What happened
On August 15, 2007, at approximately 13:25 local time, a T131 PA Jungmann biplane departed from a grass airstrip in Landstetten for a private recreational flight. The aircraft was occupied by a pilot and one passenger. Shortly after rotating from runway 07, the aircraft veered to the left and collided with a 20-kV overhead power line situated approximately 10 meters above the ground.
Witnesses reported that the impact immediately ignited a fire. The aircraft subsequently struck a nearby road. The wreckage was found severely damaged; the fuselage was burned down to its steel frame, and the right wing was found separated from the main structure. Both occupants managed to exit the burning wreckage, but both sustained severe burns. Tragically, the passenger died from his injuries two days later.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft, the site of the accident, and witness testimonies. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft, a Polish-built replica of the Bücker Jungmann, had struck a concrete pole and insulators, leaving paint transfers from the aircraft on the infrastructure. The investigation also noted that the power line was severed during the collision.
Regarding the aircraft's condition, investigators found the throttle set to full power and the mixture lever in the "rich" position, with the trim set to neutral. A technical inspection of the T131 PA Jungmann revealed no mechanical failures or technical defects that contributed to the accident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision with high-voltage power lines during the initial climb.
- The aircraft's flight path deviated to the left immediately after takeoff, leading it into the path of the 10-meter-high lines.
- There were no technical malfunctions found in the aircraft's engine or flight controls.