What happened
On July 12, 2013, at approximately 10:43 UTC, a Schleicher ASW 24E glider crashed on the southern side of the Dobratsch mountain in the "Roten Wand" area of Carinthia, Austria. The flight began at Nötsch airfield in the Gailtal valley, where the pilot performed a winch launch to an altitude of 1,322 meters. Following release, the pilot engaged in thermal soaring for approximately 15 minutes.
During the flight, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control, banking sharply over the left wing. An eyewitness observed the glider entering a series of rolls. The aircraft subsequently struck the forested slope at a steep angle at an altitude of approximately 1,020 meters. The impact resulted in one fatality and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The Austrian Safety Investigation Board (SUB) reconstructed the flight sequence using data from an onboard GPS flight data logger and eyewitness testimony. The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the pilot's qualifications, and the physical wreckage.
Investigators analyzed the wreckage to determine if any mechanical failures contributed to the accident. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's engine was in the retracted position, consistent with glider operations, and that all flight control surfaces—including the ailerons, elevators, and rudder—were intact and functional prior to the impact. The aircraft's weight and center of gravity were also found to be within permissible limits.
Findings
- The investigation found no evidence of pre-existing technical defects or mechanical failures that could have caused the accident.
- The pilot was fully qualified with valid medical certification and appropriate flight authorizations.
- The aircraft was properly maintained and airworthy at the time of the accident.
- The primary cause of the accident was the aircraft reaching a critical angle of attack, leading to a loss of minimum flying speed.
- This loss of airspeed was likely triggered by the influence of thermal air currents or sudden turbulence, which caused the aircraft to enter an uncontrolled flight state.
- The low altitude above the terrain prevented the pilot from recovering the aircraft from the resulting spin/roll.