Facts
On 22 January 2020, at 20:03 local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registration HB-PMH, crashed into a steep forested area at Les Corbassires, near Les Pléiades, about 3 km south of Châtel-St-Denis, in the municipality of Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, canton of Vaud, Switzerland. The flight was a private visual flight rules (VFR) night flight. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants—the pilot and a passenger—sustained fatal injuries in the impact. No fire ensued. The emergency locator transmitter activated and assisted search and rescue operations.
Flight History
The pilot, a Swiss citizen born in 1955, held a Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)) issued by the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation. He had a total of 713 hours 20 minutes of flight experience, including 337 hours 21 minutes on type. The passenger also held a private pilot licence with night VFR qualification. Both were familiar with the planned route, which included waypoints ESEVA, NEMOS, Yverdon (LSGY), VEROX, Lausanne (LSGL), SOSAL, Gruyère (LSGT), and the Fribourg beacon (FRI). The pilot had filed a night VFR flight plan from Ecuvillens aerodrome (LSGE) to Ecuvillens.
The flight departed Ecuvillens at 19:33. After takeoff, the pilot flew northwest towards ESEVA and then NEMOS. As the aircraft entered the Payerne control zone, the pilot requested clearance but was refused and instructed to turn left immediately. The pilot left the Payerne frequency but did not contact Geneva Flight Information Centre. Subsequently, the aircraft continued to Yverdon (overflown at 19:50 at 6000 ft AMSL), then to Lausanne (overflown at 19:56 at 4080 ft AMSL). Instead of proceeding to SOSAL as planned, the pilot flew along the northern shore of Lake Geneva towards Vevey, descending to 3800 ft AMSL. At 20:02, after Vevey, the pilot turned northeast towards Gruyère aerodrome (LSGT). The aircraft maintained 3800 ft AMSL and a constant ground speed of 120 knots.
Accident Sequence
At 20:03, the aircraft struck forested terrain on the Pléiades ridge at an altitude of 3888 ft AMSL. The impact site was near the La Châ ski lift. The aircraft was destroyed; both occupants died instantly. Trees were damaged. The ELT signal on 121.500 MHz narrowed the search area to a 500-meter radius. A REGA helicopter with a thermal camera located the wreckage and the deceased occupants around 22:00.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Piper PA-28-181 Archer II, a four-seat, single-engine, low-wing metal airplane with fixed tricycle landing gear. It was owned by Aérodrome Régional Fribourg, Ecuvillens SA and operated by Air-Fribourg Services SA. The maximum takeoff mass was 2250 lb (1157 kg). At the time of the accident, mass and center of gravity were within limits. Fuel on board was about 27 US gallons, sufficient for the planned flight. The aircraft was equipped with an autopilot that only operated on the roll axis (ailerons) and did not have an altitude hold mode. No defects were noted before the flight.
Medical Information
Autopsies of both occupants determined that death was caused by severe traumatic injuries, consistent with immediate fatality. There was no evidence of any pre-existing medical condition that could have negatively affected the pilot's performance. Pharmacological and toxicological tests showed no indication of impairment from alcohol, medications, or drugs.