Mooney Mk. 20 ground excursion at Hohenems Airport

Casualties unknown • Hohenems Flugplatz (LOIH) / AUT, CH

A Mooney Mk. 20 aircraft sustained structural damage after striking an embankment during its landing approach at Hohenems Airport.

What happened

On October 4, 1963, a Mooney Mk. 20, registered as HB-DUH, was performing a landing approach at the Hohenems airfield in Vorarlberg, Austria. During the final stages of the approach, the pilot misjudged the aircraft's altitude. As a result, the aircraft struck an embankment located at the end of the runway.

The investigation

The investigation, which incorporated findings from the Austrian Federal Office for Civil Aviation, established that the impact with the embankment caused the landing gear to be pushed backward. The collision resulted in no injuries to any persons on board.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the incident was a misjudgment of altitude during the landing phase.
  • The impact with the terrain caused significant damage to the airframe, estimated at between 15% and 20% of the aircraft's value.

Probable cause

The pilot misjudged the aircraft's height during the approach, leading to a collision with an embankment at the runway end.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1963-10-04 MOONEY AIRCRAFT INC. M20 accident near Hohenems Flugplatz (LOIH) / AUT, CH?

A Mooney Mk. 20 aircraft sustained structural damage after striking an embankment during its landing approach at Hohenems Airport.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1963-10-04 involved a MOONEY AIRCRAFT INC. M20, registration HB-DUH, at Hohenems Flugplatz (LOIH) / AUT, CH.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot misjudged the aircraft's height during the approach, leading to a collision with an embankment at the runway end.

Investigation report by the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB / SUST). Original record: https://www.sust.admin.ch/inhalte/AV-berichte/132.pdf. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB), Switzerland.

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