2023-05-22 13:18:45
Chronicle
At the regional court in Klagenfurt on Monday, in the multi-million dollar civil lawsuit following the fatal cable car accident on the Goldeck, the mountain railways’ lawsuit was dismissed. An expert said the army’s Hercules machine might not have caused the accident. This opinion was the basis for the dismissal of the lawsuit.
The Hercules aircraft that was observed near the cable car on the day of the accident four years ago cannot have caused the rope to vibrate, which was fatal to the then 49-year-old employee in the middle station. This is shown by the report by the internationally recognized expert Stefan Levedag. He is director of the German Aerospace Center. From his point of view, it is physically completely impossible that the vortices of a transport machine might have caused the accident. The forces that trigger the vortices of the aircraft are minimal. According to his calculations, the vortices would act on the rope, which weighs several tons, with a force of 80 grams. Even if the machine had flown a maneuver, it would not be possible.
If touched, aircraft would have been severely damaged
The plaintiff, i.e. the representatives of the Goldeck mountain railways, still take the view that the Hercules machine led to the accident. They want to know if it is conceivable that the plane touched the rope. “It’s absolutely surreal for me,” says the expert. Theoretically, it would be conceivable for a pilot to fly so low – the rope is at a height of around 100 meters. If the machine had touched the rope, it would probably have snapped and the aircraft would have been severely damaged.
Seismological activity may have played a role
In the analysis of what might have triggered the accident, another cause came up on Monday morning in the courtroom: seismological data that had been dug up would indicate activity at the time of the accident. This question was discussed in the followingnoon.
Judge Sarah Maria Ritzmayer then announced that the cable car company’s lawsuit would be dismissed. The public prosecutor’s office in Klagenfurt stopped their criminal investigation into the accident in 2021.
Mountain railways face costs of 135,000 euros
The mountain railways have lodged an appeal once morest the rejection. The file thus goes to the Graz Higher Regional Court (OLG). The Higher Regional Court will decide in the next instance. Should the judgment become final, the mountain railways would have to bear 135,000 euros in court costs.
1684764575
#Goldeck #cable #car #accident #lawsuit #dismissed #kaernten.ORF.at
