What happened
On a recent evening, an aircraft owned by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) was operating out of Sion Airport for a series of local training missions. Following the completion of several scheduled maneuvers, a trainee pilot and an FOCA inspector initiated a final local flight. The single-engine aircraft departed from the airfield at 19:35 local time.
After performing a series of touch-and-go landings, the crew departed from runway 26 for another circuit. During the initial climb phase, the aircraft's engine ceased functioning. In an attempt to manage the emergency, the crew directed the plane toward an open field. However, during the descent, the aircraft struck a car traveling on a nearby street before ultimately crashing into the ground.
Findings
The accident resulted in two minor injuries to the flight crew, while one occupant of the vehicle sustained serious injuries. Both the aircraft and the automobile were completely destroyed during the impact.