Incident Overview
On February 28, 1999, at approximately 15:06 local time (UTC + 1), a Eurocopter SA315B "Lama" helicopter registered as HB-XIB was destroyed in a collision with a cableway structure near St. Niklaus in the Valais canton of Switzerland. The aircraft was operated by Air Glaciers SA, based in Sion, and was conducting a commercial reconnaissance flight during a period of significant avalanche activity in the region.
Flight Details and Context
The pilot, a Swiss national born in 1967, held a professional helicopter license with over 1,300 total flight hours. The mission involved surveying avalanche corridors and checking for barriers in waterways following heavy snowfalls. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying at a normal speed and relatively low altitude, traveling horizontally from Stalden toward St. Niklaus. At the time of impact, the weather was clear with visibility exceeding 10 km and calm winds.
Accident Circumstances
The helicopter struck the north carrying cable of the Embd cableway, which had been in operation since 1968. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate and crash onto the left bank of the Mattervispa river. All three occupants—one crew member and two passengers—were killed instantly. The cableway sustained significant damage, but no fire broke out.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the helicopter was airworthy prior to the collision, with weight and balance within prescribed limits. The pilot had been responsible for updating obstacle charts for three years but was not accustomed to flying in this specific area. The cableway was not marked; under regulations in force at the time, marking was not mandatory. While the installation appeared on national aeronautical charts, including those found in the wreckage, the analysis suggested the pilot may have been unaware of the obstacle's presence, potentially due to sun glare or divided attention while allowing passengers to observe avalanche damage.