Accident
On 18 January 2003 at approximately 12:00 local time, two Piper PA-18 "150" aircraft collided on the ground on the Rosa-Blanche glacier near Nendaz, Switzerland. The aircraft were registered as HB-ORK and HB-ORN. The collision occurred when the coordination of takeoffs and landings between the two crews was no longer maintained.
Aircraft and Crew
HB-ORK was privately owned and operated, on a training flight with a flight instructor and a student pilot. The student was nearing the completion of his mountain landing training. Both occupants were seriously injured. HB-ORN was owned and operated by Air Glaciers SA, with a pilot and a passenger who had no flying experience. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. HB-ORK was destroyed, and HB-ORN was damaged.
Sequence of Events
Earlier that day, the crew of HB-ORK had conducted training landings on the Tsanfleuron glacier before proceeding to Rosa-Blanche around 11:30. HB-ORN had departed Sion at 10:45 and arrived at Rosa-Blanche around 11:00, where another aircraft was already parked. Both crews announced their intentions via radio and coordinated several landings on the upper part of the glacier. After a landing by HB-ORN on the lower part, it took off again. HB-ORK then performed its second landing on the upper part. As HB-ORK began its third takeoff from the upper glacier, HB-ORN was landing on the lower glacier. During its takeoff run, HB-ORK entered the area of the lower glacier, and the right wings of both aircraft collided.
Cause
The accident occurred when coordination of landings and takeoffs was no longer ensured between the two crews, leading to a ground collision of the two aircraft.