What happened
On March 9, 1974, a Gardan GY 80/160, registration F-BLPR, was conducting a private VFR flight from Lille, France, to Samedan, Switzerland. The flight, accompanied by one passenger, proceeded through Davos and established radio contact with the Samedan tower, receiving clearance for a direct approach to runway 21.
As the aircraft descended through the Engadin valley, the pilot encountered haze and significant sun glare. During the descent, the pilot observed a strip of asphalt that had been cleared of snow and mistakenly identified it as the Samedan runway. The pilot continued the approach and reported being on "short final." Approximately 100 meters before reaching the threshold, the pilot suddenly identified wooden structures obstructing the path where he believed the runway to be. In an attempt to execute a go-around and avoid these obstacles, the pilot maneuvered the aircraft to the left. During this evasive action, the landing gear struck a snow wall measuring 1.10 meters in height, causing the aircraft to capsize. The two occupants were able to exit the aircraft on their own, though the aircraft sustained heavy damage to the fuselage, landing gear, propeller, and potentially the engine.
The investigation
SUST investigators examined the pilot's credentials and health, finding a valid private pilot license and no evidence of impairment; blood tests returned a zero blood alcohol result. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate and flight permits were valid, and the investigation found no technical malfunctions or issues regarding weight and balance.
Meteorological data indicated visibility was reported at 30 km, but haze was present in the valley. The sun's position (azimuth 244°, height 14°) contributed to significant glare. The investigation also noted that the location of the accident—a rectangular platform approximately 10 kilometers northeast of Samedan—shared a similar orientation to the actual Samedan runway, which likely contributed to the confusion.