Zone
Geneva

Crash of a Partenavia P.68B Victor in Friedrichshafen

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Partenavia P.68
Operator:
Industrie Leasing
Registration:
HB-LKS
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:
Munich - Geneva
MSN:
176
YOM:
1978
Location:
Friedrichshafen-Bodensee
Baden-Württemberg
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Munich to Geneva, while in cruising altitude, the left engine suddenly failed. Few seconds later, the right engine lost power then failed as well. The crew declared an emergency and was cleared to divert to Friedrichshafen Airport. On short final, due to low airspeed, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a parking lot located about 200 meters short of runway 06. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all four occupants were injured. Both passengers were seriously wounded, the copilot broke a foot and the captain escaped uninjured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the engine failure was the consequence of carburetor icing.

Crash of a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H2 Turbo Porter near Usillon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1986
Type of aircraft:
Pilatus PC-6 (Porter & Turbo Porter)
Operator:
Registration:
F-BIEL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Courchevel - Geneva
MSN:
345
YOM:
1960
Location:
Usillon
Haute-Savoie
Country:
France
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, departed Courchevel Altiport on a positioning flight to Geneva-Cointrin Airport. En route, he encountered poor weather conditions when the single engine aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located near the Plateau des Glières, in the region of Usillon. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a Partenavia P.68C-TC in Meyrin: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1985 at 1904 LT
Type of aircraft:
Partenavia P.68
Operator:
Registration:
D-GEML
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Geneva - Stuttgart
MSN:
257-15
YOM:
1982
Location:
Meyrin
Geneva
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
234
Captain / Total hours on type:
28.00
Aircraft flight hours:
631
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Geneva-Cointrin Airport runway 23 in poor visibility due to foggy conditions, the pilot initiated a right turn. While flying at an altitude of 100 feet, the twin engine aircraft struck the concrete block of a lift cable system located on the roof of a residential building of seven floors located in the city of Meyrin. Out of control, the aircraft lost height and crashed on a second building located less than 2 km west of the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed. Both buildings were damaged and 51 vehicles in few parkings were damaged or demolished.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was in an uncontrolled attitude while in a right turn in flight conditions of limited visibility due to fog. Given his low height, the pilot was unable to restore the situation in time and to gain sufficient altitude. One or more of the following factors may have played a role in the accident:
- A too sharp turn during initial climb,
- The pilot was distracted in the aircraft handling,
- The pilot's lack of experience,
- Possible residuals wake turbulence caused by a Boeing 737 that departed shortly before the accident, and
- A possible failure of the artificial horizon.
Final Report:

Crash of a Canadair CL-601 Challenger in Milan

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Canadair CL-601 Challenger
Operator:
Registration:
N779XX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Geneva - Milan
MSN:
3018
YOM:
1983
Location:
Milan-Linate
Lombardy
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Milan-Linate Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. On short final, the radio altimeter warning sounded. The captain initiated a go-around manoeuver when the aircraft struck the ground 44 meters short of runway 36 threshold. Upon impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the aircraft slid on its belly for few dozen meters before coming to rest on the runway. All 12 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
For unknown reasons, the crew continued the approach below MDA until impact with the ground.

Crash of a Piper PA-31T1 Cheyenne I in Neerach

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1983 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31 Cheyenne
Operator:
Distrofin
Registration:
HB-LMT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Geneva - Zurich
MSN:
31T-8104017
YOM:
1981
Location:
Neerach
Zurich
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1700
Captain / Total hours on type:
700.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Zurich-Kloten Airport runway 14, after passing over the outer marker, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and completed an emergency landing in a snow covered field located in Neerach, about 6,5 km short of runway threshold. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on final approach caused by a fuel exhaustion. Poor flight preparation on part of the pilot who miscalculated the fuel quantity for the distance between Geneva and Zurich and failed to make a fuel stop at Bern Airport.
Final Report:

Crash of a Learjet 35 in Paris

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1982 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Learjet 35
Operator:
Transair Switzerland
Registration:
HB-VFO
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paris - Geneva
MSN:
35-184
YOM:
1978
Location:
Paris-Le Bourget
Seine-Saint-Denis
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Paris-Le Bourget Airport, at V1 speed, the airplane collided with a flock of seagulls. The crew immediately abandoned the takeoff maneuver and initiated an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, struck a perimeter fence and came to rest 56 meters past the runway end. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the bird strike occurred at V1 speed. The decision of the crew to abandon the takeoff maneuver was correct but the airspeed was too high to expect the aircraft to stop within the remaining distance. The engines were not damaged as no birds were ingested but the aircraft suffered excessive structural damages and was considered as damaged beyond repair. The crew reaction was adequate despite the fact that they failed to follow certain procedures related to an emergency takeoff interruption, the tail parachute not having been deployed and the emergency brakes not having been activated.
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