What happened
On November 25, 2023, at approximately 09:49 UTC, a Rockwell Commander 112B crashed in the Kasberg ski area near Grünau im Almtal, Austria. The aircraft, operated from Príbram Airport in the Czech Republic, was conducting a VFR flight toward Pula, Croatia, carrying a pilot and three passengers.
Radar and ADS-B data indicate that the aircraft entered Austrian airspace at approximately 09:27 UTC. After receiving clearance to climb to FL100, the aircraft began an uncontrolled deviation from its assigned altitude at 09:47 UTC. The aircraft experienced a rapid descent of up to 3,750 feet per minute, accompanied by a loss of external visibility and a right-hand turn. Although the pilot briefly stabilized the flight at 09:48 UTC, the aircraft subsequently entered a steep left-hand descending turn with a maximum sink rate of 13,500 feet per minute. At 09:48:46 UTC, the aircraft struck the snow-covered ground on an easterly heading, resulting in the complete destruction of the airframe.
The investigation
The investigation by the SUB reconstructed the flight path using eyewitness accounts, radar records, and ADS-B data. Investigators examined the wreckage, which was found in a large debris field in the 'Eisgrube – Ochsenboden' area. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight preparation, the aircraft's maintenance history, and the meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The search and rescue operation, which was hampered by heavy snowfall and wind, eventually located the occupants in the wreckage at 15:45 UTC.
Findings
- The accident resulted in four fatalities (the pilot and three passengers).
- The aircraft sustained total destruction upon impact.
- The aircraft experienced an unexpected, externally induced loss of altitude and a subsequent loss of visual reference.
- The aircraft entered a high-rate descent and a steep spiral, leading to the collision with terrain.