What happened
On September 11, 2005, at approximately 15:13 UTC, an Apollo Racer GT ultralight trike crashed into a cornfield near St. Johann, Styria, resulting in one fatality.
The aircraft was participating in a flight demonstration organized by a local sports flying club. The pilot, who was also a flight instructor and examiner, had intended to conduct a periodic inspection of the aircraft. Following a visual inspection of the aircraft on the ground, the pilot proceeded with a short test flight.
During the flight, the pilot performed a series of maneuvers involving rapid descents followed by high-power climbs to test the aircraft's limits. After the second maneuver, which involved climbing until the aircraft reached a stall, the Apollo Racer GT suddenly banked sideways and entered a steep spiral.
As the aircraft entered the spiral, the pilot attempted to deploy the emergency parachute system. However, during the deployment, the wing structure separated from the trike fuselage along with the parachute. Consequently, the parachute was unable to slow the descent of the fuselage, and the aircraft struck the ground with high impact. Despite immediate first aid provided by a physician on-site, the pilot succumbed to their injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of flight maneuvers, the structural integrity of the aircraft during high-load maneuvers, and the deployment of the emergency recovery system. Investigators reviewed witness statements from the flight demonstration and analyzed the mechanical failure that led to the separation of the wing from the trike unit.