On June 7, 2025, a Glasflügel Standard Libelle was involved in an aviation accident near Krottendorferstraße, Gemeinde Hafendorf, Steiermark, AT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Collision of a controllable, airworthy aircraft with an obstacle (trees) – Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), partially extended position of the airbrakes during the entire flight. This summary draws on records from the Austrian Federal Safety Investigation Authority (SUB).
On 7 June 2025, a single-seat glider crashed into a wooded riverbank near Kapfenberg Airport during landing approach. The pilot was seriously injured. The accident was attributed to controlled flight into terrain with partially extended airbrakes.
Incident
On 7 June 2025 at approximately 09:55 local time, a pilot was operating a single-seat glider on a private flight under visual flight rules within the airport traffic pattern. During the landing approach from the west to Kapfenberg Airport (LOGK), the glider experienced a significant loss of altitude. It subsequently crashed into the wooded bank of the Mürz River about 314 meters before the threshold of runway 07.
Injuries
The pilot sustained serious injuries in the collision.
Probable Cause
The accident was caused by a collision of a controllable, airworthy aircraft with an obstacle (trees) – classified as Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT). Contributing factors included the partially extended position of the airbrakes during the entire flight.