What happened
On April 9, 2025, at approximately 13:50, an ultralight aircraft departed from Völtendorf airfield (LOAD) on runway 25. The aircraft was performing a glider tow operation, pulling a glider behind it.
Following takeoff, both aircraft executed a 180-degree right turn. At an altitude of approximately 300 meters above ground level, the glider released from the tow line and completed a safe landing back at the airfield on runway 07.
The towing aircraft subsequently attempted to return to Völtendorf to land on runway 07. During the final approach, the aircraft struck a group of trees approximately 200 meters before the runway threshold and roughly 50 meters south of the runway centerline. The impact was followed by a fire that almost entirely destroyed the wreckage. The pilot was killed in the accident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight path of the towing aircraft and the circumstances surrounding the impact with the trees during the landing phase.