What happened
On May 27, 2020, a pilot operating a Discus 2cT motor glider departed from Königsdorf airfield for a cross-country flight. The flight lasted approximately 4 hours and 35 minutes, traveling in a southeasterly direction over several locations including Kufstein, St. Johann in Tirol, and Zell am See, before turning northwest near Gmünd in Kärnten.
While flying near the Ödenkar area at an altitude of approximately 2,336 meters, the pilot attempted to utilize an updraft by performing tight turns. During the first full circle, the aircraft encountered a tailwind, which caused the glider to lose altitude. In an attempt to maintain height and avoid the rising terrain, the pilot executed a tighter turn and pulled back on the control stick. This maneuver resulted in a stall at a very low altitude of approximately 116 meters above ground level. The aircraft subsequently struck the rocky terrain near Zederhaus, resulting in the death of the one person on board and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (SUB) examined the wreckage and reconstructed the flight path using eyewitness accounts and data from a PowerFLARM device. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was properly registered in Germany and that all maintenance and airworthiness documentation were up to date. The investigation also found that the pilot held valid licenses and medical certification, and that the aircraft's center of gravity was within permissible limits. No mechanical failures or pre-existing technical defects were identified in the aircraft or its engine system, which was found in the stowed position at the time of impact.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a stall occurring in conjunction with low altitude.
- The pilot's attempt to maintain altitude through a steep, tight turn at low height led to the loss of lift.
- The aircraft was flying in a glider configuration with the engine and propeller retracted.
- No flight plan had been filed with air traffic services for this flight.
- Weather conditions at the time of the accident were suitable for Visual Flight Rules (VFR).