What happened
On October 20, 2013, a Cessna 172R departed from Krems-Langenlois (LOAG) for a planned private VFR flight to Tyrol. At the time of departure, the airfield was experiencing dense fog. The pilot, intending to climb through the fog layer, took off from runway 11. Shortly after liftoff, the aircraft entered a steep climb that placed the aircraft in an aerodynamic stall at a very low altitude.
During the climb, a camera attached to the instrument panel fell onto the passenger's lap. As the passenger looked down to retrieve the device, the aircraft struck several trees in a heavily wooded area northeast of the airfield and crashed. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, while the passenger survived with serious injuries. The aircraft was destroyed in the impact.
The investigation
The SUB investigation reconstructed the flight path using radar data, police findings, and witness statements. The investigation examined the weather conditions, the pilot's credentials, and the aircraft's mechanical state. Investigators noted that the pilot had discussed the weather with the airfield manager prior to takeoff, expressing confidence that they could "punch through" the fog.
Technical scrutiny of the aircraft revealed that the fuel injection pump installed was not the one listed in the aircraft's records, and no installation or approval documentation was found. Additionally, investigators were unable to locate the stall warning horn, and it could not be determined if it had been missing prior to the accident. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's instrument rating, finding that the rating had been extended despite incomplete proficiency checks.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the aircraft entering an aerodynamic stall at low altitude during takeoff.
- The flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) being present.
- The pilot's decision-making was influenced by a misjudgment of the weather and potential compliance pressure.
- The passenger's attempt to retrieve a falling camera may have contributed to a lack of situational awareness or pilot distraction.
- The airfield was operating despite weather conditions that should have restricted operations to VFR only.
- Discrepancies were found in the pilot's instrument rating renewal process, where required proficiency points had not been fully verified.