What happened
On September 9, 1976, a Piper Cherokee Warrior PA-28-151, registration EC-CUB, was conducting a private flight from Bergamo, Italy, to Geneva, Switzerland. The flight, which included a private pilot and a commercial instructor, encountered significant navigational difficulties while traversing the Alps. Due to heavy cloud cover and challenging weather, the crew struggled to maintain visual contact with the ground and experienced difficulties communicating their position to Geneva Information.
As the aircraft approached Geneva-Cointrin, the pilot requested a direct approach to runway 23. Approximately one kilometer from the runway threshold, the engine failed following several misfires. Realizing the aircraft lacked sufficient altitude to clear the approach lighting masts, the pilot executed a right turn toward a nearby plowed field near the Colovrex radio station. The aircraft struck an embankment, causing the left landing gear to be torn off, and came to a stop approximately 108 meters from the initial impact point. The two occupants of the aircraft escaped without injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage of the EC-CUB and analyzed the fuel system. The examination revealed that the fuel tanks contained a combined total of only 0.8 liters of fuel at the time of the accident. In contrast, the tanks had contained between 135 and 140 liters upon departure from Bergamo. The investigation also reviewed radio transcripts, which documented the crew's struggle with navigation and communication throughout the flight.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was fuel exhaustion.
- The flight duration significantly exceeded the planned 2.5 hours, lasting approximately 3 hours and 37 minutes due to navigational errors over the Alps.
- The crew's lack of experience in Alpine flying contributed to the extended flight time and the inability to maintain visual references.
- The presence of a flight instructor did not prevent the pilot from continuing the flight despite the increasing uncertainty of their position and fuel status.
- The aircraft was flying in a manner that posed a danger to other traffic, as it operated within the Geneva TMA without ground contact or visual reference to the terrain during parts of the flight.