Investigation Summary
The accident occurred during a public festival at the Finowfurt Aviation Museum. The pilot, who had recently purchased the aircraft, conducted several low-altitude passes before attempting an inverted flight at a height of approximately 20 to 50 meters. The Zlín 526 fuel system uses a 5-liter collector tank to feed the engine during aerobatics, as the main wing tanks rely on gravity. During inverted flight, the collector tank is not replenished. Investigators found the collector tank empty and five of the six fuel injector lines dry, confirming fuel starvation. Furthermore, the aircraft was equipped with optional wing tip tanks, a configuration that explicitly prohibited aerobatic flight. The pilot's recovery was further hampered by incorrect control inputs that caused the aircraft to veer right in a nose-down attitude before the wing tip struck the ground.
Final Conclusions
The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) concluded that the primary cause was engine power loss due to fuel starvation during inverted flight. Contributing factors included the pilot's decision to perform unauthorized aerobatics at a critically low altitude, the use of an aircraft configuration (with tip tanks) not certified for aerobatics, and the use of motor fuel instead of the required Avgas. The BFU also noted the pilot was not wearing a parachute and the aircraft lacked valid registration and insurance at the time of the accident.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Total hours and 10,445 flight cycles as of last logbook entry 13 Oct 2012. Held PPL with aerobatic rating.
Systems & Failure Modes
Fuel Collector Tank
A 5-liter fuselage tank designed to feed the engine via a fuel pump during aerobatics when gravity-fed wing tanks cannot supply fuel. It is not replenished during inverted flight.
Wing Tip Tanks
Optional external fuel tanks that, when installed on this Zlín model, prohibited the aircraft from being used for aerobatic maneuvers due to structural and handling limitations.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was not certified for aerobatics because wing tip tanks were installed.
- 02The pilot performed the display without authorization from aviation authorities.
- 03The engine was supplied with motor fuel instead of the required Avgas.
- 04The collector tank, designed to provide fuel during aerobatics, was found empty after the crash.
- 05The pilot was not wearing a parachute; the seat had been filled with foam instead.
- 06The aircraft's liability insurance had expired on May 1, 2013.
Location
APPROXIMATE POSITION · AIRPORT LEVEL · Coordinates are the estimate published in the wikidata coordinate. The ring shows the accuracy the record supports, not the point of impact.