What happened
On July 1, 1968, a Piper J3/C with registration HB-OWV was involved in an accident in the Gürbetal region near Mühledorf, Bern. The flight was being conducted as a training session, specifically focusing on a simulated emergency landing procedure. During the maneuver, the flight instructor was demonstrating the technique to the occupants. As the aircraft performed a gliding approach, the instructor delayed the decision to abort the simulated landing for too long. When the attempt to apply full power was finally made just above the ground, the engine responded with a slight delay. This momentary lack of immediate thrust caused the aircraft to land in a turnip field with a sliding motion.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the flight instructor's actions and the mechanical response of the engine during the critical phase of the approach. The commission examined the timing of the power application and the engine's performance during the transition from a glide to a powered flight attempt.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the delayed decision by the flight instructor to abort the simulated emergency landing.
- A minor delay in engine response during the application of full power prevented the aircraft from maintaining sufficient altitude to clear the terrain.
- The aircraft sustained significant damage upon impact with the field.
- There were no injuries to the occupants of the aircraft.