Accident Overview
On 18 July 2019, at approximately 15:12 UTC, a Cirrus SR22 (German-registered) crashed in the Wettersteingebirge mountain range, about 2.5 nautical miles north of Leutasch, Austria. The aircraft was on a private flight under visual flight rules (VFR) from Brescia-Montichiari Airport (LIPO) to Schwäbisch Hall Airport (EDTY). The aircraft stalled and collided with terrain at an elevation of 2288 meters (7507 feet). A post-impact fire destroyed the wreckage almost completely.
Flight and Impact
The flight originated from Brescia-Montichiari and was destined for Schwäbisch Hall. The accident site was located at coordinates 47°24'12.11"N, 011°08'06.37"E. According to the report by the Austrian Safety Investigation Board (Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilität, Innovation und Technologie – Bereich Zivilluftfahrt), the aircraft entered an aerodynamic stall before hitting the ground. The pilot and two passengers were killed on impact.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Cirrus SR22 G3 (model year not specified), owned and operated by a German citizen. The pilot was a German national; no information on pilot qualifications or experience was provided in the source. The aircraft was operated under private VFR rules.
Investigation
The accident was investigated by the Austrian safety investigation authority. The investigation included analysis of flight data recorders, wreckage examination, and weather conditions. The probable cause of the accident was not explicitly stated in the provided source excerpts. The investigation noted that the aircraft was destroyed by fire after the collision, and no evidence of pre-impact fire or in-flight breakup was found.