Summary
On 7 January 2020, a Reims Cessna F152, registered HB-CCN, crashed in the Rüedikerwald forest in the municipality of Schongau (LU), approximately 2 km southwest of Buttwil (AG). The aircraft was destroyed and the sole occupant, the pilot, sustained fatal injuries. The flight was a training flight under visual flight rules (VFR) conducted by Flugschule Eichenberger AG, based at Buttwil airfield (LSZU).
Flight History
The aircraft took off from Runway 34 at Buttwil at 15:11 LT. The pilot, who held a Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) and had 366 total flight hours (196 on type), was alone on board. The flight was supervised by a flight instructor on the ground due to the pilot's lack of recent flight training. The pilot initially climbed to approximately 3000 ft AMSL and flew a wide left turn to the southwest. After passing south of Bettwil, he turned back towards the airfield and performed two tight 180° left turns, briefly reaching 3400 ft AMSL. Witnesses on the ground heard engine sounds at unusually high RPMs but could only occasionally see the aircraft due to cloud cover. The instructor attempted to contact the pilot via radio multiple times without success. The aircraft subsequently flew west of the airfield, executing three more turning maneuvers. During the third turn, it briefly reached 3400 ft AMSL, then descended. Climbing again in a left turn, the aircraft reached 3500 ft AMSL, then continued climbing to 3800 ft AMSL within 40 seconds. From that point, the aircraft entered a right turn and descended continuously until impacting the crest of the Lindenberg ridge at 15:19 LT, eight minutes after departure. The impact created a debris path approximately 40 m long in a south-southwest direction through the forest.
Meteorological Information
At the time of the accident, a high-pressure system extended from the Iberian Peninsula across the Alps to Russia. Low stratus clouds were moving from the north into central Switzerland. The cloud base was around 3300 ft AMSL with 5/8 to 7/8 coverage, and tops between 3900 and 4300 ft AMSL. Visibility was 10 km or more. Wind was from 310° at 7 kt (as measured on Uetliberg at 3332 ft AMSL). Temperature and dewpoint were 1.2°C and 0.8°C respectively. There was a risk of carburetor icing at any power setting.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot was fatally injured in the crash. The aircraft was destroyed. Minor ground damage occurred to the forest.
Registration and Operator
Registration: HB-CCN. Owner and operator: Flugschule Eichenberger AG, 5632 Buttwil.