What happened
On October 28, 2001, at approximately 14:52 UTC, a Cessna 182 B was engaged in a business flight near Wiener Neustadt. The aircraft departed from Fürstenfeld Airport (LOGF) carrying the pilot and one passenger, heading toward Wiener Neustadt.
Upon approaching Wiener Neustadt-West Airport (LOXN), the pilot encountered weather conditions that were unsuitable for landing under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). In an attempt to assist the pilot, the airport management suggested placing two vehicles equipped with flashing lights near the runway threshold to improve the visibility of the landing strip. Following a missed approach, the aircraft collided with Karl’s Stein, a rocky outcrop located in the Fischau foothills within the municipality of Bad Fischau-Brunn. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and two fatalities.
The investigation
The investigation was reconstructed using findings from the Lower Austria Provincial Gendarmerie Command and investigators from the Federal Safety Investigation Office (SUB). The inquiry focused on the flight sequence, the prevailing meteorological conditions at the time of the approach, and the circumstances surrounding the missed approach and subsequent collision.