PIPER PA46 — Baden

What happened

A U. S. registered Piper PA-46T crashed in a wooded area during a visual approach into the Voslau Aerodrome (LOAV), Baden, Austria. The pilot and passenger on board were killed and the airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot had cancelled his Intrument Flight Rules clearance prior to entering the pattern at LOAV. The airplane was on an instrument flight rules flight plan from Shoreham-by-Sea Airport, Sussex, England, United Kingdom, to LOAV.

According to the Austrian Accident Investigation Branch, the pilot cancelled his IFR clearance and descended on to a downwind leg for runway 31. LOAV advised the pilot they were landing runway 13. The pilot made a left turn inbound toward LOAV in an area of high terrain west of the airport (elevation 2,880 feet msl). The airplane was at 2,600 feet msl. LOAV advised the pilot to avoid this area as the pilot reported his position as 5 miles east of LOAV. During a right turn from downwind to final for runway 13, the airplane collided with the terrain.

This investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Austrian government. Any further information may be obtained from:

Federal Office of Transport

Accident investigation Branch, Department Aviation

Postfach 207, 1000 Wien

Lohnergasse 9, 1210 Wien

Austria

This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by, or obtained from, the AIB of Austria.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.