Introduction
On 24 September 1980 at 1838 local time (GMT+1), a Piper PA-28-180, registration HB-OVY, operated by the Flamingo Club Bern, crashed at Eichholz Belp/BE, Switzerland. The pilot, born 1937, held a valid private pilot license with 463:38 total flight hours (34:21 in the preceding 90 days, about 360 hours on type). The aircraft was destroyed; the pilot and one passenger were seriously injured, while the other two passengers sustained minor injuries.
Pre-Flight Actions
The aircraft had just completed a 100-hour inspection on 24 September. The pilot planned a flight to Germany the following day and wanted to maximize tax-free fuel. He drained approximately 60 liters of duty-paid fuel from the left tank completely and partially from the right tank. Later on 24 September, he decided on short notice to fly from Bern to Gruyeres and back. He refilled 20 liters of the drained fuel into the right tank, leaving the left tank empty. Before departure from Bern, the right tank contained 20 liters plus an unspecified residue. The fuel declaration listed a 1-hour supply.
Flight and Engine Failure
The pilot departed Bern at 1722 hours with three passengers for a VFR flight to Gruyeres, landing there at 1742. After a brief stop, he departed Gruyeres at 1810 for the return flight via Murten. Contacting Bern Tower, he reported abeam Flamatt at 3500 feet. While on the downwind leg near Kehrsatz, at approximately 1835, the pilot noted the right fuel gauge reading empty. Shortly after, the engine stopped. He switched to the left tank, and the engine ran for a few seconds before stopping permanently. The pilot reported "short of fuel" and requested a short approach to the grass runway.
Final Approach and Collision
The pilot turned base leg and extended flaps to position 2, aiming for a glider airfield. On final approach, he crossed a marked high-voltage line at low altitude and extended flaps fully. Immediately after, while in a shallow left turn, the aircraft struck an unmarked 3x380V power line with the left wing leading edge. The pilot had not seen this line. The aircraft then impacted the ground with a nose-down attitude of about 30°, rotated 180°, and slid backward about 10 meters.
Investigation Findings
Weather was good: 1/8 cirrus, visibility 10 km, wind variable 3 knots, temperature 14°C, dew point 11°C, QNH 1024 mbar. Sunset was at 1825, end of civil twilight at 1859. The flight from Bern to Gruyeres took 20 minutes; the return leg to the forced landing site took 28 minutes. Fuel on board at departure from Bern was sufficient for 48 minutes. Post-accident fuel measurements revealed 0.6 liters in the right tank and 0 liters in the left; unusable fuel per tank was 0.69 liters. The pilot was aware of the low fuel state by the time the aircraft reached the Gurten area.
The probable cause, as stated in the official report, was inadequate flight preparation concerning fuel reserve and inappropriate flight tactics during the forced landing.