Incident Overview
On 4 March 2025 at approximately 12:30 UTC, a Grumman American AA-5B (manufacturer True Flight Holdings LLC) crashed during the final approach to runway 07 at Zell am See Airport (LOWZ) in Zell am See, Austria. The aircraft, registered in Luxembourg and operated by a private individual, was destroyed upon impact. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries.
Flight Details
The flight was a private cross-country trip conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) from Banja Luka Airport (LQBK) in Bosnia and Herzegovina to Luxembourg Airport (ELLX). The pilot planned an intermediate stop at Zell am See to refuel. While on final approach to runway 07, the aircraft descended into an adjacent field short of the runway and came to rest at coordinates N 47° 17.473333 E 012° 47.032833, at an elevation of 754 meters MSL.
Aircraft and Pilot
The aircraft was a Grumman American AA-5B, a four-seat motor aircraft. The owner and operator was a private individual. No information about the pilot's license or experience is provided in the source. The aircraft's maintenance records and weight and balance were examined but no anomalies were reported. No pre-existing technical malfunctions were identified.
Accident Site and Investigation
The wreckage was distributed in a field adjacent to the airport. The cockpit instruments and propeller were examined. The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was activated. No fire occurred. The Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (Sicherheitsuntersuchungsstelle des Bundes – Bereich Zivilluftfahrt) initiated an investigation in accordance with EU Regulation 996/2010. The United States (as the state of manufacture) and Luxembourg (as the state of registration and operator) were notified. No other states were involved. The investigation focused on the flight operations, aircraft condition, and weather conditions. The probable cause was not stated in the available source material.