Incident Overview
On April 27, 2000, at approximately 10:15 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 with registration HB-OQP suffered a hard landing on the Otemma Glacier in the Valais region of Switzerland. The aircraft was engaged in a private Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight from Bern to Calvi, Corsica. The pilot, a Swiss national born in 1963, was accompanied by three passengers.
Weather and Flight Phase
The weather conditions were characterized by a southern Föhn situation. Although initial segments of the flight showed no abnormal turbulence and good visibility, the aircraft encountered violent downdrafts while attempting to cross the Alps via the Fenêtre de Durand pass at 10,200 feet. The pilot attempted to regain altitude on the south flank of the Pointe d’Otemma but remained trapped in strong turbulent winds.
Accident Sequence
Unable to maintain control or gain altitude due to the adverse wind conditions, the pilot decided to abort the flight and land on the glacier below. The sky was overcast with diffuse light, making the glacier surface difficult to distinguish. The aircraft struck the snow hard, lost its right wing, rolled over, and came to rest upside down with both wings detached. No fire occurred.
Findings and Cause
The investigation revealed that the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) was not operational because the antenna cable was unplugged and the unit was switched off. The aircraft was loaded near its upper weight limit with the center of gravity at the rear limit of the approved envelope. The final report attributed the accident to the continuation of the flight under adverse wind conditions, noting that the pilot’s decisions indicated a lack of awareness regarding the difficulties associated with flying a lightly powered aircraft in such weather.