What happened
On October 20, 2024, at approximately 12:13 UTC, a pilot was conducting a cross-country flight in an Alexander Schleicher ASW 27–18E (ASG 29 Es) motor glider. The flight began with a tow from Wiener Neustadt West Airfield, which lifted the aircraft to an altitude of approximately 1,250 meters MSL near the Hohen Wand mountains.
Following release from the tow cable, the pilot utilized the aircraft's retractable engine to assist in climbing. The flight path proceeded westward along the rocky ridges, specifically targeting thermals near the Bodenwiese area. During the flight, the pilot performed several figure-eight maneuvers along the cliff faces to exploit rising air currents.
As the pilot approached the Saurüssel area, the aircraft was configured in the "L" (landing) flap position. While performing a figure-eight maneuver approximately 70 meters above the cliff edge, the aircraft encountered strong downdrafts. This sudden loss of lift caused the glider to bank uncontrollably to the left and enter a stall. The pilot was unable to recover the flight attitude, and the aircraft struck the ground, resulting in one fatality.