Cannes - Grenchen

On October 24, 1993 at 02:40 PM, Cannes - Grenchen experienced a crash involving Piper PA-46 (Malibu/Meridian/Mirage/Matrix/M-Class), operated by Private Swiss, with the event recorded near Mt Balmfluechöpfli Solothurn.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. After passing over the Alps and a layer of stratus over the Plateau, the pilot reached the Willisau VOR where he was cleared to initiate an IFR approach to Grenchen Airport runway 25. He completed a standard turn then followed the 290° radial instead of the published 280° radial. When the DME system indicated 7 NM, the pilot realized he was too far from the normal approach track, disengaged the automatic pilot system and elected to gain altitude. In a flaps down/gear down configuration, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient height and struck, in poor visibility due to thick fog, the wooded slope of Mt Balmfluechöpfli (1,289 metres high) located about 12 km northeast of Grenchen Airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and the pilot was killed. The female passenger, slightly injured as she was seating in the seat opposite to the direction of flight, was able to walk away to ask for help.

Aircraft reference details include registration HB-PMA, MSN 46-08132, year of manufacture 1988.