What happened
On May 18, 2020, at approximately 09:45 UTC, a Glasflügel H-206 Hornet glider was engaged in a cross-country flight originating from Aigen im Ennstal (LOXA). The flight began with a winch launch, after which the pilot transitioned to a tow by a Grob G 109 motor glider. After releasing from the tow aircraft at approximately 1,100 meters above ground level, the pilot utilized thermal currents to gain altitude and proceeded on a westward route.
While navigating the area near Rohrmoos, the pilot attempted to utilize ridge lift along the eastern slope of the Hochwurzen mountain. To regain altitude, the pilot executed a turn away from the slope to perform a reversing maneuver, intending to fly north along the ridge. During this maneuver, the glider's left wingtip struck the mountainside. The impact caused the aircraft to strike the terrain with its fuselage, resulting in the glider coming to rest in an inverted position. The aircraft sustained total loss of the airframe, and the pilot sustained severe injuries.
The investigation
The Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Board (SUB) reconstructed the flight sequence using pilot statements, eyewitness accounts, and findings from the Styrian police. The investigation examined the aircraft's flight path, the environmental conditions, and the physical evidence at the crash site. Investigators analyzed the distribution of wreckage and the condition of the cockpit to determine the sequence of the impact. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight preparations and the technical state of the aircraft prior to the accident.