Piper J-3C-65/L-4 HB-OWO Accident at Lausanne-La Blécherette

Accident Overview and Aircraft Details On 26 February 2009, at 08:49 local time, a Piper J-3C-65/L-4 with registration HB-OWO was involved in an accident at the Lausanne-La Blécherette aerodrome (LSGL) in the commune of Lausanne, Switzerland. The aircraft, built in 1944 by Piper Aircraft Inc. and powered by a Rolls-Royce C90-12F engine, was operated by Groupement de Vol à Moteur Lausanne. The accident occurred during a visual flight rules (VFR) training flight in the landing phase. ## Flight Operations and Personnel The flight was conducted by two Swiss pilots: Pilot A, a male born in 1966, seated in the front, and Pilot B, a female born in 1978, seated in the rear. Pilot B was undergoing training to act as an instructor, with Pilot A serving as the supervising instructor. The flight plan included circuit training with landings on a hard runway, followed by a solo flight for Pilot B from the rear seat. ## Sequence of Events During the second circuit, the crew perceived the wind as coming from the rear right (south-east), requiring Pilot B to compensate for the crosswind by increasing the heading to the right. The aircraft touched down firmly approximately 100 meters past the runway threshold. Following touchdown, the aircraft experienced oscillations in pitch and roll. Pilot B attempted to control the aircraft using the control stick, while Pilot A did not intervene. The aircraft suddenly deviated to the left, and despite corrective rudder inputs from both pilots, the aircraft left the runway and struck a snow bank. It then cartwheeled and came to rest on its back. ## Environmental and Aircraft Conditions A snow bank, formed by a snowplow, was located approximately 30 cm outside the left edge of the runway along its entire length. At the point of departure from the runway, the snow bank measured 20 to 30 cm in height and 120 cm in width. The runway surface was clear and dry. The aircraft's mass at the time of the accident was 615 kg, exceeding the manufacturer's maximum authorized mass of 580 kg, and the center of gravity was outside the limits prescribed by the aircraft flight manual. ## Outcome Both occupants exited the aircraft under their own power and were uninjured. No fire occurred. The aircraft was severely damaged, and there was no damage to third parties.