What happened
On July 16, 2019, at approximately 14:00 UTC, a Scheibe SF 25 C – Falke motor glider was flying over the Pass Thurn region in the municipality of Mittersill, Austria. The aircraft, operated by a German club, was performing a flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) from Zell am See (LOWZ) toward Neustadt/Aisch (EDQN).
While navigating the mountainous terrain, the aircraft encountered significant downdrafts at an altitude estimated by the pilot to be approximately 80 meters above the ground. The sudden loss of altitude led to a collision with obstacles, causing the aircraft to crash into a forested area. The impact resulted in one serious injury to a passenger, while the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (SUB) conducted an investigation based on statements from the occupants, eyewitness accounts, and data retrieved from the aircraft's FLARM collision warning device. The investigation examined the flight preparation, the aircraft's technical condition, the meteorological environment, and the pilot's flight tactics in the alpine terrain. The SUB also reviewed the engine performance specifications and the impact of the aircraft's loading and center of gravity on its flight characteristics.