1968 Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee Accident at Grenchen Airfield (HB-OLS)

Aircraft and Operator Details The aircraft involved was a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee with the registration HB-OLS. The owner and operator was the Segelfluggruppe Grenchen. The aircraft was properly certified, and its center of gravity and loading were within allowable limits. ## Accident Circumstances On 4 July 1968, at approximately 1730 MEZ, the pilot attempted to land on runway 07 at Grenchen Airfield following a six-minute passenger flight. The approach was made with engine power and landing flaps in position 3. The pilot aimed for a minimum-speed touchdown due to unevenness on the grass runway. However, the aircraft became too slow during the final approach and began to sink significantly. Although the pilot applied power correction, the altitude loss was not recovered. The aircraft touched down outside the airfield, just before a public road running across the runway axis, with the right landing gear. The wheels then struck the road surface, which was approximately 20 cm higher than the surrounding terrain, causing substantial damage to the aircraft. ## Damage and Injuries There were no injuries to the occupants. The aircraft sustained damage to the right wing, landing gear, and engine mount, with repair costs estimated at approximately 40,000 to 45,000 Swiss francs. No third-party damage was reported. ## Investigation Findings The investigation concluded that the accident resulted from insufficient monitoring of the flight condition by the pilot during the approach. The pilot, who had limited experience on the PA-28 type, failed to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach phase. The pilot acknowledged making a pilot error. The expired pilot license was noted but considered irrelevant to the accident sequence.