Accident Overview
On 22 December 1985 at approximately 1410 hours local time, a Piper J3C aircraft, registration HB-OWS, was involved in an accident at Môtiers airfield in Switzerland. The aircraft was operated by AéCS, Section du Val de Travers, on a private flight. The pilot, a Swiss citizen born in 1952, held a private pilot license with 66 total flight hours. The aircraft was severely damaged, the pilot was uninjured, and the front-seat passenger sustained minor injuries.
Sequence of Events
The flight departed Môtiers at 1325 hours for a flight over the Neuchâtel suburbs with one passenger. Upon return at 1410 hours, the pilot entered the downwind leg for runway 05. Over Couvet, less than one kilometer from the airfield, the engine showed signs of power loss but recovered after carburetor heat was applied. The pilot made an approach that was too high and too fast, having not noticed that the wind direction had changed during the flight; the windsock was wrapped around its mast and gave no indication. Realizing the approach was too long, the pilot initiated a go-around at the height of the first hangar. The engine restarted but stopped permanently a few seconds later at an altitude of approximately 30 meters.
The pilot could not land straight ahead due to obstacles including a row of poplars (15-20 m high), the Areuse River, and the village of Couvet. He immediately initiated a 240° left turn. Preoccupied with the proximity of the ground, he did not maintain sufficient speed; the aircraft stalled and made a hard landing in an obstacle-free meadow, touching down with the right wingtip first.
Findings
- The pilot was properly licensed and in good health, but had limited experience (65 hours) and minimal recent flying.
- The aircraft had a valid certificate of airworthiness and was within weight and balance limits.
- The engine had 159 hours since major overhaul.
- The aircraft had two wing tanks of 34 liters each, but the left tank was inoperative due to a leak. A notice at the airfield and in the aircraft indicated to fill only the right tank.
- The right tank had been filled at Porrentruy on 19 December 1985. Since then, the aircraft had flown 90 minutes total (including the accident flight), with an estimated fuel consumption of 23-25 L/h. After the accident, the right tank was completely dry, and the fuel filter bowl was about one-third empty.
- Engine examination found no defects that could have caused the failure.
- Weather at the time: calm or variable wind 1-2 kt, reduced visibility due to fog/mist, temperature and dew point near -1°C. The windsock was wrapped around its mast due to turbulence, providing no indication.
- The pilot made the approach in the same direction as departure (runway 05), unaware that the wind had shifted to a southwesterly tailwind. The approach was too long, necessitating a go-around.
- During the forced landing, the pilot initiated a left turn toward open terrain but failed to maintain sufficient speed, resulting in a stall a few meters above the ground.
Causes
The accident was attributed to:
- Missed forced landing following fuel exhaustion
- Poor fuel management
Contributing factors:
- Change of wind direction during the flight and lack of windsock indication, leading to an initial approach with tailwind
- Insufficient speed during the final phase of flight
- Modest pilot experience