What happened
On March 30, 2024, at approximately 10:47 UTC, a Reims-Cessna FR172F crashed into terrain in the Stubai Alps, near Längenfeld, Austria. The aircraft was performing a private VFR flight from Rom – Urbe, Italy, to Bad Wörishofen, Germany.
After approximately two and a half hours of flight, the aircraft reached the Italian Alps and climbed to over 12,000 ft MSL. As the pilot crossed into Austrian airspace, the aircraft encountered deteriorating weather conditions. While communicating with Innsbruck Radar, the pilot reported being near Hochgurgl and noted the presence of strong turbulence. Shortly after this transmission, the aircraft turned northwest and began a descent. Witnesses observed the aircraft flying in extremely heavy turbulence. The aircraft subsequently struck a slope in the Schrankar area at an altitude of approximately 2,670 m (8,760 ft). The pilot sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.
The investigation
The Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (SUB) reconstructed the flight path using eyewitness accounts, investigations by the Tyrolean State Criminal Police, and radar data. The investigation examined the pilot's flight preparation, the aircraft's maintenance status, and the meteorological conditions present along the flight route. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's wreckage, including the state of the cockpit, instruments, and the distribution of debris at the impact site.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered a weather system characterized by strong turbulence, heavy headwinds, and a significant risk of icing.
- Visibility was reduced to approximately 2–3 km in the area of the accident.
- Wind speeds in the vicinity of the Stubai Glacier were recorded at over 55 knots from the south-southwest.
- The pilot entered a narrow, rising cirque (Kar) at a low altitude.
- The pilot made the decision to continue the flight into the deteriorating weather instead of diverting to a suitable alternative airport.