What happened
On December 23, 2000, a Piper PA-28 (registration I-SUVE) departed from Aosta's Corrado Gex airport, bound for Bresso. While the outbound flight was routine, the return leg deviated from the original flight plan. The pilot elected to follow a different route toward the Matterhorn area without prior planning.
While navigating the valley at an altitude of approximately 3,000 meters, the aircraft encountered the Haut Glacier de Tsa de Tsan at the foot of the Dents des Bouquetins mountains. As the aircraft approached the glacier, a passenger—who was also a pilot—attempted to take control to perform a left turn to avoid the terrain. This maneuver caused the aircraft to stall and impact the glacier. While the three occupants survived the initial impact, two individuals died after slipping into a ravine while attempting to trek to safety.
The investigation
The ANSV examined the wreckage, which was recovered by helicopter, and conducted a thorough inspection of the engine. The investigation confirmed that the engine was fully functional and operating at maximum power at the time of the accident. The aircraft's maintenance records showed it was airworthy and up to date.
Investigators also reviewed the flight planning documents found in the cockpit, which revealed that the route flown during the return leg had not been planned. Because the aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder, investigators relied on statements from the surviving passenger to reconstruct the flight sequence.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an aerodynamic stall resulting from an abrupt left-hand escape maneuver performed at the aircraft's performance limits.
- The pilot had limited general and type-specific flight experience, as well as a lack of specialized mountain flying training.
- The flight was flown at extremely low altitudes in complex terrain without a pre-established flight plan.
- The aircraft lacked essential survival equipment, including mountain survival kits and an emergency locator transmitter (ELT).
- The decision to abandon the aircraft was driven by the pilot's inability to communicate via radio, the lack of cellular service, and the fear of exposure to high-altitude temperatures without adequate gear.