What happened
On June 12, 2003, at approximately 16:45 UTC, an experimental Cherry BX 2 aircraft departed from runway 18 at the Weiz-Unterfladnitz airfield in Styria, Austria. Following a brief engine warm-up period, the pilot commenced the takeoff with the auxiliary electric fuel pump in the off position.
During the initial climb, the pilot noted a perceptible drop in engine RPM. Upon attempting to adjust the power lever, the engine began to vibrate heavily. Subsequently, the engine failed to respond to further power lever adjustments and ceased producing sufficient power. As the aircraft's airspeed continued to decay, the pilot decided to perform an emergency landing with the landing gear retracted, aiming for the area extending from runway 18.
To prepare for the impact, the pilot switched off the ignition. Shortly before touchdown, the aircraft lost lift and dropped sharply, striking the ground with significant force. The aircraft came to a rest approximately 200 meters from the threshold of runway 36. The accident resulted in one serious injury to the pilot and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation was reconstructed based on the pilot's statements and findings by the investigation unit. Because the occurrence took place before the implementation of the 2005 Aircraft Accident Investigation Act, the investigation was concluded as a simplified report, focusing on the sequence of events and the aircraft involved.