1964 Piper Cub J3C Ground Collision at Utzenstorf (HB-OUD)

Incident Overview On 6 September 1964, a Piper Cub J3C with registration HB-OUD was involved in a ground collision near Utzenstorf, Canton of Bern, Switzerland. The aircraft, owned and operated by Motorfluggruppe-Biel des AeCS, struck a parked car during a local air day. ## Aircraft and Personnel The aircraft was a Piper Cub with a 90 PS engine and a weight of 580 kg. Its airworthiness certificate was valid until 19 October 1964. The pilot, born in 1927, held a private pilot license and a restricted commercial pilot license, both valid until 1 May 1965. By 6 May 1964, he had logged 300 flight hours and 1,048 landings. The car involved was an Opel registered BE-74808, owned by the runway marshal. ## Sequence of Events During the air day, the aircraft refueled at a fuel point approximately 230 m from the landing T. Under the airfield organization, the aircraft was to taxi west of the runway for passenger boarding. However, the passenger boarded at the fuel point, and the pilot remained east of the runway to prepare for takeoff. The runway marshal, positioned near the northwest corner of the runway, continued to signal the pilot to taxi forward. As the pilot turned slightly right, the propeller and left landing gear struck the right rear of the parked car. ## Damage and Findings No persons were injured. The aircraft sustained a bent or nicked metal propeller, a bent left landing gear, and damage to the engine cowling, with estimated repair costs of about Fr. 1,000. The car’s right rear fender and trunk lid were damaged, with estimated costs of about Fr. 500. ## Contributing Factors The investigation concluded that the pilot did not follow the airfield organization by returning to the taxi area west of the runway. The runway marshal did not stop the deviation and instead signaled the pilot to continue. The pilot relied on the marshal’s signals and did not adequately observe the terrain ahead. The marshal had parked the car about 17 m east of the landing T, off the road, in a field.