What happened
On the afternoon of March 4, 1973, a Bölkow-Junior Bö 208 C, registration HB-UXV, was conducting landing training at the Bad Ragaz airfield. After an initial solo session, the pilot commenced a series of 23 circuit laps accompanied by one passenger.
During the final approach, the pilot realized the aircraft was too high on the glide path. To correct this, the pilot deployed full flaps and reduced engine power, initiating a steep descent. As the aircraft approached the ground, the pilot's attention was diverted by two pedestrians walking on a path near the approach path. Consequently, the pilot failed to level the aircraft in a timely manner, only pulling up just above the ground.
The aircraft struck a snow-covered area approximately 235 meters before the threshold of runway 30. The impact occurred while the aircraft was in a nearly horizontal attitude. The nose gear collapsed immediately, causing the aircraft to flip in the deep snow. The aircraft came to rest upside down, rotated 90 degrees from the runway axis, but did not catch fire.
The investigation
Investigators confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy and that the weight and center of gravity were within permissible limits. There were no findings of mechanical failure or pre-existing technical defects. The pilot, who held a valid private pilot license, showed no signs of medical impairment at the time of the accident.
Environmental conditions were noted as clear and calm with good visibility. However, the ground was covered in snow and had transitioned into shadow, creating diffuse lighting conditions. The investigation also examined the flight path, noting that the aircraft passed over a nearby hill, known as "Bühl," at an excessive height and in a steep descent.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the delayed leveling of a deliberately steep final approach.
- This delay was caused by the pilot being distracted by a non-aviation event involving pedestrians on the ground.
- The pilot may have also misjudged the aircraft's altitude due to the difficulty of depth perception over snow under diffuse lighting conditions.