What happened
On May 28, 2021, at approximately 11:48 local time, a Mooney M20J, registration HB-DFN, arrived at Locarno Airport (LSZL) following a flight from Birrfeld Aerodrome (LSZF). The aircraft was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for private purposes with one pilot on board. During the landing sequence, the aircraft touched down on a runway that was currently closed due to ongoing maintenance activities.
The investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SUST) initiated an inquiry into the incident to determine how the aircraft entered a closed area of the airfield. The preliminary investigation focused on the flight path and the status of the runway at the time of the landing.