Two people were killed Sunday afternoon when a single-engine aircraft crashed in the Xerolakki area of Kontariotissa in Pieria, northern Greece. Authorities found the two men, both pilots from the wider area, unresponsive outside the fuselage.
Initial indications suggest the crash occurred as the aircraft was preparing to land, with a possible mechanical failure among the potential causes under consideration. Both men were experienced pilots, while the 41-year-old pilot was a member of the Hellenic Air Force and flew single-engine aircraft as a hobby. Meanwhile, a report by Greek broadcaster ANT1 has raised further questions about the circumstances surrounding the crash.
According to information from the scene, the pilot reported no technical problem before the accident.
The aircraft was found in a dry riverbed near the runway of the Pieria Flying Club. As of late Sunday night, there was no clear explanation for what caused the crash.
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According to the report, members of the flying club spoke with the experienced pilot just seconds before the aircraft went down, and no technical problem was mentioned.
The flight has been described as routine. Nothing appeared to be going wrong: the aircraft had just completed a low pass and gained altitude to line up with the runway, entering the final stage before landing.
So far, there are no indications as to what caused the fatal crash.
Police have taken over the investigation, while the official findings are expected from Greece’s air accident investigation authority.
The Crash
The wreckage illustrates the force of the impact.
The experienced pilot, identified in this account as 40 years old and the father of four children, and his 58-year-old passenger were killed in the crash. The parents of the Hellenic Air Force pilot were devastated by the news.
Speaking to Greek broadcaster MEGA, a family member said: “He has four children. The oldest is 12 years old, and the others are very young. I only found out two hours ago. I’m in shock.”
Under circumstances that remain unclear, the pilot attempted to land the single-engine aircraft on the flying club’s runway in the Kontariotissa area. Investigators are examining whether human error or a mechanical failure that caused a sudden loss of altitude may have played a role.
“It was flying low. Judging by the maneuver it made, it was probably going in to land,” a witness said.
The Fire Service was alerted at 1:50 p.m. Significant resources were immediately dispatched to the scene, where responders found the bodies of the two men outside the fuselage. The pilot, who was also an instructor on Canadair firefighting aircraft, regularly flew over the area.
Authorities have cordoned off the crash site as they work to determine exactly what led to the fatal aviation accident.