What happened
On July 6, 2002, at approximately 11:37 UTC, a Comco Ikarus C42 ultralight aircraft crashed near Mürzhofen, Austria. The flight originated from Spitzerberg (LOAS) with the intention of landing at St. Donat Mairist (LOKR). At the time of the accident, the aircraft was participating in an aviation event held at an unpaved airfield in Allerheiligen.
As the aircraft approached the event area from the direction of the Semmering, the pilot was instructed by the event's ground radio station to hold position due to existing traffic in the airspace. The pilot subsequently entered a holding pattern. Upon receiving clearance to land on runway 16, the aircraft flew south over the municipality of St. Lorenzen at an altitude of approximately 300 meters.
During the approach, the aircraft was flying at a low airspeed and a high angle of attack. While executing a shallow left turn, the aircraft stalled on the left wing and entered a spiral dive. After approximately two rotations, the aircraft struck a meadow between the Mürz river and the L118 road. The impact resulted in a post-crash fire that consumed the aircraft. There were two fatalities, involving both the pilot and the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation was reconstructed using eyewitness accounts and findings by the investigation authorities. The investigation focused on the flight path, the aircraft's performance during the approach, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident.