What happened
On August 22, 2020, at approximately 16:09 UTC, a Cessna 182R engaged in a hail suppression mission (cloud seeding) crashed in the vicinity of Hochgößnitz, Austria. The aircraft, operated by Registrierte Genossenschaft mbH, had departed from Graz Airport (LOWG) at 15:47 UTC for a flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in Sector 36. The crew, consisting of a pilot in command and a trainee pilot, was utilizing a generator to disperse silver iodide into the clouds.
While operating in the valley of the Frei-Gößneticbach, the aircraft entered a left-hand loop between flight levels FL37 and FL40. During this maneuver, the aircraft descended to approximately 150 meters above ground level. The pilot attempted an emergency landing on the northeastern side of the valley toward Edelschrott; however, the aircraft struck the upward slope of the terrain. The impact caused the aircraft to overturn, leaving it resting on its back.
The investigation
The Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (SUB) reconstructed the flight path using crew statements, eyewitness accounts, and video footage captured by a bystander. The investigation examined the aircraft's technical condition, including the silver iodide dispersal system, the weight and balance, and the maintenance records. Investigators also analyzed the meteorological conditions, specifically the presence of a thunderstorm cell on the western edge of the flight path, and reviewed radar and radio communications from the Graz tower.