Summary
On 2 January 1967, a Piper J3C HB-OXK experienced an accident while landing on runway 20 at Agno-Lugano airfield. The aircraft was substantially damaged; no injuries occurred.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft involved was a Piper J3C, registration HB-OXK, serial number MDC 1038, constructed in 1942/1960. It was owned and operated by Avilu SA, Agno. The aircraft was equipped with a Continental C90-GF 90 hp engine and was in good condition and airworthy. The student pilot, born in 1923, held a learner's permit issued on 18 October 1962, with a total flight experience of 76.54 hours and 709 landings, all on Piper Cub aircraft. The flight instructor, born in 1906, held a private pilot license issued on 3 June 1963, with an extension for training private pilots.
Accident Sequence
On the day of the accident, the student pilot had completed several landings earlier. After a break, the instructor instructed the student to perform two landing tasks: first a precision landing with power from a traffic pattern at 1000 feet, followed by a second precision landing without power and with a left slip from an extended traffic pattern at 2000 feet. The first landing was successful. On the second approach, which initially progressed well, the student pilot executed an unclean landing after emerging from the slip, causing the aircraft to touch down in a crabbed attitude near the left edge of the runway. This resulted in the aircraft veering to the right. The student attempted to correct with left rudder and later full throttle, but the aircraft continued to the right and rolled into a snow wall at the runway's edge. The landing gear was pushed off, and the aircraft slid approximately 10 meters before coming to a stop.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the landing gear, engine cowling, fuselage, propeller, and left wing strut. No ground damage was reported.
Probable Cause
The accident occurred because the student pilot lost control of the rolling aircraft after an unclean landing, causing it to collide with a snow wall.