What happened
On May 31, 2025, at approximately 09:54 UTC, a Pro Fe Duo Banjo ultralight aircraft departed from České Budějovice (LKCS) in the Czech Republic, heading toward Austria. During the flight, the pilot performed several circling maneuvers intended to utilize thermal updrafts to gain altitude.
After crossing the national border near Lauterbach, the flight continued toward Schrems and then toward Amaliendorf. In the Amaliendorf area, the pilot again engaged in circling maneuvers to increase altitude. The flight path then proceeded toward Langegg, where further circling maneuvers were executed. Following these maneuvers, the aircraft entered a glide at an altitude of approximately 2,200 meters above sea level, traveling on a heading of roughly 270° toward the Czech border.
While flying over Steinbach, the left wing separated from the aircraft. This structural failure caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable, leading to a crash onto a road within the Steinbach municipal area. Debris from the impact was found scattered along the flight path over a distance of several hundred meters. The total flight duration at the time of the accident was approximately two and a half hours. The pilot was killed in the crash.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of structural integrity and the subsequent impact in Steinbach.