What happened
On January 5, 1966, a Piper J3C, registered as HB-OXL, was conducting a photographic flight near Château-d'Oex. During the mission, the aircraft struck a transport cable that was suspended approximately 70 meters above the ground.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the impact between the aircraft and the overhead cable. Following the collision, the aircraft sustained significant damage. Despite the impact, the pilot was able to maintain control of the aircraft and successfully navigate it back to its home base, where it landed without further incident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the collision with a tensioned transport cable located at an altitude of roughly 70 meters.
- The aircraft remained airworthy enough to complete the flight and return to its base despite the structural damage incurred.