What happened
On July 4, 2018, at approximately 08:10 UTC, a Cessna 172 S departed from runway 31L at Vöslau Aerodrome (LOAV) for a private flight toward Wels (LOLW). The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger.
Immediately following takeoff, the aircraft entered an increasingly steep climb. This maneuver led to an aerodynamic stall, causing the aircraft to roll over the right wing. The aircraft then impacted the grass area adjacent to the right side of runway 31L at an almost vertical angle. The force of the impact, combined with the engine's high power setting, caused the propeller crankshaft to break. The aircraft's momentum caused it to pivot around the outer end of the right wing before coming to rest. The impact resulted in two fatalities, as both the pilot and the passenger died at the scene. The aircraft sustained total destruction.
The investigation
The Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (SUB) reconstructed the flight sequence using eyewitness accounts, law enforcement reports, and technical examinations of the wreckage. The investigation focused on the flight path, the mechanical state of the aircraft, and the cockpit environment. Investigators examined the aircraft's trim system, specifically the Garmin G 1000 avionics, and analyzed the impact dynamics, including the failure of the crankshaft due to the sudden deceleration while under high power.