What happened
On July 31, 2022, at approximately 13:17 UTC, a Cessna 177B aircraft crashed into the roof of a single-story house in the municipality of Höfen, Austria. The aircraft was performing a takeoff from runway 04 at the Reutte-Höfen aerodrome.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot initially drifted to the left of the runway before correcting toward the centerline. The takeoff roll lasted significantly longer than the distances specified in the aircraft manual, and the aircraft achieved lift-off very late. Upon rotation, the pilot pulled the aircraft into a steep climb. However, after gaining altitude, the aircraft drifted left again and subsequently lost altitude. Approximately 880 meters from the point of liftoff, the aircraft impacted the roof of a private residence. The impact caused heavy damage to the building, though no fire broke out. The two occupants of the aircraft, the pilot and a passenger, both sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The Austrian SUB investigation reconstructed the flight sequence using witness statements, police reports, and technical data. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's flight preparation, and the aircraft's configuration at the time of the accident. The investigation also analyzed the takeoff performance data and the environmental conditions at the aerodrome.
Findings
- The pilot failed to perform adequate flight preparation prior to the accident.
- The pilot did not adhere to local aerodrome flight procedures.
- The aircraft entered a stall at a low altitude following the initial climb.