Summary
On 18 July 2021, at 16:16 UTC, a Mooney M20J, registration D-EMPE, collided with terrain on the north flank of Gloggentürmli, approximately 2 km west of Pizzo Centrale in the Gotthard massif, Switzerland. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) in private operation.
Flight History
The pilot, a German national born in 1961, held a Private Pilot License (PPL(A)) issued by the German Federal Aviation Office under EASA regulations. He had accumulated 491 hours and 50 minutes total flight time, with 393 hours and 56 minutes on the accident aircraft type.
The pilot intended to fly from Donaueschingen-Villingen Airport (EDTD) to Locarno Airport (LSZL) for a weekend trip. After departing at 15:33 UTC, he climbed to 3500 ft AMSL and flew toward the ZUE VOR. Shortly before crossing Lake Zurich, he initiated a climb. He overflew Brunnen at 5700 ft AMSL under a solid cloud deck, then Amsteg at 7000 ft AMSL, and the golf course near Andermatt at 8600 ft AMSL with a ground speed of 160 kt.
Continuing south toward the Gotthard Pass, the pilot turned left into the Guspistal valley at 9200 ft AMSL, following the right side of the valley while climbing toward Pizzo Centrale. After a right turn to the south, the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 9300 ft AMSL. Shortly thereafter, it abruptly entered a strong descent with a sink rate of up to 3000 ft/min, and at 16:16 UTC, it struck the terrain at 8900 ft AMSL, just below the crest of Gloggentürmli.
The aircraft's emergency locator beacon (ELT) activated on impact. The position derived from its signals indicated a location in an adjacent terrain depression, which delayed the recovery of the wreckage by emergency services.
Aircraft Information
The Mooney M20J is a single-engine, four-seat, low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear and a constant-speed propeller. It is powered by a Lycoming IO-360 engine producing 200 hp. The D-EMPE was manufactured in 1990 and had accumulated 1510 flight hours. Its last 100-hour inspection was completed on 11 June 2021 at 1501 hours. At the time of the accident, the aircraft's mass and center of gravity were within permissible limits. Extensive examination of the wreckage found no evidence of technical defects that could have caused or influenced the accident.
The aircraft was equipped for instrument flight and included a Garmin GTN 750 navigation system with moving map, an Aspen EFD 1000 electronic flight instrument system, and a King KAP 150 two-axis autopilot.
Special investigations of cockpit instruments and switches revealed no anomalies. The elevator trim was found at the forward stop, corresponding to a "nose-down" position.
Meteorological Information
A high-pressure system extending from the British Isles to central Europe combined with an upper-level low over Apulia brought northeasterly airflow into the Alpine region. A air mass boundary lay along the Alpine crest. On the northern side of the Alps, northeastern winds carried moist air into the pre-Alps and northern valleys in the first half of the day. Despite some drier air above about 1500 m, cloud cover remained compact on the northern slopes, with a base around 1800 m.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No third-party damage occurred.
Probable Cause
No probable cause was stated in the investigation report. The accident occurred during a VFR flight over the Alpine main ridge under critical weather conditions.