According to information obtained by Aeroweb, the aircraft involved was a pressurized, twin-engine Beechcraft BE 58 Baron with the registration OK-PHR. Manufactured in 1980, the aircraft was added to the Czech Aviation Register in 1998. The owner and operator is RICHMOND a.s.
ADS-B data indicates that the aircraft departed from Příbram around 12:45 UTC, bound for Karlovy Vary. At 13:00 UTC, the aircraft initiated a rapid descent from 4,500 feet to 4,100 feet, followed by a short climb to 4,250 feet. It then entered a steep dive, reaching a descent rate of approximately 12,000 feet per minute at the last recorded data point at 13:01 UTC.
The aircraft was en route from Příbram to Karlovy Vary. The wreckage was found scattered across an area of approximately 300 square metres in a forest, making access difficult for emergency responders.
Police confirmed the pilot’s fatality and searched the surrounding area to ensure there were no other casualties, a possibility that was later ruled out. Emergency services struggled to reach the site due to the difficult terrain.
Extremely poor flight conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident. The weather was characterized by rain, a very low cloud base, and poor visibility. The passage of a weather front also contributed to strong and gusty winds.
The Czech Air Accidents Investigation Institute (ÚZPLN) has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. Given the extensive destruction of the aircraft, the investigation is expected to be challenging.
Sources: Flightradar24, Fire and Rescue Services (HZS), Aviation Safety Network (ASN), Novinky.cz
