Narrative
On 14 April 1969, a student pilot was conducting a solo training flight in a Piper J3C HB-ODI at Ecuvillens aerodrome. The aircraft was on a landing approach when it deviated left and touched down short of the runway, on the taxi strip, with an incorrect heading. The student pilot, realizing the aircraft was heading towards aerodrome buildings, instinctively applied full power to initiate a go-around. During the climb, he turned left to avoid the buildings, but then faced a football field lighting installation with poles and wires. In an evasive maneuver, he banked and descended to pass between the poles and under the wires, during which the left wingtip struck the ground. The aircraft cartwheeled and came to rest on the football field without hitting the poles or wires.
Aircraft and Pilot
The aircraft was a Piper Cub J3C, registration HB-ODI, equipped with a 90 hp Continental CX-9012-F engine and a two-blade fixed-pitch metal McCauley propeller. It had a modified landing gear (Kuhn) with a tailwheel. The empty weight was 406 kg, maximum takeoff weight 580 kg, and estimated weight at the time of the accident was 510 kg. The aircraft had accumulated 2,822 flight hours. The student pilot, born in 1950, held a student pilot card issued on 10 April 1968, with approximately 18 flight hours (133 landings) total, including about 5.5 hours and 30 landings solo. He was in his second training course, which had started on 8 April 1969. The instructor, born in 1943, held a private pilot license since 1962 and a professional pilot license since 1967, with about 800 flight hours.
Weather
The general weather was influenced by a strong northwest flow bringing cold, humid air towards the Alps. At Ecuvillens, there were 5/8 stratocumulus clouds at 1,800 m, wind from 310° at 8-10 knots, and visibility 20 km.
Post-Accident
The student pilot sustained a fracture of the left index finger. The aircraft was totally destroyed. Ground damage was negligible. The investigation found no indications of pilot incapacitation or technical malfunction.