An investigation into the crash of a small plane that killed three young people in the Beltinci area in the northeast of the country in November 2024 has found that the pilot lost control of the aircraft after flying into heavy fog.
The final report, issued by the Infrastructure Ministry’s aviation, maritime, and railway accident and incident investigation service, reveals a fatal combination of bad weather and a relatively inexperienced pilot exceeding his capabilities.
The investigators have pointed out that the purpose of the final report is not to assign blame or determine liability, but rather to improve flight safety and prevent similar accidents in the future.
The report finds the 33-year-old pilot, who lacked the practical experience required for instrument flying, encountered severe conditions, with temperatures below freezing and horizontal visibility reduced to just 300 metres.
Having likely lost all visual contact with the ground due to low clouds and thick fog, the pilot attempted a 180-degree turn. However, executing a right-hand turn at a low altitude without any external visual references led to spatial disorientation. The Cessna 172 rapidly lost altitude, dropping roughly 100 metres in just 22 seconds before crashing into the ground near the village of Gančani.
Chief aviation investigator Toni Stojčevski noted in the report that the pilot had a total of 93.5 flight hours, with less than 16 hours on the specific aircraft involved. Investigators confirmed there were no technical faults with the plane’s engine or equipment.
Apart from the 33-year pilot, his two passengers, allegedly a couple in their 30s, were killed in the accident on 17 November. The aircraft had taken off from Maribor airport in sunny weather before flying directly into the dense fog covering the Prekmurje region.
According to the report, the panoramic flight was intended as a birthday present, presented to one of the passengers in the form of a voucher. The pilot, who had been an acquaintance of the passenger, had previously postponed the flight twice: once in October 2024 due to unfavourable weather conditions, and again in early November due to technical issues.
