Dallach D.4B Fascination Went Down in Plettenberg, Germany

A Dallach Fascination ultralight went down in a residential yard on March 4, killing its 64-year-old pilot. The aircraft’s emergency parachute seemed to have been partially deployed before impact.

The ultralight involved was a Wolfgang Dallach D4 Fascination B, registered as D-MVHB. It departed from Giebelstadt Airport (GHF) in Bavaria headed northwest towards Marl-Loemuhle Airfield. Just one occupant, the 64-year-old pilot from Bochum, was on board.

At approximately 4:40 pm local time, the Fascination ultralight crashed into the backyard of a residential home in Plettenberg, Markischer Kreis, of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Police and fire services immediately responded to the crash site and declared the pilot dead.

The next morning, local police and Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) authorities examined the wreckage, which was mostly swallowed in bushes and trees. Though a final cause is far from being discovered, the police have pretty much ruled out ‘third-party negligence’ and pointed towards a tragic accident.

Photos from the scene show what seems to be the aircraft’s emergency parachute, indicating that the pilot attempted to deploy it before impact. The Fascination comes standard with a Stratos Magnum 501 ballistic recovery parachute.

Reports have also claimed that the 64-year-old had flown with another pilot to pick up the plane in Geibelstadt before flying back separately. The ultralight was allegedly in good condition when it was picked up.

The Dallach D4 Fascination B is a 639-pound plane typically powered by a Rotax 912 engine and constructed with tube and fabric. It has a fairly problematic safety record.

FMI: www.bfu-web.de/EN/