German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation published a report on the investigation of the crash of the aircraft owned by businessman Karl-Peter Griesemann that took place not far from Ventspils on the 4th of September.
When the businessman’s aircraft left the airfield in Heres, Spain, on the 4th of September to fly to Cologne, there were no signs of this flight becoming the last for Griesemann and his three passengers.
The most recent investigation report details what happened. Shortly before 16:00 p.m. the aircraft made a turn to the north-east and reached planned altitude at half an hour later. The pilot and the air traffic controller then shared a friendly conversation.
Twelve minutes later the pilot contacted the air traffic controller again and reported a problem with the aircraft’s air conditioner, as well as permission for an emergency landing.
The air traffic controller asked where Griesemann wants to land. The pilot responded at 16:52 p.m.: «We are losing cabin pressure.» These were Griesemann’s last words. The aircraft then went into radio silence.
But the aircraft did not crash immediately. It entered French air space. According to the report from the fighter aircraft pilot sent to intercept «the aircraft continued on course north-east at the same altitude».
The fighter jet intercepted Griesemann’s aircraft at 17:22 p.m. and saw the pilot motionless in his seat. An oxygen mast was also seen hanging above his head.
The businessman’s aircraft had no signs of external damage.
At 18:43 p.m. near the border with Luxembourg the aircraft turned to the north and north-east – towards Cologne. The aircraft then made another turn above Euskirchen and continued north-east
Then Griesemann’s aircraft was reached by German fighter jets, which accompanied the aircraft until 19:50 p.m., which is when it left German air space.
The aircraft was then accompanied by Danish and Swedish fighter jets, as well as NATO patrol aircraft stationed in Estonia.
At 20:30 p.m. the aircraft finally started losing altitude. Two minutes later it entered Latvian airspace. Four minutes after that the aircraft started turning right. At 20:40 p.m. the aircraft turned left. Five minutes later it crashed into the Baltic Sea.
More on this topic: VIDEO | small private plane crashes not far from Ventspils; no survivors found yet