What happened
On March 21, 2014, a private pilot operating a Piper PA-18 was conducting VFR flights in the vicinity of Nendaz, Switzerland. After performing several landings on the Trient glacier and conducting three reconnaissance passes of the Croix de Cœur site, the pilot attempted an approach to land at the location.
While on short final, the pilot encountered a headwind component. Determining that the aircraft was maintaining excessive altitude and airspeed for the approach, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver. The intention was to climb and deviate to the right, heading toward the Rhône Valley, to clear the approach path. However, the maneuver failed to stabilize the aircraft, leading to an impact with the snow-covered terrain near a wooden sign. The aircraft subsequently bounced along a ski path and struck a snow wall with the left wing before coming to a stop.
The investigation
Investigators examined the sequence of events leading to the impact at Croix de Cœur. The investigation focused on the flight conditions, specifically the wind components encountered during the final approach, and the execution of the go-around procedure. The assessment included the aircraft's state regarding altitude and airspeed prior to the decision to abort the landing.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained significant damage to the landing gear, skis, propeller, left wing strut, and fuselage.
- The pilot and one passenger survived the incident, with the passenger sustaining minor injuries.
- The primary cause of the accident was the unsuccessful go-around maneuver, which resulted in the aircraft striking the terrain.