Incident Overview
On 19 September 2025, at 13:45 local time, a Piper Aircraft Corp. PA-18 seaplane with registration HB-ORK crashed into the water during a landing at Hirsgarten Bad in Cham, Canton of Zug, Switzerland. The flight was operated as a private visual flight rules (VFR) flight, having departed from and destined for Wasserflugfeld Cham. During the landing procedure, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled flight attitude and subsequently crashed into the water.
Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft was a Piper PA-18, owned and operated by Starbase AG, based at the airfield in Bleienbach. On board were one pilot and one passenger. The flight was conducted under visual flight rules (VFR) in private operation.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot was uninjured. The passenger sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. No third-party injuries or property damage occurred.
Investigation
The Swiss Safety Investigation Board (SUST) has delegated the investigation to the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) due to a conflict of interest. The investigation is ongoing; no preliminary findings or probable cause have been released.