Collision between a DR 400/140 B and an ASW 27-18 near Piz Neir (HB-KLB)

Incident Overview and Location On 12 June 2021, a mid-air collision occurred between a DR 400/140 B registered HB-KLB and an ASW 27-18 glider registered HB-3412. The collision took place approximately 350 m west of Piz Neir in the municipality of Surses, Graubünden, at an altitude of about 3,196 m AMSL. The coordinates of the collision were 771 764 / 150 523 (Swiss Grid 1903) and N 46° 29’ 02’’ / E 009° 40’ 33’’ (WGS 84). ## Aircraft and Occupants The DR 400/140 B, HB-KLB, was a four-seat motor aircraft operated by Groupe de vol à Moteur Neuchâtel. It carried one pilot and three passengers. The pilot was a Swiss national born in 1948, holding an EASA Commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) issued by the BAZL, with approximately 2,230 total flight hours and more than 280 hours on the accident type. The passenger in the right front seat held a Private Pilot Licence (Aeroplane) and was also a member of the operating club. The ASW 27-18, HB-3412, was a single-seat glider owned privately and operated by Segelfluggruppe Friedberg. Its pilot was a Swiss national born in 1969, holding an EASA Sailplane Pilot Licence issued by the BAZL, with approximately 3,300 total flight hours and about 1,030 hours on the accident type. ## Flight Progression The glider HB-3412 took off from Amlikon (LSPA) at 12:15 LT on 12 June 2021 using a winch launch. The pilot flew a long-distance route via Walensee, Glarnerland, Disentis, Airolo, and the south side of the Rhone Valley to the Matterhorn, where he turned around at approximately 15:33 LT at an altitude of about 3,700 m AMSL. On the return leg, the pilot followed the same route to Airolo, then via Valsertal to Safiental, and flew southeast toward Piz Platta. At 17:25:47 LT, the glider was at 3,450 m AMSL and began gliding toward Piz Neir. The pilot used supplemental oxygen from a portable oxygen system during the flight. The motor aircraft HB-KLB departed Neuchâtel (LSGN) at 15:29 LT for Samedan (LSZS), arriving at 16:35 LT. During the flight, the aircraft operated at pressure altitudes between approximately 10,000 and 13,000 ft without supplemental oxygen available to the occupants. After a short stop at Samedan, the pilot filed a flight plan for the continuation to Locarno (LSZL), listing the route as “Maloja” after initially writing and crossing out “Julier.” The flight plan indicated three persons on board, although four persons were present. At 17:16 LT, the pilot contacted the AFIS for the continuation to Locarno and received a QNH of 1025 hPa. When asked about the departure route, the pilot responded “Maloja” after a brief hesitation. The aircraft took off from runway 03 at 17:19 LT and climbed continuously via the left downwind toward St. Moritz. At 17:25 LT, the pilot cleared the AFIS. ## Collision and Aftermath At 17:27:52 LT, the pilot contacted the FIC Zürich, stating that they had just crossed the Julier Pass at 10,000 ft and intended to continue to Locarno via San Bernardino and Bellinzona. The FISO transmitted a QNH of 1021 hPa and requested the pilot to report San Bernardino as the next waypoint. The pilot confirmed the waypoint and correctly read back the QNH, with the end of the transmission at 17:28:42 LT. Immediately after the end of this transmission, within a maximum of five seconds, the two aircraft collided approximately 350 m west of Piz Neir at an altitude of nearly 3,200 m AMSL and about 600 m above ground. The glider HB-3412 was slightly higher than the motor aircraft HB-KLB, so the propeller tips of HB-KLB left cut marks on the underside of the left wing of HB-3412. There was also a high probability of contact in the tail areas of both aircraft. Following the collision, HB-KLB lost parts, including the left and right sections of the horizontal stabilizer, and impacted the ground in a snow-filled depression approximately 600 m northwest of the collision point. All five occupants of the two aircraft were killed. No third-party damage was reported.