhe

On October 17, 2016 at 12:43 PM, Bitburg - Karlsruhe experienced a crash involving Piper PA-61 Aerostar (Ted Smith 601), operated by Private American, with the event recorded near Karlsruhe-Baden-Baden Baden-Württemberg.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Following an uneventful flight from Bitburg, the pilot was cleared for an approach to Karlsruhe-Baden Baden Airport Runway 21. On final approach, while completing a sharp turn to the left to join the runway, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. The pilot was seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. The wreckage was found about 500 metres from the runway threshold and 350 metres to the left of the runway extended centerline.

Aircraft reference details include registration N20NR, MSN 61-0445-169, year of manufacture 1977.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 49.0056°, 8.4318°.