Date:	Saturday 25 September 2021
Time:	c. 15:15 LT
Type:	Robin DR400/180R Remorqueur
Owner/operator:	Flugsportvereinigung Offenbach Reinheim e.V.
Registration:	D-EGTQ
MSN:	1264
Year of manufacture:	1978
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Ötzberg/Ober-Lingen near Groß-Bieberau, Hessen -   Germany
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Banner and glider towing
Departure airport:	Reinheim Airfield
Destination airport:	Reinheim Airfield
Investigating agency:	BFU
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
A Robin DR.400/180R aerotow plane collided with a model aircraft, while towing glider D-1019 from Reinheim Airfield, Germany.
The pilot (59y) disconnected the glider and returned to the airfield.
Part of the left horizontal stabilizer was torn off in the accident. The model aircraft had a wing span of 1,60m. The pilot was located by local police.

Cause:
The collision occurred because the tow plane entered the airspace of the model flying field. The remote pilot did not notice the approaching tow plane and was unable to take evasive action.

Several factors contributed to the incident:
- The remote pilot was focused on controlling the model aircraft, limiting their ability to observe the airspace.
- The noise from the model aircraft’s two-stroke engine likely masked the sound of the approaching tow plane.
- The tow plane descended to a low altitude within the model flying field airspace.
- The pilot of the DR 400/180 R was unaware of the existence of the model flying field and its designated airspace.
- The model flying field was not considered in the approval or subsequent amendments to the glider airfield in Reinheim.
- The pilot of the DR 400/180 R did not take early action to avoid the approaching model aircraft.

https://www.t-online.de/nachrichten/panorama/id_90863804/notlandung-nach-zusammenstoss-mit-modellflugzeug.html
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/d-egtq#2947667e
https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/4969/5029814
https://www.fsvor.com/index.php/wir-ueber-uns1/flugzeuge
BFU 21-0871-3X
Files of rerg office LBA

Built 1977. Permit to fly as D-EGTQ 21OCT77. Rgd to Ostwestfälische Akaflieg eV, (Bielefeld), base Oerlinhausen. Accident on 20SEP80 (after illegal low flying test flight from Oerlinhausen to Bielefeld). Permit to fly 21MAY81 after repair. To Kurt Schäfer (Winnenden), base Heiningen. Annuals at Nabern 27APR83/1296 and 26APR84/1352. To Sportfluggruppe Winnenden-Heiningen eV AUG84. Annuals at Nabern 21FEB85/1467, 25FEB86/1572, 24FEB87/1673. To Fliegerhgruppe Salach eV SEP87, base Donzdorf. To Luftsportgruppe Messelberg Süßen-Salach eV DEC87. Dismantled and transported to summer festival at Süßen in 1988 (photo in "Adler" 11/88) and christened "FLYfil". Annual at Aalen 16FEB89/1988, 23FEB90/2248. Seen at Donzdorf until SEP96. To the operator later.

Repaired. To Luftsportfreunde Wesel-Rheinhausen eV later. Tracked at Achaffenburg 30AUG25 (flightradar24) and at Egelsbach 31AUG25 (flightaware).

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
26-Sep-2021 06:40	Scooter	Added
26-Sep-2021 06:44	harro	Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, ]
26-Sep-2021 06:47	harro	Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Total occupants, Narrative, ]
26-Sep-2021 19:19	Anon.	Updated [Operator, ]
14-Jun-2024 09:59	ASN	Updated [Narrative, Accident report, ]
04-Sep-2025 15:45	Gerhardt	Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Source, Narrative, ]