Piper 34-200T accident near Graz, At, November 2, 2008
On November 2, 2008 at about 4:33 pm local time, a Piper 34-200T, registered OEFEE, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR missed approach) near Graz (Graz Airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2008 · about 4:33 pm local time
- Place
- Graz, Austria · Graz Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper 34-200T
- Registration
- OEFEE · no longer on the register · serial 34-8133066N
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An Austrian-registered Piper PA-34-220T crashed in a wooded area during a missed approach into the Graz Airport (LOWG), Graz, Austria. The pilot and two passengers on board were killed and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was on an instrument flight rules flight plan from W. A. Mozart Airport, Salzburg, Austria, to LOWG. According to the Austrian Accident Investigation Branch, the airplane had been vectored to the Instrument Landing System approach for runway 35C. The airplane was reported as never established on the approach. When the airplane passed over the decision altitude by 200 feet, air traffic control advised the pilot to go around. When turning inbound to the approach again, the airplane descended and crashed in a wooded area. 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.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (IFR missed approach)
Crew member
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LOWS Salzburg
- Destination: LOWG Graz
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 35C
Weather at the time
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 pm from LOWG
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.