Synopsis
On 15 August 2006 at 14:15 local time, a Piper PA-18 "150" aircraft registered HB-PPJ sustained substantial damage during a training flight at the La Croix-de-Cœur mountain landing site in Riddes, Valais, Switzerland. The aircraft, occupied by a student pilot and a flight instructor, came to rest after a hard landing and a bounce of approximately 15 meters. The student was uninjured; the instructor suffered minor injuries.
Flight Sequence
The flight was part of the student's training for a mountain landing endorsement. Earlier that day, the student and instructor drove from Küssnacht to Bad Ragaz Airport (LSZE), where they prepared the aircraft and loaded survival equipment. They departed at about 10:50, with the instructor at the controls (front seat) and the student in the rear. After landing at La Croix-de-Cœur around noon, they took a break.
Shortly before 14:00, the student took the front seat to practice circuits with full-stop landings. The instructor briefed the student on the procedures. The takeoff was normal, but on the approach the student's speed was too high, and the flare was initiated too early. Unable to land, the instructor took control and attempted to recover. He considered a go-around and initiated a slight left turn but saw hikers on the intended path. Judging the situation unsafe, he decided to land straight ahead. The touchdown was hard, beyond the landing area. The aircraft bounced, turned about a quarter turn left, and stopped 15 meters further.
Personnel Information
The instructor, a Swiss citizen born in 1945, held a CPL(A) and CPL(H), along with various instructor ratings including CRI and mountain flying endorsements. At the time of the accident, he had approximately 920:52 total flight hours on airplanes, with 550:12 hours on the PA-18 type. He had no mountain landings recorded in the previous 90 days. His helicopter experience included about 2000 hours. In 2003, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (OFAC) found his flying performance did not meet essential standards for helicopter instructor ratings, leading to the revocation of his helicopter instructor authorizations. He subsequently obtained a class rating instructor (CRI) certification in 2005 after barely passing the exam.
The student, a Swiss citizen born in 1984, held a PPL(A) with a SEP land rating. He had 109:10 total flight hours, with 3:35 hours on the PA-18 and 26:36 hours on tailwheel aircraft, but no mountain flying experience.
Aircraft Information
The Piper PA-18 "150" (Super Cub) is a high-wing, tandem-seat monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear. It was powered by a Textron Lycoming O-320-B2B engine rated at 150 HP. The airframe had 4517:42 total hours, and the engine 1120:19 hours. The aircraft was within its prescribed weight and center of gravity limits at the time of the accident. It was owned by Caminada & Partner AG and operated by Atal Trasporti SA.
Cause
According to the investigation, the accident resulted from a hard landing following the late intervention of the instructor. The inappropriate training method was a contributing factor.