Accident
On 16 August 2025 at 14:56 local time, an Aerospool WT9 motor glider, registration HB-WZN, crashed in a field in the village of Valeyres-sous-Rances, near the town of Orbe in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. The aircraft was on a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) private flight and was returning to Yverdon-les-Bains Airfield (LSGY) after completing a glider towing mission.
Aircraft and Flight
The aircraft was owned and operated by Air-Club Yverdon, based at Yverdon-les-Bains. The flight, which began and ended at LSGY, was a private operation under VFR. The sole occupant, the pilot, sustained fatal injuries. No passengers were on board, and no third parties were injured. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact, and minor ground damage was reported.
Investigation
The Swiss Safety Investigation Service (SESE) opened an investigation into the accident. A preliminary information report was issued on 9 September 2025, noting that the aircraft crashed in a field near the airfield. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined, and no probable cause has been stated by the investigation authority.