Incident Overview
On January 10, 2021, a private Piper Aircraft Corporation PA-28R-200, registered HB-OHW, was involved in an accident at the Aerodrome de La Côte (LSGP) in Switzerland. The incident occurred during the landing phase of a visual flight rules (VFR) operation. The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) conducted a summary investigation under Article 46 of the relevant safety ordinance to derive lessons from the event.
Flight Details and Crew
The aircraft was operated by a private owner and piloted by a Swiss citizen born in 1993, holding an EASA Private Pilot Licence (PPL(A)). At the time of the accident, the pilot had accumulated a total of 163 hours and 34 minutes of flight experience, with 91 hours and 28 minutes specifically on the PA-28R-200 type. The flight carried three passengers in addition to the pilot.
Sequence of Events
The flight originated from La Côte, with a planned route over the Alps including views of the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc before returning to the departure aerodrome. The aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 14,200 ft QNH. Notably, no supplemental oxygen was used despite spending more than an hour above 10,000 ft AMSL.
During the approach to runway 04, strong Bise winds were observed. While executing a slip maneuver to manage descent rate in turbulent conditions, the pilot encountered a strong gust that lifted the right wing. This caused a rapid loss of altitude and an unstable attitude with the nose high and banked left. The left landing gear struck the ground firmly in a plowed field approximately 60 meters before the runway threshold.
Damage and Outcome
The impact fractured the rear spar of the left wing, causing the landing gear to detach and fold under the wing. As the aircraft slowed, the left wing dropped and touched the ground, leading to a skid that brought the plane to a stop 86 meters past the runway threshold. The aircraft sustained severe damage to the left wing and landing gear. All four occupants exited the aircraft without injury.