Grob Aerospace has confirmed that one of two flying prototypes of its SPn all-composite light jet has crashed near its Bavarian factory. The pilot is understood to have been killed in the accident.
The crash happened this morning, close to the company's manufacturing site and purpose-built airfield in Tussenhausen-Mattsies, Germany. The facility is situated in agricultural land.
No police confirmation is immediately available, but early witness reports say the aircraft has been completely destroyed in the crash.
The first prototype flew on 20 July last year; the second this September. It is not yet clear which test aircraft was involved.
The test programme had accumulated over 300h in a similar number of flights. The €5.8 million ($7.36 million), six- to eight-passenger SPn (formerly G180) had been expected to gain European certification in the third quarter of next year.
Flight TV recorded the SPn flying at the ILA Berlin air show this year. Click here to watch.
Blog:
Read Flight International editor Murdo Morrison's account of a previous visit to Grob's facilities in the small Bavarian village of Tussenhausen-Mattsies