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Switzerland
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Bern

Crash of a Cessna 425 Conquest I in Bern: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1986 at 0822 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 425 Conquest
Operator:
Registration:
HB-LLS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bern - Düsseldorf
MSN:
425-0040
YOM:
1981
Location:
Bern-Belp
Bern
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
1363
Captain / Total hours on type:
514.00
Aircraft flight hours:
1074
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was engaged in a charter flight from Bern to Düsseldorf, carrying one pilot and seven employees from the textile industry. Takeoff was completed from runway 32 partially covered with wet snow and after liftoff, the aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height and passed just over trees located from either side of the Aar River. Then the aircraft lost height, initiated a left turn then stalled and crashed in a snow covered field located near a wood, about 1,250 meters northwest of runway 14 threshold and 600 meters to the left of its extended centerline. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the consequence of a loss of control during initial climb in poor weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The runway was contaminated with wet snow,
- Possible ice on wings and tail,
- High drag because the gear was still down,
- The total weight of the aircraft was 102 kilos above MTOW,
- The CofG was 0,56 inch (1,42 cm) beyond the aft limit,
- The pilot suffered high psychological tension,
- It is possible that the flaps were lowered at an angle of 15° prior to takeoff, during takeoff and during initial climb, which may reduce lift and increase drag.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL in Bern

Date & Time: May 27, 1979 at 1753 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
HB-GCT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Florence - Geneva
MSN:
680-1634-29
YOM:
1967
Location:
Bern-Belp
Bern
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5120
Captain / Total hours on type:
420.00
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Florence-Peretola Airport on a charter flight to Geneva-Cointrin Airport, carrying six passengers and one pilot. While cruising over the Alps at an altitude of 16,000 feet, the pilot was cleared by ATC to divert to Bern-Belp Airport as he thought his fuel reserve was insufficient. On final approach to runway 32, the airplane was unstable. With an excessive rate of descent, the twin engine airplane struck the ground 29 meters short of the threshold of runway 32. Upon impact, the airplane went out of control and crash landed on runway. All seven occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that all tanks have been refueled prior to departure at Geneva-Cointrin Airport for both legs as no fuel was available at Florence Airport. As a precaution, the pilot preferred to divert to Bern Airport for a safe landing. It was determined that both engines were running properly at impact, confirming that there was no fuel exhaustion. The accident was the consequence of an unstable approach completed with an excessive rate of descent in atmospheric turbulences. The rate of descent to runway 32 is fixed at 2° according to published procedures.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B1-H2 Turbo Porter in Frienisberg

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
HB-FCM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
618
YOM:
1966
Location:
Frienisberg
Bern
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Frienisberg, Bern. There were no casualties.

Crash of a SCAN-30L in the Biel Lake: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1955
Type of aircraft:
SCAN-30
Operator:
Intercontinental Aviation
Registration:
F-BFHD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
4
YOM:
1949
Location:
Biel
Bern
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a demonstration flight when the amphibian aircraft crashed into the Biel Lake. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot Alain Sanstad was killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL on the Guggi Glacier: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1952 at 1540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100593
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Madrid - Fürstenfeldbruck
MSN:
19056
YOM:
1943
Location:
Guggi Glacier
Bern
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Madrid-Barajas to the airbase of Fürstenfeldbruck located west of Munich. At 1455LT, while cruising at an altitude of 9,000 feet, the radio operator informed ground about his position three km south of Dijon. Apparently due to navigation errors, the airplane then continued to the east over the Swiss Alps when it hit the slope of a mountain surrounding the Guggi Glacier. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, Swiss authorities were contacted at the end of the day by the USAF quarters in Frankfurt-Main AB that an airplane was missing. SAR operations were conducted by locals and the wreckage was found a day later at an altitude of 3,000 meters. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all eight occupants have been killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Gus John Mehess, pilot,
Lt Col Robert L. Spear, copilot,
Maj Samuel D. McFadden, instructor pilot,
Sgt Earl D. Clay, radio operator,
Cpl Boyd F. Crook, flight engineer,
Lt Col Orville H. Riggs, observer,
Maj Ralph C. Adams, observer.
Passenger:
Erwin L. Steinert, radio operator.
Source & photo:
http://www.bezg.ch/img/publikation/12_1/01_12_BEZG_cornioley.pdf
Probable cause:
Navigation error on part of the crew.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halton I on the Mt Hohgant: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1950 at 0628 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halton I
Operator:
Worldair Carriers
Registration:
G-AHDX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Amsterdam – Brindisi
MSN:
1378
YOM:
1945
Location:
Mt Hohgant
Bern
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Amsterdam to Brindisi, carrying a load of 241 Philips radios. While flying over Switzerland by night and foggy conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of the Mt Hohgant (1,964 meters high) located about 10 km northwest of Brienz. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed. Five bodies were quickly recovered while the sixth body was eventually found on May 13, 1950.
Crew:
Bryan Hilton Lathom-Smith, pilot,
Charles Henry Bowker, navigator,
Keith Allum, radio operator,
David Stanforth, flight engineer,
K. S. Wright, steward.
Passenger:
Arturo Di Giulio.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul in Bern

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.65 Consul
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIUZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Croydon – Geneva
MSN:
5105
YOM:
1947
Location:
Bern
Bern
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Bern, while on a flight from Croydon to Geneva. All three occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper near Grindelwald

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1946 at 1445 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-68846
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Vienna – Munich – Strasbourg – Dijon – Istres – Pisa
MSN:
11773
YOM:
1943
Location:
Gauli Glacier
Bern
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After passing Innsbruck and the Austrian Alps, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and lost his orientation. The aircraft continued over Switzerland, avoid several peaks and eventually encountered katabatic winds. At a speed of 280 km/h, the aircraft lost height and crashed on the Gauli Glacier located about 10 km east of the Grindelwald winter station, at an altitude of 3,350 meters. One hour after the accident, the crew (who thought he crashed in the French Alps), sent a message that was received by ATC in Paris-Orly Airport and Istres-Le Tubé Airbase as well. French authorities made some calculation and deduced that the aircraft has crashed in the Swiss Alps and informed the Swiss authorities. Two days later, an officer based in the control tower of the Meiringen airbase located about 12 km north of the crash site received a message on his frequency as well and gave the alert. Skiers, helped with the crew of a RAF Lancaster and a USAAF B-29 were able to located the wreckage five days later. Suffering injuries due to their stay in negative temperatures, all 11 occupants were evacuated to local hospitals.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Biel: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1938
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Genossenschaft Fliegerlager Grenchen
Registration:
HB-AFU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Biel - Biel
MSN:
1380
YOM:
1930
Location:
Biel
Bern
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane departed Biel-Bözingen Airfield on a local pleasure flight, celebrating the Swiss National Day. While flying in the vicinity of the airfield, the airplane went out of control and crashed in an open field. Both occupants were killed, Mr. Olivier and Mr. Cailler.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Orvin: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1936 at 0115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
D-ASOR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Finsterwalde - Gresthofen-Gablingen
MSN:
5044
YOM:
1935
Location:
Orvin
Bern
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The three engine aircraft departed Finsterwalde AFB (north of Dresden) on a special flight to Gersthofen-Gablingen AFB located in Augsburg, Bavaria, carrying two passengers and three crew members on behalf of the German Air Force. Approaching Augsburg, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility due to snow falls. At night, the crew lost his bearings and continued over Augsburg until Switzerland. Despite the crew was in contact with Stuttgart an Munich Control, he got lost and continued to the south. At night and poor visibility, the airplane passed over the Jura until it impacted the slope of a mountain located near the village of Orvin, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found an hour later, about 300 km southwest from the destination airport. Two crewmen were rescued while three other occupants were killed. It is believed that the crew became totally disoriented due to low visibility (night and snow falls), and despite the assistance provided by ATC located in Munich and Stuttgart via all Direction Finding Equipment, it was not possible to help the crew to find his route. At the time of the accident, the cabin was equipped with military materials while the aircraft was believed to be a civilian version.
Crew:
Mr. Greis, †
Mr. Schönfeld, †
Mr. Beyer, †
Mr. Brecht,
Mr. Bender.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain following a navigational error on part of the crew caused by poor weather conditions and disordered Direction Finding Equipment.
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