What happened
On March 17, 2025, at approximately 16:22 UTC, an Extra 400 aircraft, registration D-EXIK, crashed in a residential area at the northeastern edge of the village of La Punt Chamues-ch. The flight originated from Samedan Airport (LSZS) with a planned route to Copenhagen-Roskilde (EKRK) under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
Following takeoff from runway 03, the aircraft climbed along the Inn River valley. During a left-hand turn toward the Albula Valley, the aircraft struck the ground, resulting in a post-impact fire that completely destroyed the wreckage. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained two fatalities due to massive polytrauma and fire.
The investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SUST) conducted an inquiry into the accident. Due to the high degree of destruction of the wreckage and the lack of flight path recordings, the investigation relied on eyewitness accounts to reconstruct the flight path.
Investigators examined the aircraft's technical state, noting that the engine's recent oil analysis had shown significantly elevated levels of iron, chromium, aluminum, and copper. The investigation also reviewed meteorological conditions, which included a moderate northeast wind (Bise) and temperatures near freezing. While a blood alcohol concentration of 0.53 ‰ was detected in the pilot during autopsy, investigators noted that post-mortem fermentation could not be ruled out as a source of this finding.
Findings
Several critical factors contributed to the accident:
- The aircraft's takeoff mass was approximately 5% above the maximum allowable takeoff mass due to the combination of full fuel tanks, passengers, and luggage.
- The aircraft's center of gravity was located behind the aft limit specified in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH).
- During refueling prior to departure, aviation gasoline was observed leaking from the wing overflow valves, a condition that persisted during the taxi to the runway.
- The aircraft's performance was likely compromised by the overweight condition and improper weight and balance.