What happened
On June 12, 2015, at approximately 08:23, a single-seat glider departed from Nötsch Airfield (LOKN) via aero-tow for a cross-country flight heading south. During the flight, the pilot encountered deteriorating weather conditions in the vicinity of Spittal an der Drau.
As the aircraft lost altitude due to these conditions, the pilot decided to perform an off-field landing south of Rothenthurn at approximately 13:35. During the approach, the glider was struck by a wind gust, causing the left wing to contact the ground. The impact resulted in significant damage to the aircraft. The pilot sustained serious injuries and was subsequently transported to a hospital in Spittal an der Drau.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the wing strike and the impact of meteorological conditions on the flight path and landing decision.