Incident Overview
On 27 April 2018 at approximately 12:50 local time, a Piper PA-18 '150' aircraft, registration HB-PMN, experienced a serious incident during landing at the Bec de Nendaz airstrip (LSYD). The aircraft was operated by Association Snow Fish under private visual flight rules. The flight originated from Bex Aerodrome (LSGB) and lasted about 20 minutes.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a PA-18 '150', owned and operated by Association Snow Fish. The pilot, a Swiss citizen born in 1961, held a Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)) issued by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation. The pilot had accumulated 1,040 total flight hours, including approximately 600 hours on the accident type, with 11 hours and 34 minutes in the preceding 90 days.
Incident Sequence
After a 20-minute flight, the pilot conducted the first landing at Bec de Nendaz. Following touchdown, the pilot initiated a turn-around maneuver while increasing engine power. However, the aircraft continued to slide straight ahead. Realizing the turn was not possible, the pilot allowed the aircraft to slide, and it subsequently struck a cabin located in the extension of the landing axis at the edge of a partially thawed lake.
According to the pilot, the loss of control resulted from a misjudgment of the snow quality, which proved more slippery than expected. Another pilot who had landed at the same location earlier that morning reported that the snow was rather sticky. The investigation conducted a summary inquiry under Swiss regulations to draw lessons from the incident.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained minor damage to the propeller, nose, and the outer leading edge of the right wing. The cabin was also slightly damaged. No injuries were reported among the pilot or any other persons.
Investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) conducted a summary investigation. No probable cause was formally determined in the report.