What happened
On June 20, 2026, at approximately 11:00 UTC, a single-engine piston-powered aircraft departed Aosta airport (LIMW) in Italy for Annemasse airport (LFLI) in France. The flight was conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) as a private operation. Approximately 12 nautical miles northwest of the departure point, the Piper PA-28-181 with registration F-HZAZ impacted mountainous terrain on a valley slope. The aircraft sustained substantial damage upon impact. There were no injuries to third parties or ground damage reported.
The investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) was notified of the accident due to the involvement of a Swiss citizen as the pilot, despite the aircraft being registered in France and operated by a French club. The primary safety investigation is being conducted by the Italian National Agency for Aviation Safety (ANSV), which opened an inquiry into the event. STSB’s role involves coordination and information sharing consistent with international aviation safety protocols.
Findings
The immediate cause of the accident was the controlled flight into terrain in mountainous conditions. All three occupants on board—the pilot and two passengers—suffered serious injuries. No fatalities were reported. The aircraft was identified as a Piper PA-28-181 operated by Club Aéronautique d’Annemasse.
Safety action
The Italian authority ANSV has taken the lead in investigating the causal factors and contributing elements of this accident. STSB will monitor the findings to ensure relevant safety lessons are disseminated within the Swiss aviation community.