What happened
On June 25, 1968, a student pilot was conducting training maneuvers at the Spreitenbach airfield. Following an initial successful landing and two engine-out practice approaches performed with an instructor, the student proceeded to conduct a solo flight to continue practicing engine-out landings.
Prior to this solo attempt, the instructor had critiqued the student's previous approach for being too high, specifically noting that the aircraft had been maintained at an altitude of 8 to 10 meters above the ground for approximately 150 meters. The instructor instructed the student to fly a lower approach for the subsequent maneuver.
During the second solo attempt, the student's attempt to fly lower resulted in an excessively low flight path. Before even reaching the base leg, the aircraft was flying so low that it barely cleared a high-voltage power line located approximately 250 meters before the runway threshold. The pilot maintained a height of only 1 to 2 meters above the ground for roughly 180 meters. During this phase, the landing gear became partially obscured by a cornfield adjacent to the airfield. The aircraft eventually made contact with the ground near the edge of a stream, approximately 20 meters past the runway threshold, before coming to a stop.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's training records, the airworthiness of the aircraft, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The student pilot had completed 18 hours of flight training and 168 landings, with the accident occurring during a period of solo flight training. The Piper J3C, registration HB-OEN, was found to be in an airworthy condition with all weight and balance parameters within limits. Weather conditions were reported as clear with light clouds and a weak easterly wind, with no solar glare or meteorological factors contributing to the event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the student pilot flying too low during an engine-out approach maneuver.
- The pilot's attempt to correct a previously noted high approach led to an excessive reduction in altitude.
- The student's flight experience level was insufficient to manage such a low-altitude approach safely.
- There were no mechanical failures, weather-related issues, or visibility problems contributing to the incident.