Piper PA28 accident near Witzenhausen, Germany, De, March 4, 2015
On March 4, 2015 at about 7:18 am local time, a Piper PA28, registered DERIF, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Witzenhausen, Germany. 1 person was 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
- March 4, 2015 · about 7:18 am local time
- Place
- Witzenhausen, Germany, Germany
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- DERIF · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On March 4, 2015, about 0718 UTC, a Piper PA28, German registration D-ERIF, owned by a private individual, was substantially damaged when it impacted heavily wooded terrain near Witzenhausen, Germany, under unknown circumstances. The pilot was fataly injured. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Germany. Any further information regarding the investigation can be obtained from: The German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation Braunschweig, Germany Telephone: +49 5 31 35 48 0 Telefax: +49 5 31 35 48 246 www.bfu-web.de This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from, the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.