Event History
The aircraft, a WT-9 Dynamic Club T registered YR-5259, departed Golden Wings airfield at 14:00 local time on 15 July 2025 with a pilot and a passenger. The planned route included Becicherecu Mic, Orăștie, and Șiria, returning to Golden Wings. After approximately one hour and ten minutes of flight, the aircraft reached the Orăștie area and conducted a series of turns west of the city before proceeding toward the Arsenal Park complex, located 3 km west of Orăștie. The complex includes an Aqua Park and a zipline installation.
Over the Aqua Park, the aircraft performed two 360-degree turns at low altitude. During the second turn, the left main landing gear struck the zipline cable. The aircraft then entered an uncontrolled rapid descent and impacted the ground approximately two seconds later.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a WT-9 Dynamic Club T, serial number DY-097, manufactured in 2005 by AEROSPOOL spol. s.r.o. It had a carbon-fiber structure, low wing, fixed tricycle landing gear, and a Rotax 912 ULS engine. Total airframe hours were 1961 as of 16 November 2024. The aircraft held a valid flight authorization for private and training flights, and was equipped with a ballistic parachute and a tow device. A Garmin GPSmap 296 navigation device was installed and recovered; its data were downloaded.
Pilot Information
The pilot was a 60-year-old male with a valid license and medical certificate. He had 544 hours of flight experience on ULM aircraft as of 30 September 2024.
Location and Zipline Details
The accident occurred at Arsenal Park, Orăștie, Hunedoara County, at coordinates 45°49'50.6"N, 023°09'51.8"E. The zipline system consisted of a cable stretched between a 54-meter-high water tower (the starting point) and a 2-meter-high platform located 544 meters away. The direction of travel was approximately parallel to the access road to the Aqua Park. Multiple surveillance cameras, including one on the water tower, recorded the event.
Analysis
Data from the Garmin GPS and surveillance cameras revealed that the aircraft executed two controlled 360-degree turns while descending over the Aqua Park. The first turn cleared the zipline cable, but the second turn had a larger radius and was performed at a lower altitude, causing the left landing gear to snag the cable. The surveillance footage showed continuous and uniform flight, with no evidence of mechanical failure or engine malfunction that could have influenced the trajectory. Weather conditions did not contribute to the accident.