Synopsis
On 5 June 1976, a Piper PA-28-140 "Cherokee Cruiser" registered as HB-OQD crashed near the Col de l'Occiput, approximately 1,900 meters altitude, close to La Chapelle-en-Bard in the Isère department of France. The aircraft, owned and operated by the Aéroclub de Suisse – Section Montagne, was on a private VFR flight from La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, to Perpignan, France. The pilot and two passengers were killed, and the aircraft was totally destroyed by impact and subsequent fire.
Flight Details
The pilot had planned a morning departure but delayed due to unfavorable weather. He contacted the Geneva Cointrin meteorological briefing twice: once around 08:00–09:00 local time and again around 12:00 local, learning that forecasts were good between Geneva and Perpignan except for more difficult conditions east of Marseille. The aircraft departed Eplatures aerodrome at 12:20 UTC. The pilot contacted Geneva Information at 12:41 UTC and reported a route via Lake Bourget, Montélimar, and Montpellier. At 13:12:32 UTC, he reported "Lac d'Annecy." This was the last communication; the aircraft then switched to Marseille Information on 124.5 MHz but was never heard or recorded by French ATC.
Aircraft and Crew
The Piper PA-28-140 (serial 28-7426012) had a Lycoming O-320 engine and a Sensenich propeller. It was certified, maintained, and operated per regulations, with a weight and balance within limits. The pilot, a 40-year-old Swiss citizen, held a private pilot license issued 26 August 1974 with qualifications for flap-equipped aircraft and restricted radiotelephony. He had 77 hours 46 minutes total flight time, 60 hours on type, and only 1 hour in the preceding two months. The passengers were his wife (43) and daughter (15).
Meteorological Conditions
No meteorological service was available at Eplatures. The pilot obtained weather information from Geneva Cointrin. The synoptic situation featured a stratocumulus layer covering most areas. The 12:00–21:00 forecast for Geneva to Perpignan was good: 4/8 to 5/8 cumulus/stratocumulus, visibility over 10 km. However, a witness—a ski instructor near the crash site—reported fog from about 1,800 meters up to the crest at 2,096 meters, with visibility between 10 and 200 meters. Wind was moderate from the north. The witness heard an aircraft overhead and then the impact. No mention of significant weather was made by the pilot during radio communications.
Wreckage and Investigation
The wreckage was found 40 meters below a rocky ridge starting from the col. The aircraft had struck a rock face in a direct impact and caught fire. The pilot's wristwatch stopped, indicating 13:40 UTC, consistent with impact time around 13:34–13:40 UTC given a reconstructed flight time from Lac d'Annecy. The aircraft had no flight recorders; investigation relied on witness testimony and wreckage analysis.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined the probable cause as follows: The pilot continued flight below the minimum weather safety requirements for VFR flight, entering conditions of clouds, fog, and reduced visibility that were incompatible with visual flight, resulting in controlled flight into terrain.