“A Cessna Citation I/SP corporate jet, registered N452TS, crashed while on approach to Trier-Föhren Airport in Germany. All four on board were killed. The airplane was approaching runway 22 Trier-Föhren Airport when it struck an electricity pylon at a height of about 8 m above the ground. [The runway is approximately 1200 meters in length.] Control was lost and the airplane crashed. It came to rest inverted on the site of a landfill, located 3,8 km from the threshold of runway 22 and about 700 m to the left of the extended centreline. A fire erupted. The accident occurred in conditions of low visibility. There is no automated Metar weather report for Trier-Föhren Airport. The closest weather observations are from Spangdahlem (ETAD):

ETAD 121058Z AUTO 08003KT M0400 R23/0150 FZFG VV001 M01/M01 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP251 T10081012 $

Weather observations at 10:58Z (11:58 LT): Wind 080 degrees at 3 knots; Visibility: 400 m; indefinite ceiling with vertical visibility of 100 feet AGL; freezing fog; Temperature: -1°C, dew point: -1°C; 30.24 inches Hg. Latest available information indicates that the Trier Airport did not have an ILS.” (Source: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20140112-0).

“Local fire officials told German public broadcaster ZDF that the plane hit a power pole. There was dense fog in the area at the time of the crash, ZDF reported.” (Source: https://www.cnn.com/2014/01/12/world/europe/germany-plane-crash/).

“A police spokeswoman, Monika Peters, said the plane was a Cessna Citation, a popular type of US-made turbofan plane. Emergency services were called after witnesses saw it crash next to large rubbish tip site at a place called Rivenich. Reports said the plane was on fire when firefighters reached the scene. There was no word on the possible cause of the crash, or the identity of those on board. The plane had an American registration.” (Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/12/light-plane-travelling-england-crashes-germany).

We at Pilot Law extend our sympathies and condolences to the victims of this crash. We have a lot of experience in handling cases such as this and will continue to independently investigate the possible causes of this terrible accident.  As always, we are available for a free consultation with anyone who may wish to pursue claims on their behalf or on behalf of a loved one.