Private Switzerland | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Following an uneventful flight from Bern, the pilot started the descent to Zurich-Kloten Airport in relative good weather conditions (scattered 7,000 feet, visibility 5 km, wind from 340° at 4 knots and OAT 20° C). On short final to runway 14, the single engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent, struck the ground, lost its left wing and came to rest about 500 metres short of runway threshold. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control on short final occurred after the pilot suffered a heart attack.

Final Report:

HB-PIU

Read more about HB-PIU

HB-LLK

Read more about HB-LLK

Crash of a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu on Mt Balmfluechöpfli: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1993 at 1440 LT

Type of aircraft:

Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class)

Operator:

Registration:

HB-PMA

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Cannes - Grenchen

MSN:

46-08132

YOM:

1988

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1181

Captain / Total hours on type:

440.00

Aircraft flight hours:

922

Circumstances:

After passing over the Alps and a layer of stratus over the Plateau, the pilot reached the Willisau VOR where he was cleared to initiate an IFR approach to Grenchen Airport runway 25. He completed a standard turn then followed the 290° radial instead of the published 280° radial. When the DME system indicated 7 NM, the pilot realized he was too far from the normal approach track, disengaged the automatic pilot system and elected to gain altitude. In a flaps down/gear down configuration, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient height and struck, in poor visibility due to thick fog, the wooded slope of Mt Balmfluechöpfli (1,289 metres high) located about 12 km northeast of Grenchen Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and the pilot was killed. The female passenger, slightly injured as she was seating in the seat opposite to the direction of flight, was able to walk away to ask for help.

Probable cause:

The accident was the consequence of the following factors:
- Selection of the radial 290° and engagement thereon instead of the published 280° radial,
- Inappropriate NAV setting,
- Too late and inconsistent throttle reset,
- Difficult IFR approach procedure without radar monitoring of the followed route,
- Too high speed on approach.

Final Report:

Crash of a Partenavia P.68N near Cuneo: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1986

Type of aircraft:

Partenavia P.68

Operator:

Registration:

HB-LGL

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Ascona - Gerona

MSN:

YOM:

1975

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Ascona, Ticino, to Gerona, weather conditions deteriorated. In limited visibility, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Bindino located near Cuneo. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Geneva - Geneva

Read more about Geneva - Geneva

Crash of a Partenavia P.68C in Strasbourg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1983 at 1135 LT

Type of aircraft:

Partenavia P.68

Operator:

Registration:

HB-LNK

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Strasbourg - Paris

MSN:

224

YOM:

1982

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

700

Captain / Total hours on type:

187.00

Aircraft flight hours:

193

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Strasbourg-Entzheim Airport on a private flight to Paris-Le Bourget, carrying one pilot and one passenger. After takeoff from runway 23, while in initial climb, the aircraft crossed the clouds twice then entered a nose-down attitude and crashed one km from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The loss of control seems to be essentially due to the spatial disorientation from which the pilot must have suffered when entering the cloud layer only a few seconds after rotation, disorientation which led him to follow an erratic trajectory both in heading and in altitude. This disorientation can be explained by the pilot's non-qualification for IFR flights and his lack of experience in IMC conditions. The assumption of a malfunction of the autopilot system causing the aircraft to perform inappropriate maneuvers that the pilot would have been unable to counter cannot be ruled out, although the pilot was aware of the dysfunction of this equipment.

Final Report:

Crash of a Dornier DO.28A-1 in Albenga

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1979

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.28A/B

Operator:

Registration:

HB-LCK

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

3056

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon landing at Albenga Airport, the twin engine airplane veered off runway to the right and came to rest in a grassy area. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman in Rio Benito

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

HB-UIL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lomé – Libreville

MSN:

727

YOM:

1944

Location:

Rio Benito

Centro Sur Province (Evinayong)

Country:

Equatorial Guinea

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Lomé to Libreville, the engine failed. The pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing and the airplane crash landed in Rio Benito. The pilot was unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was owned by the Swiss Urs Dätwyler.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the engine failure was caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Spreitenbach: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1945

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth

Operator:

Registration:

HB-EFE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Spreitenbach – Hatfield

MSN:

2062

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Spreitenbach, while climbing to a height of some 50 meters, the single engine went out of control and crashed in a field. A passenger was killed while both other occupants were seriously injured. It appears that the loss of control occurred while the aircraft was towed by another airplane (towing practicing). The aircraft was owned by E. Spahni.