What happened
On June 11, 2005, during a vintage glider meeting at Schaffhausen airfield, a Piper J-3C-65/L-4, registration HB-OIO, was involved in a collision with a bystander. The aircraft was operating in a glider towing capacity. As the aircraft taxied toward the start of the runway to pick up its next load, a woman—who was assisting with the event—moved toward the edge of the runway to photograph the takeoff of a different glider. While she was focused on taking photos, the taxiing Piper J-3 .C-65/L-4 approached her. The rotating propeller of the aircraft made contact with the woman's backpack, throwing her several meters and causing one light injury to her back and significant damage to the bag's contents.
The investigation
The investigation examined the movement of the aircraft and the presence of bystanders on the airfield. It was established that the airfield lacked any physical barriers or cordons to separate the public and event attendees from the active taxiway and runway areas. At the time of the accident, spectators, families, and even cyclists were moving freely through the southern part of the airfield. The investigation also reviewed the responsibilities of the flight service manager and the organizer of the event, noting that while the event was an open invitation, it did not require formal federal approval under specific local regulations, yet it lacked the safety structures typically recommended for such gatherings.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the insufficient attention of the involved parties.
- The pilot of the HB-OIO failed to adequately monitor the area in front of the aircraft during taxiing.
- The bystander positioned herself in a high-risk area of the airfield while distracted by photography.
- The event was conducted without sufficient safety precautions, specifically the lack of physical separation between the flight operations area and the public.
- The flight service manager did not intervene to manage the presence of unauthorized persons on the operational side of the airfield.