Schwyz | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The twin engine aircraft departed Albenga Airport on a private flight to Stuttgart, carrying four passengers and one pilot. En route, while cruising over the Swiss Alps, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain located near Klöntal. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all five occupants were killed. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 1,800 metres.

Probable cause:

The following findings were identified:
- Poor flight preparation and planning,
- The pilot took the decision to continue under VFR mode in IMC conditions without appropriate training,
- Loss of control by the pilot in IMC conditions.

Final Report:

Crash of a Dornier DO.17Z-3 near Willerzell

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1940 at 2248 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.17

Operator:

Registration:

U5+DL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

MSN:

2663

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Circumstances:

The airplane was returning to its base in France following an operation over South England. It was mistakenly shot down by the German Flak over France and the crew abandoned the aircraft and bailed out. With the automatic pilot system ON, the airplane continued to southeast over Switzerland and eventually crashed due to fuel exhaustion in a wooded area located in Willerzell. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were found alive somewhere in France.
Crew:
Lt Klaus-Jürgen Schmitz +3.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a General Aviation Clark GA-43A on Mt Rigi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1936

Type of aircraft:

General Aviation Clark GA-43

Operator:

Registration:

HB-ITU

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Frankfurt - Basel

MSN:

2204

YOM:

1935

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Frankfurt to Basel. At night and in unfavorable weather conditions, the crew overflew Basel without locating the airport and continued to the southeast, in direction to the center of Switzerland. Dozen minutes later, the single engine aircraft impacted the west slope of the Mt Rigi (1,798 metres high) located 4,5 km southeast of Küssnacht. The wreckage was found in a snow covered forest located some 92 km southeast of Basel-Sternenfeld Airport. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Ernst Gerber, pilot,
Arthur Müller, radio navigator.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the crew missed the airport of Basel and apparently got lost overt Switzerland while flying at night and marginal weather conditions.