What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2012-06-21 involved a Cessna F150L, at im Gemeindegebiet Straßwalchen, Salzburg, AT.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by a flap system malfunction triggered by the use of an incorrect fuse type, which prevented flap retraction during a go-around and led to an unrecoverable stall at low altitude.

Fatal Crash During Flight Training Simulation in Austria

A Cessna F150L crashed in Straßwalchen, killing both occupants after a mechanical failure prevented the flaps from retracting during a simulated emergency landing maneuver.

What happened

On June 21, 2012, a Cessna F150L was conducting a flight training mission intended to evaluate a student pilot for a private pilot license. The flight, which included a flight examiner and a student, began at Salzburg Airport and included a stop at Gmunden-Laakirchen. During the return leg, the crew performed several low-altitude flyovers of an unpaved field near Straßwalchen to simulate emergency landing scenarios.

During the third go-around maneuver, the aircraft struggled to gain altitude. After passing over a high-voltage power line, the aircraft banked sharply to the left and impacted a meadow. The impact resulted in two fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.

The investigation

The Austrian Safety Investigation Board (SUB) examined the aircraft's maintenance history, the electrical systems, and the flight sequence. The investigation focused on the aircraft's performance during the go-around and the configuration of the flaps. Investigators reviewed the maintenance logs, which indicated that while certain 200-hour inspections had been performed, the investigation uncovered issues regarding the electrical flap system and the use of incorrect components.

Findings

The primary cause of the accident was a malfunction in the flap system that occurred during the go-around.
An incorrect type of fuse had been installed in the flap electrical circuit, which led to a blown fuse when the system was operated.
Because the fuse had blown, the fully extended flaps could not be retracted, significantly reducing the aircraft's climb performance.
The aircraft entered an asymmetric, stalled flight condition to the left due to the loss of airspeed in the landing configuration.
The altitude at which the loss of control occurred was too low to allow for recovery before impacting the ground.

Safety action

The SUB recommended the use of circuit breakers instead of fuses in electrical systems where a failure could necessitate an emergency landing.
Recommendations were made to ensure that appropriate spare fuses are always available in the aircraft.
The investigation suggested implementing measures to prevent the accidental use of incorrect fuses during maintenance.
The SUB also recommended that flight training organizations provide specific guidance on the preparation and execution of simulated emergency landings to ensure that minimum safe altitudes are maintained during training maneuvers.