What happened
On August 30, 2017, at approximately 06:36 UTC, a student pilot was performing solo training maneuvers at the Stockerau airfield (LOAU) in Austria. The pilot was executing the seventh of ten planned solo circuits using a shortened pattern known as the "Falkenrunde."
During the landing on runway 07, the SF 25 C Falke made a hard touchdown during the flare phase. This impact caused the aircraft to unintentionally lift off the runway again. Following this unintended takeoff, the aircraft entered a stalled flight condition, banking sharply to the left and performing a near-complete turn. The aircraft drifted away from the airfield toward a nearby field.
The aircraft eventually impacted the ground in a cultivated field north of the runway. During the impact, the engine cowling struck the earth, and the propeller blades were destroyed. The aircraft's left wingtip also struck the ground, causing the aircraft to skid and eventually come to rest on its right wingtip. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The Austrian SUB investigation reconstructed the flight sequence using eyewitness accounts from the flight instructor and the student pilot. The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, which were found to be in order, and verified that all control surfaces and flaps were fully functional. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions, noting southeast winds with gusts up to 5 m/s, and analyzed the flight training structure, specifically the use of the short-duration training circuit.