Aircraft crash in Triengen following mid-air component detachment

No fatalities • Triengen, Switzerland • Flight

A single-engine aircraft crashed into a residence in Triengen after the left ailerons detached during a skydiving flight.

What happened

A local skydiving operation departed from Triengen Aerodrome in a single engine airplane carrying nine people, including one pilot and eight passengers. The flight was intended for local jumps. During the mission, at an altitude of approximately 3,000 meters, seven skydivers successfully exited the aircraft. Shortly after these jumps, the left ailerons became detached from the airframe.

Following the loss of control, the aircraft entered a steep dive. The pilot and the one remaining passenger managed to abandon the plane before impact. The aircraft subsequently struck a house within the village of Triengen. The collision resulted in the total destruction of both the aircraft and the residential structure. Despite the severity of the crash, there were no injuries and no fatalities reported among the occupants or those on the ground.

Findings

Investigations into the incident identified that the left ailerons detached while in flight. The primary factor was the failure of the aileron control cable. This cable had sustained prior damage, though the specific circumstances leading to that initial damage could not be determined by investigators.

Probable cause

The detachment of the left ailerons was caused by the failure of a previously damaged control cable.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1982-10-03 Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) accident near Triengen, Switzerland?

A single-engine aircraft crashed into a residence in Triengen after the left ailerons detached during a skydiving flight.

Were there any fatalities in the 1982-10-03 Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter) accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1982-10-03 involved a Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter), registration HB-FAF, operated by Para-Sport-Club Triegen, at Triengen, Switzerland.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The detachment of the left ailerons was caused by the failure of a previously damaged control cable.

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