What happened
On November 2, 2023, at approximately 14:20 UTC, a Cirrus SR20 G1 crashed into mountainous terrain in the Lintsching area of St. Andrä im Lungau, Austria. The aircraft was performing a private VFR flight from Zagreb (LDZA) to Salzburg (LOWS).
The flight was part of a multi-leg itinerary that had been rescheduled from the previous day due to weather concerns. After an initial leg from Schärding/Suben to Salzburg, the aircraft was refueled and two additional passengers boarded. The return leg from Zagreb to Salzburg was underway when the aircraft struck the terrain at an altitude of approximately 1,250 m Aert. The impact resulted in four fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The Austrian SUB investigation reconstructed the flight path using eyewitness accounts, radar data, and wreckage analysis. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, weight and balance calculations, and the meteorological conditions present during the flight. The investigation also scrutinized the pilot's flight planning and the operational status of the aircraft's Ballistic Parachute System (BPS).
Findings
- The aircraft was operated outside of its permissible center of gravity limits during both the outbound and inbound legs of the flight.
- The pilot flew a route through challenging weather, characterized by a Föhn wind, an approaching cold front, and increasing precipitation.
- The freezing level was descending from 11,000 ft to 5,000 ft, contributing to deteriorating visibility and flight conditions.
- While the aircraft was equipped with a Ballistic Parachute System, the investigation noted that the rocket motor of the BPS was deactivated at the time of the accident.
- The pilot's flight planning involved navigating through areas with intensifying weather patterns.