Accident Overview
On 6 July 2002, at approximately 11:37 UTC, a Comco Ikarus C42 ultralight aircraft crashed near Mürzhofen in the municipality of St. Lorenzen im Mürztal, Styria, Austria. The aircraft was destroyed by a post-impact fire. Both occupants – the pilot and one passenger – sustained fatal injuries.
Flight History
The ultralight, operated privately, departed from Spitzerberg airfield (LOAS) at about 10:23 UTC with a passenger, destined for St. Donat Mairist (LOKR). At around 11:30 UTC, the aircraft arrived in the area of Allerheiligen, where an aviation event with external landings and takeoffs was taking place. Approaches and landings were being conducted on runways 16 and 18. The pilot was instructed by the ground radio station on frequency 119.00 MHz to hold position due to air traffic, and subsequently flew holding patterns. At approximately 11:37 UTC, the pilot received clearance to perform a landing approach on runway 16. At that time, weak wind from southerly directions prevailed. No acknowledgment from the pilot was received by the ground station.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft was observed north of the Allerheiligen landing and takeoff area, at an altitude of about 300 m above ground level, heading south. It was flying with a high angle of attack and low airspeed when it banked left in a shallow turn, then rolled over the left wing and entered a spiral dive. After about two rotations, the ultralight crashed onto a meadow between the River Mürz and the regional road L118. No activation of the emergency parachute system was observed before impact. Following the ground impact, the aircraft caught fire, becoming fully engulfed in flames.
Aircraft and Occupants
The aircraft was a Comco Ikarus C42 ultralight, registered in Austria. The exact registration is not specified in the report. The pilot and one passenger were on board. According to the investigation table, both occupants sustained fatal injuries.
Damage
The aircraft was destroyed.