What happened
On July 31, 2001, at approximately 13:15 UTC, a PW 5 glider was conducting a cross-country flight, having departed from the Nötsch airfield in the Gailtal region. The pilot was performing thermalling maneuvers at a low altitude along a slope, approximately 200 meters below the Jukbichl peak.
During a turning maneuver initiated by the pilot, the right wing of the aircraft made contact with a tree. This impact caused the glider to lose control and crash onto a forest road. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident, and the aircraft was a total loss.
The investigation
The investigation was reconstructed using eyewitness accounts and findings from the investigation unit and local authorities. The investigation focused on the flight sequence and the physical evidence at the crash site. The aircraft was found to be properly registered and maintained. Examination of the wreckage and witness statements provided no evidence of any pre-existing technical malfunctions or mechanical failures.