What happened
On August 2, 1971, a Cessna 150 (registration HB-CUZ) departed from Beromünster airfield for a private VFR flight to Triengen. The flight was operated by a pilot accompanied by an adult passenger and an infant. Upon approaching Triengen, the pilot relied on a windsock for wind information because he was unfamiliar with the significance of the runway markings.
During the landing on runway 33, the aircraft initially touched down in a three-point attitude at approximately 80 mph. Following this contact, the pilot applied back pressure on the elevator, causing the aircraft to lift off the ground again. The pilot then applied forward pressure, resulting in a nosewheel impact at a 30-degree angle to the longitudinal axis. A subsequent attempt to pull the nose up led to another takeoff and a second, even steeper nosewheel impact. The force of this impact caused the nosewheel assembly to fail, and the aircraft slid on the nosewheel strut, which bent backward. The propeller sustained damage during the sequence. The aircraft eventually came to rest in the grass approximately two meters from the runway edge. There were no injuries to the occupants.
The investigation
Investigators examined the pilot's credentials and flight history, noting he held a valid Canadian private pilot license with 53 total flight hours, 50 of which were in the aircraft type. The investigation confirmed the pilot's health was not a factor in the event. The aircraft, HB-CUZ, was found to be airworthy with no mechanical defects present at the time of the accident. Weather conditions were reported as clear with 15 km visibility and a 5-knot northeast wind.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was improper control inputs during the landing maneuver.
- The pilot's lack of familiarity with the specific runway markings at Triengen contributed to the unstable approach.