Piper PA28 and Reims F172 mid-air collision near Sandstedt, De, September 26, 2015
On September 26, 2015 at about 11:38 am local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA28 (DEBVM) and Reims F172 (DEGJA), were involved in a mid-air collision near Sandstedt. 4 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 2015 · about 11:38 am local time
- Place
- Sandstedt, Germany · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA28 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- DEBVM · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight
- Aircraft 2
- Reims F172
- Registration
- DEGJA · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA28 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 26, 2015, at 1138 universal coordinated time, a Piper PA-28, German registration D-EBVM and a Reims F172, German registration D-EGJA, collided over Sandstedt, Germany. The pilot on board the PA-28 was fatally injured. The pilot and two passengers on board the F172 were also fatally injured. Both airplanes were destroyed. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the German government. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the German government. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation Bundesstelle fuer Flugunfalluntersuchung (BFU) Hermann-Blenk Strasse 16 38108 Braunschweig Germany Tel: (int.) +49 531 3548 - 0 Fax:(int.) +49 531 3548 - 246 e-mail: box@bfu-web.de www.bfu-web.de
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Reims F172 preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 26, 2015, at 1138 universal coordinated time, a Piper PA-28, German registration D-EBVM and a Reims F172, German registration D-EGJA, collided over Sandstedt, Germany. The pilot on board the PA-28 was fatally injured. The pilot and two passengers on board the F172 were also fatally injured. Both airplanes were destroyed. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the German government. This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the German government. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation Bundesstelle fuer Flugunfalluntersuchung (BFU) Hermann-Blenk Strasse 16 38108 Braunschweig Germany Tel: (int.) +49 531 3548 - 0 Fax:(int.) +49 531 3548 - 246 e-mail: box@bfu-web.de www.bfu-web.de
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Piper PA28 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Reims F172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.