What happened
On September 4, 1966, a Champion 7 GCB, registration HB-UAL, was performing a short 14-minute sightseeing flight from Schänis airfield. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and two passengers—an adult and a seven-year-old child—seated side-by-side in the rear cockpit.
During the final approach to runway 35, the aircraft experienced a sudden drop in altitude and began to bank heavily to the right. The aircraft struck a small road located just before the airfield boundary, impacting with the right landing gear and the right wingtip. The aircraft then slid approximately 15 to 20 meters before coming to a halt after rotating 90 degrees to the right. While the occupants escaped without injury, the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the propeller, right landing gear, and right wing.
The investigation
The investigation established that the aircraft was operating at a near-maximum takeoff weight of approximately 747 kg, just below its 750 kg limit. Due to the seating arrangement of the two passengers in the rear, the center of gravity was positioned near the aft limit of the allowable range.
Investigators examined the pilot's experience and the aircraft's condition, finding the aircraft to be airworthy and the pilot well-acquainted with the type. The weather at the time of the accident was clear, cloudless, and nearly windless. The investigation focused on the pilot's decision to attempt a short landing on the uneven runway and his management of airspeed during the final stages of the approach.
Findings
- The pilot attempted to execute a short landing to avoid the uneven terrain of the runway.
- The aircraft was flying too slowly during the final approach, leading to a loss of lift.
- The pilot failed to monitor the airspeed indicator during the final phase of flight, relying instead on physical sensation.
- The pilot may have overlooked longitudinal oscillations that served as warning signs of an impending stall.
- The high payload and the aft-heavy center of gravity likely contributed to the difficulty in maintaining control during the low-speed approach.