What happened
On May 23, 2006, at approximately 12:30 UTC, a pilot participating in the Hessian Hang Gliding and Paragliding Championships was involved in a fatal accident near Radlberger Alm, Carinthia. The pilot had launched from Emberger Alm at around 10:40 UTC, flying a cross-country route following the Drau Valley toward Greifenburg.
While flying eastbound near the Radlberger Alm, approximately 12 km from the launch site, the aircraft encountered intense turbulence and wind gusts. This atmospheric instability caused the Airwave K4/K4+ to undergo a forward pitch-over, known as a "tuck." The resulting uncontrolled descent led to a high-impact crash. Although the pilot attempted to deploy the reserve parachute, it failed to fully inflate before the impact. The pilot sustained fatal head injuries at the scene.
The investigation
The SUB investigation reconstructed the flight path using witness statements and local authority records. The investigation examined the meteorological conditions, the technical state of the hang glider, and the pilot's equipment. Investigators analyzed weather forecasts, which had predicted strong southwesterly winds and Föhn-related turbulence. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's structural integrity and the functionality of the reserve parachute and the pilot's helmet.