What happened
On August 12, 1966, a student pilot was performing a prescribed geography flight circuit near Lommis, Switzerland. The flight plan, assigned by an instructor, involved flying from Lommis via Frauenfeld-Wil and Weinfelden before returning to Lommis. This mission was intended to be the student's first solo cross-country flight.
After passing the Weinfelden waypoint, the pilot lost visual contact with the Lommis airfield. As twilight approached, the pilot spent approximately fifteen minutes searching for the airfield. Due to the encroaching darkness, the pilot decided to perform an emergency landing in a field near Niederbüren. During the approach, the pilot realized the aircraft was too high and too fast, and noticed ground irregularities at an altitude of approximately 5 meters. In an attempt to go around, the pilot turned left, causing the Piper Cub J3C to stall and strike the ground on its left wheel. The aircraft spun and came to a halt tail-first.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's training status, the flight instructions provided, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The commission reviewed the pilot's flight experience, noting he had only 11 hours and 51 minutes of total flight time, with very limited solo experience. The investigation also looked into the legality of the flight parameters and the suitability of the emergency landing site.
Findings
- The student pilot did not yet possess the necessary endorsement for solo cross-country flights.
- The flight assignment exceeded the scope of the approved pre-training program, as the instructor could no longer maintain direct supervision.
- The margin of safety between the estimated landing time and the onset of night was insufficient for a student's first solo cross-country mission.
- The pilot's lack of experience made it difficult to manage aircraft control, navigation, and visual orientation simultaneously in hilly, wooded terrain under changing light conditions.
Safety action
- The commission concluded that the accident was caused by the student pilot attempting a flight beyond his training level, subsequently losing orientation and failing the emergency landing attempt.